The Metro

This weekend, I experienced the metro for the first time. Craig and I went on a little ride to another part of the city. It was actually pretty fun! It turns out the ride on the subway is a hundred times smoother than the crazy busses in the city. But, they are both pretty exciting.

While we were walking back to our apartment after the metro, we passed by a construction zone. Instead of just plain walls that separated the sidewalk from the construction project, the walls were covered with paintings of people! And instead of faces, mirrors! I guess this is where people go if they want to pretend to be someone else. We decided these people were probably the closest to us, since Craig is black, and my hair is long.

This is the Av. Paulista (a big road right by our apartment). At one time, this road was called the "Wall Street of Brazil," but the big financial disricts have since moved down to another place (where Craig works now).

This is the building that Craig works in. It is a super nice building, located in a really nice part of town. The grounds around it are beautiful, even with fountains that run during the week.

This is for Mitch...it comes in 2.5 liter bottles! Next week...3 liters.

City Center and Vitamin C

It's my turn (Craig) to write about our adventures from the week. Work has been going pretty well for me, everything seems to be under control. Meanwhile, Becca has been having fun at the apartment trying out her Portuguese skills on the maids; she has "tudo bem" down to an art! Friday night we got an invitation from some of the ward members to go out on the town the next morning, these are the pictures we took. Enjoy!

This is a park in the center of the city, I actually proselyted here when I was in the CTM. Behind us is the Teatro Municpal (municipal theater for anyone who didn't pick that up).

Here are some sweet buildings and a sweet girl!

I am standing in front of the building where they trade futures and commodities.

Here is the Mercadao. It was a train station once, now they've converted it into a market place. They sell all kinds of fruits, spices, and meats inside (including alligator, yum!) The next two pictures were taken inside of it.

Want Frut??!!

This was the stand where they were selling alligator meat. We asked the workers if people actually bought it, they told us that a lot of people buy it, and eat it too! I think we'll have to work up to alligator meat....

This is a building that the city government condemned. You can't see it super well, but it is all marked up with Grafitti. I couldn't get over how they were able to spray paint everywhere. Whoever did it was dedicated.

I was about to take a picture of the street, when this guy walked in front of the camera and asked for a picture; he was drunk. I wonder if he would have done it otherwise...

This is the center of the city, where Sao Paulo was started by Jesuit Priests.

A pretty yellow tree that was in the city center, possibly planted by the Jesuit Priests.

A Cathedral.

Sao Paulo has the second highest Japanese population in the world, this is the neighborhood where they hang. Note the oriental lamp posts.

I caught a cold and wanted to get some vitamin C in me. Oranges were the best fruit I knew about in the US. Here in Brazil, they use something a little more potent....Acerola! The vitamin C content in this one package is 2,485% of the daily requirement. Needless to say, I was over my cold the next day :-)

We made it!

After moving out of our apartment, and then waiting another 2 unexpected weeks, the Brazillian Consulate decided to release Craig's Visa! We are really going! It is not a hoax!

I took Craig to the airport last Sunday, and then I followed a week later.

Craig picked me up from the airport, and made delicious avacado shakes when we got back to our hotel/apartment/home. The avacado was HUGE! I have never seen an avacado so big, and Craig said it is common for them to be even bigger.

We live in a nice neighborhood. Here are some pictures of our home for the next 5 months.

This is what you see when you walk in our front door.

Our bedroom

Our kitchen/office

Yep, you guessed it! It is all one room, except for the bathroom. But we love it, and there is plenty of space for us for 5 months.

This is the view out of the window. I really love the trees and plants that are all over the city!

Brazil is a really beautiful place, and we are so excited to be here!