Brasil Bonito -Mato Grosso do Sul

Postagem em Portugues: Brazil Bonito - Mato Grosso do Sul -

Quando escolhi Mato Grosso do Sul para passar as férias, eu sabia que era um local quente. Mas não sabia que é tão quente!
Comecei minha viagem por Campo Grande, a capial do Estado. Mas nesta postagem vou falar sobre Bonito, uma cidadezinha distante 270 Km da Capital que é realmente DIFERENTE.
Primeira diferença: você encontra a BR-060 em boas condições de uso até lá e depois pode escolher entre uma "estrada velha" de terra, que corta cerca de 30 Km do caminho, ou continuar no asfalto. Não vai fazer diferença porque tudo estará sob um calor de 40 graus.

A primeira noite em Bonito impressiona pela movimentação nas ruas. Afinal, uma cidade do interior com tanta gente circulando após as 21:00h não é comum por aqui...
Mas é a melhor hora para caminhar, porque o comércio fica aberto e o calor já diminuiu. Aí você começa a perceber que a cidade toda é composta de uma rua principal e diversas quadras menores, ao redor.
Tudo, mas tudo mesmo, o que um viajante precisar, vai encontrar na rua principal.

Depois o viajante percebe que há uma quantidade de Mototaxistas, dispostos a levar você aonde for. Basta não ter medo de usar um capacete de passageiro que já foi usado não se sabe por quem, segurar-se firmemente na moto e encarar uma honda 250C por quadras com cruzamentos, sem sinal.
Aliás, a cidade tem um programa de educação no trânsito: toda vez que alguém tenta atravessar as ruas entre as quadras e a principal, os motoristas e pilotos param, sem que seja preciso pedir. Exemplo que deveria ser seguido pelo país todo!

Mas a postagem é longa e tem muito para contar. Deixo duas fotos locais para começo de conversa...

The Game is Over, and Now?

The country stopped to watch the World Cup. It was like to be in another world: no work, do debts, no regulations. The only thing to do was to cheer up!
But the game is over now. Even when the team wins, the game always ends.
The problem in Brazil is to swallow a bit of proud mixed with a pinch of envy. Everyone has to go back to work some day!
A lovely old lady in the bus trip, just after the game against Holland said she did not understand why everybody was so sad. According to her, if the country had took part in a world competition it was good enough to be happy.
I believe she's right. Winners have to come back to reality sooner or later as much as loosers. What's the difference between them at least? I can see only one: reality itself.
South Africa has a very difficult reality to come back in a few days and they are not crying for it.
They are happy for taking part. They were seen by the whole world as people who live their lives as much as anyone. So far, the game is over but lifes goes on. Better than ever because it's still real life.

Things you must know before buying a trip pack

The worst thing in the Earth is to buy a trip pack imagining a wonderful time somewhere far from your day to day troubles, and to discover afterwords you had bought a closed, empty black box.
So, before giving your credicard number to any travel agent, try to know simple things like:
1) Is there any way to regret and to give up the trip before you go?
2) Do you realy know anything about the place(s) you're about to go ?
3) Do you know someone who had visited there and such person can tell you about it?

If the answers to these questions are all "no"; my friend keep one eye on your bank account and the other eye in the travel agency exit door!

Some places are very nice by pictures and even more nice in the sweet words from a clever travel agent. But reality is never a show! It is what it is. So far, do not let the "sounds from the Desert" enchant your earings if you hate feeling melting at the sun, had never been able to tolerate sand at the beach or even had never been introduced to a no bath trip for more than one day.

Next time we'll try to talk about safety. That's the secret.

And a Happy New Year...
that's not a must. It's a deal. If you want to have a happy new year, why don't you try to make it happy ?
It's bad employment? Look for a new one this year.
I't's a good one? Turn it better even!!
Is your family around you? Enjoy it. Do they annoy you ? Get out of there!
Simple things you can do to make your life happier are those close to your hand. Why don't you try once in life to make it ?
Another way to make it work is to help someone in needing. It's amazing how doing something for someone helps you to feel happy. Give a break and think: how many times did you do something like that?
So, it's easy to complain and hard to change. A new time is comming to prove you it's possible. If I were you I wouldn't miss the chance!
Take care, happy you!

Christmas day, after lunch. What to do with that?
In Brazil, many families do not celebrate the Christmas night. Following the portuguese tradition we are used to have a very big Christimas lunch. From time to time things get unusual and now we find most of families having barbecues that last all day long.
Ok, you had your barbecue or you were on someone's but what to do now? Beers are hot, you had eaten as much as you could and all your relatives had made the jokes or had told the histories of their lives again...
Had you remembered this should be a birthday party? Yes, at least a very special one because the owner won't appear to sing "happy birthday with you". He is always there, every day of your life, taking care and loving you.
It is not too much to send Him a nice thought, something like "Hi Jesus, thank you for comming every day". Why don't you try to do it now, it's ontime yet. Merry Christmas!

After long holidays or a long time off work, its natural to be a little "slow" to come back to the working routine. But I discovered its possible to work feeling as if you are still in holidays. How? Is just a matter or keeping peaceful and open to listen more than speaking. People are anxious to show their opinion, their side of any situation, their problems wainting for solution... Don't worry. Things were in when you were out, and so they will keep going.
Relax after a long working day doing something you like, remember the places and people you had met during your holidays. Stop & think before get nervous, anxious or before to loose the control of your peace. It will take at least one year for you to take another break, so, try to extend it inside yourself.

Discovering Canada

Canada is a surprising country. If you are about to visit, wait until Springs come again. Average temperature in October (when I was there) was minus 10 some days, sunny days!
Be aware you had understood the bills you'll have to pay in the country. Many shops and restaurants don't inform the label prices are before taxes (high ones for Latin standards). But there are no fees in the good roads and there are lots of clean public whashrooms everywhere, if you need. Belive me, you will need.
The old Quebec city is the ancient city with medieval walls, charming and precious. Do not miss the sun going down from Chateau Frontanac main square. The picture was take on Thousand Islands Cruise They are all artificial islands built by millionaires who wanted some private summer houses.... they wanted, once they had it. Now everybody visit the lake, bordering USA, and I wondering where the millionaires had gone for privacity...
Make sure you can speak some words in french. Canada is a bilingual country. That's a nice exercise for your brain - if you do it until midnight. After that, is a problem to remember simple words as "water" and "key" in any bilingual system.
I liked the expericence. But I can't say I liked the country. It's too large to be known in a few days. Even the Canadians are still discovering it. Happyness to knwo there are so many news things to discover in world becoming smaller each year. Nice holidays at all!