Notes from Christine, the guest blogger. . . We choose from a colorful array of fresh fruit each morning: papaya, mango, honeydew, watermelon, pineapple, apples and bananas that complements eggs, breads, meats, cererals, and cafe (con leite for me!)
We stopped by the road for a refreshment of coconut water. A very simple, yet efficient system: a hole is cut into the top of the coconut, it is inverted on top of the container where the water drains into a coiled tube that surrounds a block of ice. The woman then turns the spigot to release cold coconut water into a plastic cup - all for one reais (about 50 cents) - delicious!
In the afternoon, I accompanied Jack, the university driver (Jackson), and Manuela on a drive to this agricultural area where she conducted interviews with five landowners. Manuela is a student at the university doing her senior project on the success or lack of success of the settlements. This area is located about 20 minutes north of Campos, each landowner applying a decade ago for 10 hectares on which to live and farm. They built their own homes and we saw great variety in style and sanitary conditions as we drove down the roads. Some we saw were well constructed (I noticed a precise tile roof, granite entry way and stained glass windows in one), and another was very make-shift (corrugated aluminum roof, small basic structure, trash and junk strewn throughout the yard). Manuela, a very kind and patient young woman, has 10 pages of questions to ask; for example, how many people live in the house? Do any of the children go to school? What crops are grown and are they sold? What livestock do they own and are those sold? Do they own a phone, TV, DVD player, bicycle, car, etc.? The landowners seemed candid in their replies (from what I could tell!), some willing to share stories, some sharing the fruits of their labor (oranges, guavas, coconuts, and manioc). The day helped to illustrate what I’ve read about Brazil: that there are two Brazils inhabiting the same space and living side by side. It is a country of great disparity where the richest 1% earns 12% of the country’s income, while the poorest 50% of the people earns just 10%.
We flew to Buenos Aires, Argentina and have been filling our days with a tour of the city, shopping, and eating tasty, yet inexpensive food. Traffic is something to be dealt with, whether in a taxi, bus or walking. The pedestrian does not have the right-of-way, so we need to beware! The Avenida 9 de Julio is very wide, and usually congested – 22 lanes at the widest point!
Casa Rosada sits on the end of Plaza de Mayo. It is from a balcony of the north wing that Eva Peron addressed the adoring crowds of Argentine workers in the late 40’s. The Argentine president works here – and he was working this day, indicated by the small flag flying above the building.
We’ve done a lot of window-shopping as we walk the streets. Some Tango dancers performed for a many on-lookers on an outdoor stage. Maybe she buys her shoes here?
