Southern Brazil

Southern Brazil is green and temperate. It is among the very top of world rice growers. and has tremendous beef and dairy industry. It is also well capable of competing with Japan and Europe industrially in many levels.
There are many big beautiful cities in the south and, by far, Sao Paulo is the biggest. Sao Paulo is imposing, energetic, and rich with some scabs of poverty around the edges. That it has over 80 important museums suggests that in has its share of high culture and it, indeed, does. It's beauty is much of the Chicago and Los Angeles. I believe that it still has the largest Japanese community outside of Japan. It also may be the fourth largest city of the world.
Pelotas is the city closest to Uruguay. It is there that I noted three adjacent street-level offices along a business. Between a a bronze placked CPA office and the bronze placked office of a Lawyer,was one that at first thought to be and architect's office. However, on looking closer I read, "Magic and Alchemy."
Porto Alegre lives up to its name; except for the fact that it was raining while I was there.
"Floripa," the beautiful capital of Santa Catarina State, is a gem. I just passed through, but its buildings, island and bridges looked gem-like to me. Its small (less than 1/2 mill), rich, and prettily situated. Like much of the South it is strongly Portuguese greatly influenced by early and strong German and Italian immigration. It is also 100% Brazilian. Still, they have a very clear idea of who Garibaldi was.

Buses

Buses in Uruguay and Brazil are generally quite and comfortable. Usually no electronically amplified sound; seldom movies and I never experienced loud music.
In Brazil some passengers might get as unpleasant as some in coach on a flight. In general cross country buses are better than U.S. counter-parts, even back to the days when the "the old grey dog" was young and strong.

Beef and Soccer

Beef has always been big in Uruguay. However, it may now be easier to get some of the best pasta dishes outside of Italy, and adaptations of some of the best European pastries here than it is to get a good cut of prime beef. Still if one looks ....
Little Uruguay competes with Argentina in quality beef productions as it does in futbal. Futbal, soccer, is big here; I've seen major public functions delayed until the end of what seemed rather ordinary soccer matches.

I'm heading to Brazil overland.

Porto Alegre

It is beginning to feel like it is time for me to move less in the jostling, sounding, power of the world and more in the gentle tranquillity, the quiet reality, the silent energy, the beautiful calm of a deep inner undrstanding. Getting old, I guess. It is certain that this 71 year old doesn't have the energy and strength of that 31 year old I was.

I'm in the great city of Porto Allegre and thinking of home. Yes, the history, luxury, industry, trade, sea, cattle, Woody Woodpecker, and general great birdng of this part of Brazil seem less attactive than does my desert home.

Let's see, what have I learned recently, Uruguayans like wiskey, cows, and off track beting. Brazilians like Woody the Woodpecker.

No spellcheck.

ACA

Adult Children of Alcoholics has a big new book I wouldn't mind taking a look at. Maybe it could be called a new Big Book.

As you may or may not know ACA is a 12 Step program somewhat similar to AA. Its name is historically correct, but not as discriptive as it might be. As I understand, it is usefull taking over responsibility for self-parenting where earlier parenting may have been less than perfect.

Crossing the Border

Hello again!
I am at the Brazilian border in the shopping town of Chuy on the Uruguayan side or Chui on the Brazilian side. The Brazilian side is celebrating the founding of the town today. I stayed here last night at a place quiet enough for me to sleep well at 'only' about $15 US. I'll stay here again tonight so that I may finish taking care of business for crossing into Brazil. Part of the business is paying the Brazilian Consulate over $150.00 for a visa. That is high enough for me to call it retaliatory.

Don't know whether the spellcheck is in Spanish or Portuguese. It is in Portuguese.

Attempt to Paraphrase

My cousin Kevin's words to his lovely daughters about Sheehan´s; daughters he came by, by the way of his very lovely wife:

The name Sheehan was seen among the Irish Republican Army volunteers of the Easter Rebellion. The name was seen among those who fought in the Irish War for Independence. Sheehans where there in the Irish Civil War. They where among the Provisional IRA of recent years. (Maybe not smart, but damn persistent.)

The song, The Galtee Mountain Boy, a route taken by an Irish Flying Column during the Irish Civil War, the commander was Michael Sheehan. You might also look up the song, Barr Na Straide, more Sheehans.

He speaks more of the South of Ireland and at the very interesting strings of history passing through, in and around through the may years.
He also speaks of claiming our rightful place.´ Hope its not the end of a rope.

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