Brazil-Porto Alegre

A EL MISSION

We stopped briefly in Campinas and Q's Brazilian companion met us at the airport.
Of course, I didn't meet him because, by some phenomenon unknown to me, I somehow managed to fall asleep on an airport chair and was out like a burnt light bulb. Q had to abandon me to meet up with his old comp and he barely got me up and walking in time to stumble onto the next plane. (Seriously- did he slip me a few Ambien or something?) The kid I suppose.

THE MISSION OFFICE: The Porto Alegre mission office is on the same grounds as the stake center and institute building. As soon as we landed and checked in to the Sheraton, we took a taxi here to see if the mission assistants could help us out with some current information (Q's mission was 8-10 years ago). We were lucky to skee-dattle. It was Christmas Eve so we caught them just before they left for a dinner appointment.

This assistant was awesome. He only had a little bit to go so he declined our offer to call his mom to tell her how wonderful he was. They helped us learn about a new chapel in Ipenema and talked us out of going to a really dangerous area a day away (Thank you thank you thank you- that was one less sweltering, smelly bus ride).

We found some french fries in a nearby food court later that evening!!!!
This was our entire meal.

CHRISTMAS EVE: Late that night we splurged
on a Christmas Eve room service dinner of pasta and
pop mixed with grape juice from a corner market nearby.

CHRISTMAS MORNING: We packed one present each to open in Brazil. The boxes were a bit mangled but we both agreed it was worth it. We had to put the opened presents (2 shirts) in zip lock bags to try and prevent the smells of Brazil from permanently penetrating our new duds. Thanks G & G Metcalf!

After presents we packed up our duffel bags and stored them with the front desk so we could back pack to Caca Pava in the Mountains for the next day & 1/2. The last picture is the view of Porto Alegre from our hotel room window. It's basically skyscrapers in every direction as far as you can see. With no highways, I am still wondering how anyone ever gets anywhere!