kings run cuiaba

Pictures from the "kings Run" Cuiaba,MT

There is a big race here in Cuiaba, held every, year called the Kings run. It is a 10-Kilometer Run through the middle of the city in 95F degree weather. It was very hot all day.The race is made up of 2 different races in one. First there is the woman's race, then 30 minets later is the men's race. People come from all around Brazil and the world to take place in this exiting race. Marco Joseph of Tanzania age 19 won the men's race, finishing in just 30 minets. Marco just came from Sao Paulo where he came in forth in the Sao silvestre race new years eve.

We had to wake up very early to catch the bus downtown to see the race. we headed down to where the finish line to wait for the winners to cross. there where hundreds of people cheering from the side lines. it was hard to find a way through the crowds to just to take some pictures. we watched the race for about 2 hours and then it was time to go back home. I was so very tired having to get up so early and I had no chance to get coffee before I left.

First Trip to Chapada for 2009

Sebastian rock climbing ... Me next !

Myself looking macho

Fixing my shoe on the rocky outcrop at the edge of a cliff

Swimming in Chapada near the falls

Standing on the edge of more than a 200 FT drop

Yesterday I spent the whole day in Chapada National park. This amazing place is a mix between The grand canyon and subtropical forest area. Formed by an ancient ocean. First stop we went swimming on top of some big waterfalls. I had lots of fun floating on my back letting the tide pull me faster & faster towards the falls, only to swim off to the side just before the plunge and climb onto the bank.

Next I went to where I stood on top of cliffs with hundred+ FT droops and amazing views. There we found a fossil of some sea life that called this place home millions of years ago. we hiked up and down stopping to take some pictures along the way. You can see from the pictures above that mostly we where up really high and you can see the valleys below us.

Last we went to Hells Gate. It is a large rimed cliff area shaped like a semi circle. Not much of an atraction but it was cool. there is a gard rail to prevent cars from plunging the 100FT drop. The gard rail was not always there, in fact one of the interesting things to see there is the bus,taxi,& car that went off the road before the gard rail was installed. Here is also where we stopped to have lunch and cold drinks. after eating 3 americans came along with there tour guide. the 2 guys where from San Francisco and the mom was from Alaska. they only stayed for a bit untill it was untill it was for them to leave ... or so they though. as soon as they all got back in the car it broke down. so they got out and I invited them to our table while they waited for another car to pick them up.

All in all it was an amazing day.

The Holidays

The Farm I spent New Years at

Christmas and new year have come and gone and it's now 2009 :) I spent Christmas at a local house party here in cuiaba. We had grilled pork,steak, & sausages on an open fire pit. I drank 2 caparinias a cocktail made with ice,sliced up limes, sugar, and pinga a sort of vodka made from sugar cane.

New years was a blast. we drove 3 hours outside the city to a huge farm in the middle of the subtropical forest. Again there was a lot of grilled foods & local side dishes. one of my favorite local side dishes here is flower made from the yuka root mixed with small bits of plantains. There were about 75 people at the farm. people where lighting off fire works, listening to loud music, & having a bunch of fun. this party lasted till 2 or 3 in the morning. after the party was over we all sleped outside in hamoks.

Final Destination

Cuiaba Airport Luggage Handlers

I have Been in Cuiaba for 2 weeks now. you may have noticed that the last few posts have been in the last 2 days. that is because I just got Internet access 3days ago. I have no credit in this country so It was hard to get my own laptop Internet card. from now on I hope to be posting on a regular bases.

Here is a rundown on what I have been up to in the last 2 weeks. we own a house here that is brand new as in there is nothing in it yet, so we are working on the house a little here and there. a lot of time so far has been spent shopping down town, at the 3 malls in the city,and rediscovering my favorite restaurants. every morning I wake up and make coffee grown by local farmers,Drink Orange Juice also locally grown and fresh squeezed. When we moved in to the house there was a mother cat and her 2 kittens living here so everyday I feed them and make sure they have fresh water. around noon time until 1pm it is very hot, sometimes reaching 90+ degrees since it is summer here. that's when it's time for siesta. siesta is a small break during the day to escape the heat. Usually I spend it laying around in the hammock drinking the water inside a green coconut and listing to my music on my IPhone. Making friends here is easy because every one wants to meet me. Americans Usually don't spend time in the city so people like to talk to me when they find out I'm American. I have been planning some big trips comming up later on so keep checking back here.

Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo Airport, Brazil

I arrived here in Brazil safe after a 10 hour flight from new york. The line for customs was huge. there must have been 100 people in front of me. Once i got to the front of the line it was very simple,take passport,scan passport,and off I go. at this point I was very tired and hungry. I had not eaten since dinner the night before on the flight ( a delicious stuffed Chicken,Dinner roll,Steamed Broccoli,mashed potatoes, & a Banana custard cake ). I chose not to have breakfast on the flight instead just having coffee. I just had to collect my luggage and Book myself on the net flight to Cuiaba since I missed my original flight due to the 2 hour delay in new york. I had 2 Bags on the flight and right away I saw one make it's way around the luggage belt but not the second, so I wait ... 10 minuets... 20 minuets... 45minuets and nothing. all the bags where gone off the belt by then and I had to consult customer service with that dreaded question "where is my lugage ?!?! ". turns out that my 2nd luggage was place on the right airline but wrong plane. No worries they told me just fill out this form and we will deliver your luggage to your house tomorrow when it arrives ( Note: TAM kept there word and around 2pm the next day my luggage was deliverd right to my house ).

After eating some lunch with a very nice polish guy I met in the airport ( who works in Poland For an American company who sent him to Brazil to fix a computer sistem. ) I was off for my flight to Cuiaba. It was a quick 2 1/2 hour flight. as soon as everyone was abord the cabin crew came around with caremel candies and bottled water. the plane taxied and took off and i setteld in and watched an episode of Dilbert on my IPhone. TAM always has the same snack on it's domestic flight so I already knew what to expect but it's a snack i LOVE. It's a round bread roll the size of your hand stuffed with ham & cheese served hot with a nice cold guarana soda to wash it down.

Going to Brazil

Landing at JFK

Monday December 15TH 5:30am :

Up early for my flight to New York's JFK. After my shower I got dressed, did my hair, brushed my teeth, and then shoved everything back into my luggage. I headed over to the executive lounge for some coffee and orange juice. as I sat there I could see airliners landing and taking off. Soon it was time to head over to the sky bridge and into the Airport.

11:30am :

I arrived at JFK after a quick one hour flight from Boston. The one flight attendant on board was very sweet. As we taxied for take off he said " Welcome aboard Delta flight 17-- with none stop service to Honolulu". Myself being half asleep it took me a second to realize he was joking ::Blush::.

New York is nice. It is the third time I have taken this Trip so what was around and where I needed to go. Check in at TAM ticket counter was fast and efficient. I recommend anyone flying to Brazil to use TAM. They have a Great customer service that is very refreshing. from the ticket counter I went through security. I swear the TSA agent I handed my passport to was like 12 years old. I would have taken a picture to post but I think I would have got in trouble.

5:40pm we boarded the plane, 8:00pm we took off to Sao Paulo. There was a huge line of Planes waiting to take off from JFK. The TAM cabin crew took care of us coming around with caramel candies and bottled water. It is now about 8:30 as I am writing this post in the notes section of my IPhone and I am flying 30,000 FT over the open atlantic. This should be a calm flight but I will be sure to post anything exiting that may happen later on. now I am just looking forward to dinner.

Hilton Logan Airport

View from my room at the Hilton

After a 2 Hour bus ride from my hometown on Cape Cod, I arrived at the Hilton at Logan airport around 3pm on Sunday December 14TH. I spent a lot of time down in the recreation center enjoying the pool, hot tub, & steam room. Later on my friend Alex came to visit and say goodbye. After cocktails in the lounge and a private champagne party upstairs, it was time to go to bed.

Midnight came around and I was having trouble sleeping. Anticipation about the next days travels keeping me awake, I decided to check the status of my flight.I was surprised to see that two different flight track websites were telling me that the flight I was suppose to take in the morning was not even coming to Boston at all. So about 12:15am I am on the phone to Delta Airline only to find out that they changed my flight number and time of departure. I guess they just forgot to tell me.