Casual Tuesday

think I can say safely that everyone was happy to be in non-Rotary uniform clothing today. Today was a day without presentations, so we were free to wear whatever we liked. With the weather the way it is in Curitiba, today really meant we could wear whatever is warmest. Right now, it feels like Florida's winter. This year's winter, which was one of the coldest.

This morning began like most with my host family, which is host Mom, Nueza pronounced "New-ay-zah"), and host sisters, Alainah and Laryssa. Alainah is about my age, maybe a few years younger, and speaks English very well. She studied in Toronto for a year and a half. Laryssa and Nueza both speak a little English. Every morning begins with breakfast. Always coffee with the main dish varying from a pressed ham and cheese sandwich to cheese rolls and cereal to toast with butter and jam. Then, it is out the door to start the marathon.

Today we all met at Univerdade Positivo, a private university. I can't post photos via the computer I am on, but the campus is beautiful. We received a tour of the campus, including the impressive theater. Denise got to ride in style, and I do think the amount of food is taking its toll. It took the combined efforts of Jim, Daphne, and I to push Denise up the hill to the theater. :-)

Lunch was at an impressive castle of a restaurant in an area of town known as Portal Italiano - or Little Italy. We dined on lasagna, meat (so much meat, always meat!), risotto, gnocchi, fettuccine, salad, more pasta, and more meat served with wine. Oh, and I can't forget about the sugary shots of some sort of passion fruit liquor drink. There was also a cashew drink that I had Denise finish off for me. That's a good girl, Denise!

Lunch was followed by a trip around the city on the Lihna Turismo -- Tourist Line - a green bus that Jim hopped around in trying to capture every fantastic angle of the city. For 2 hours, he was back and forth and back and forth from side to side trying to snap photos out the windows of the bus while making the rest of us freeze in the breeze from the open window (and messing up our GSE Coordinator's - Douglas' - hair). Thanks, Jim. I hope you can trim your post-trip slideshow down to something less than one week of total of view time.

Tonight was our first night since Mother's Day to spend with our host families. Neuza made dinner for Doug and Douglas, and me. Her black bean noodle soup and chicken soup were to die for, and that is not the two glasses of wine talking!

Another marathon day spent out on the town, learning about the world of Brasil and Curitiba Alainah, smart and savvy real estate agent that she is, almost has Doug signing on the dotted line for a new home down here. As long as I can have a spare set of keys for my Christmas holiday, Doug, I support your purchase!!

Tomorrow, we don our uniforms once again for presentations and vocational meetings Stay tuned for more excitement. I have a feeling Doug's and Denise's coverage will be more entertaining....For now, bom noiche!!
source:http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teambrazil6950/1/1273705084/tpod.html

Portage Bay, Marlborough Sounds

Windy 2 hour drive to get here but worth it. The views were stunning - we walked part of the Queen Charlotte track and had views of two bays - we only walked for an hour each way as had to turn back due to rumbling stomachs, such light weights. Treated ourselves to a nice lunch out, um fish and chips for me and curry for James, also sun shining so this kept James happy.

Treetops was great as we had the place to ourselves, but didn't get on great with the spiders, the owner definitely needs a lesson in cleaning. Great night though eating pies (don't think I'll remain 9 stone for long!) and playing scrabble and got beaten by James twice, don't think we'll play anymore!
Source:http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bikhit/1/1273787552/tpod.html

Day of travelling to the Longji Rice terraces

We were up pretty early today as we had to get several busses to a village called Dazhai, apart from getting very bored, hot and sweaty the journey was very uneventful. We did stop at Guilin to drop our big rucksacks off at the lockers at the train station so that we only had to carry our day bags with us. Even that was a bit of a hassle as the woman at the train station wanted to open every bag to check them. Even then she only had a very quick look. Not sure what she was expecting to find?

Once we got as close as we could to Dazhai we were greeted off the bus by loads of little local women all of them were 4-5 feet tall with big baskets on their back offering to take our day bags and carry them for us. I felt guilty and I think everyone else did too as no one had their bags carried. You could even have yourself carried as there were men waiting with a kind of seat that was carried by two men. Now that would really have been lazy!

The walk up to Dazhai village was about 45 mins uphill but felt a lot longer as we were all a bit tired from travelling all day. We finally arrived at the village and our hotel/hostel at around 6pm. Got checked in, had a shower which I must add had no curtain but a view out over to the hillside....a shower with a view (see pic).

Sorry Dave, but I have to mention the food here. We all paid 30 Yuan (£3) each and had a 9 course set meal provided by the hotel. It was so good and possibly one of the best meals we have had all trip, that we asked if we could have some more made for us as we all enjoyed it so much.

Not much to do here so we all had an early night as we had to get up to do a 6 mile trek through the rice terraces tomorrow.
Source: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterward/2/1273769910/tpod.html

Portage Bay, Marlborough Sounds

, South Island,
Sunday, May 9, 2010

Windy 2 hour drive to get here but worth it. The views were stunning - we walked part of the Queen Charlotte track and had views of two bays - we only walked for an hour each way as had to turn back due to rumbling stomachs, such light weights. Treated ourselves to a nice lunch out, um fish and chips for me and curry for James, also sun shining so this kept James happy.

Treetops was great as we had the place to ourselves, but didn't get on great with the spiders, the owner definitely needs a lesson in cleaning. Great night though eating pies (don't think I'll remain 9 stone for long!) and playing scrabble and got beaten by James twice, don't think we'll play anymore!
Source:http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bikhit/1/1273787552/tpod.html

Day of travelling to the Longji Rice terraces

We were up pretty early today as we had to get several busses to a village called Dazhai, apart from getting very bored, hot and sweaty the journey was very uneventful. We did stop at Guilin to drop our big rucksacks off at the lockers at the train station so that we only had to carry our day bags with us. Even that was a bit of a hassle as the woman at the train station wanted to open every bag to check them. Even then she only had a very quick look. Not sure what she was expecting to find?

Once we got as close as we could to Dazhai we were greeted off the bus by loads of little local women all of them were 4-5 feet tall with big baskets on their back offering to take our day bags and carry them for us. I felt guilty and I think everyone else did too as no one had their bags carried. You could even have yourself carried as there were men waiting with a kind of seat that was carried by two men. Now that would really have been lazy!

The walk up to Dazhai village was about 45 mins uphill but felt a lot longer as we were all a bit tired from travelling all day. We finally arrived at the village and our hotel/hostel at around 6pm. Got checked in, had a shower which I must add had no curtain but a view out over to the hillside....a shower with a view (see pic).

Sorry Dave, but I have to mention the food here. We all paid 30 Yuan (£3) each and had a 9 course set meal provided by the hotel. It was so good and possibly one of the best meals we have had all trip, that we asked if we could have some more made for us as we all enjoyed it so much.

Not much to do here so we all had an early night as we had to get up to do a 6 mile trek through the rice terraces tomorrow.
Source:http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterward/2/1273769910/tpod.html