Dec 14 2006
Brazil Trip Diary: Day 1
We left Seattle on 12/13 9am, now is 12/14 6pm (PCT). Total of 30 hours on the road. A little tired to say the least. Here are some pictures along the way–while we were awake, that is.
Almost missed the connection flight to Campo Grande: we had to change an airport in Sao Paulo. People at the International airport said the shuttle ride took no more than an hour. But the shuttle runs once an hour and the traffic is so bad in Sao Paulo that even with 3 hours of connection time we almost missed the flight.
In addition, TAM airline changed departure gate without announcement or updating signs on the gate.
Song randomly dragged a guy who ran back to us out-of-breath: “Last call! NOW!” Another dash toward gate.
TAM uniforms: Spandex tops over a pair of wonder bra. Interview process could be really simple: put on the uniform, if the figure doesn’t show, you are not hired. Looking around, it is as if all TAM attendants are made of same torsos but different faces.
Mosquitoes, bugs: they are everywhere. We made the unfortunate mistake of not having the repelent on hand when switching from the seden to the truck. They flew to us like a blizard.
Long drive to hotel: 3 hours from the airport to a dirt road. 1½ hours on the dirt road. Bugs, birds, dogs, cats, raccoons, alligators: all have to be shooed away.
The truck ride was bumpy. Cabin space was tight and it was pitch black out there. I had to fight the bugs like a bonded blind man: although I couldn’t move much but could still hit plenty of bugs around me. So my fingers were always wet with some juice. Later found a hard-shelled bugs under my pants: just had to squeeze it a little harder then shaked my leg.