Brazil

The next day we did a tour of the favelas which are the very poor parts of Rio. Over a third of the population lives in the favelas and they are not a place to go without a guide or at night. It was great. I thought it may be a bit too voyeuristic for me but it was not, just educational. Kids followed us around and all wanted my newly purchased Flamengo hat. The people were all friendly and smiled at us. Most people do not have running water or electricity but as the rest of Brazil, they are all were smiling and happy. People just love life here, no matter what they do or how they live.

So, now we are just relaxing and hiking every day to a different beach on the island. The trails are gorgeous, all green jungle and chirping birds. The water is crystal clear and most of the beaches are deserted since this is the off-season. I still cannot believe that I will be home in a week. I cannot wait but have no idea what it will be like to not travel, to not carry my backpack, and to not sleep in a different bed every night like I have been doing for the past year. Not to mention that I will now understand everyone's conversation because they speak English. It is kind of nice to not understand and think people are talking about intelligent and compassionate things instead of the usual nit-picking banality that drives me crazy. But it will be great to be home, no doubt about that!

7 more days!

June 10 - Ilha Grande

Life is just too tranquil here. Nothing much happens. The tide goes out. The tide comes in. The sleepy dogs get up and wander around. The sun appears on schedule. Kate falls down a flight of fifteen steps and breaks her elbow. Hmmmm.... which one of those facts does not fit??

Yes, if you guessed the last when then you are a winner and get to be her nursemaid for the next five days... oooppppss, no that would be me, her travel partner.

Anyway, the events made for quite an adventure which will be a highlight of my sure now to be published travelogue about South America.

Title of this entry: Fifty Ways to Getting a Cast in Brazil

1. Another pleasant, sunny day in paradise and Kate gets up to go down for breakfast, misses a step, and plunges down fifteen steps.
2. I hear screams and run down the steps to see her on the ground.
3. After hearing Kate's anguished screams and realizing she was not faking it, we (Marco, the pousada owner, and an Australian guy, Mike) decide we need to walk her to the local clinic about 4 blocks away. (Bear in mind now, just to add to the drama, we are on an undeveloped island about an hour and a half ferry ride to the mainland and the nearest hospital)
4. Two steps and two screams later and we quickly change our minds and we try and call for the only police car in town.
5. Marco finds out that the police DO NOT HAVE A PHONE (if you can believe that) so Marco rides his bike to get them.
6. Kate screams out, "I cannot take the pain. Why can't I be you?" Odd that, because I have no desire to be her at this point time. When her mom brought her a whole new wardrobe two weeks ago, I, funnily enough, did want to be her.
7. Police arrive about 15 minutes later and take us to the clinic.
8. More screams - the kind of screams that make your toes curl.
9. Arrive at clinic and are let right in to the amused stares of the locals at the gringo screaming obscenities that are obvious in any language.
10. Clinic is beyond basic and I know that we will have to go to the mainland. It was clean but old, rusty and dilapidated.
11. Doctor sees Kate even when she shrieks, "Do not touch me!" She orders an immediate painkiller which comes in the form of a shot in the bum and sends for a boat because they do not have an x-ray machine.
12. Painkiller takes somewhat of an effect and I run back to the pousada to get money, passports, and Kate's shoes while Marco and Mike take a quieter Kate to the docks about 20 minutes away. (imagine walking anywhere with a major injury???!!!)
13. Wait half an hour for boat - pain continues.
14. Many locals who we have befriended stop and give sympathy.
15. Before we leave, it seems the whole town knows what happened.
16. Boat arrives. The boat is for Civil Defense, whatever that means, maybe some Bolivians have tried to attack the island before.
17. Gingerly, we get Kate on the boat and cruise 45 minutes across the bay to the mainland on this super fast boat.
18. I try to keep Kate entertained with amusing stories that are interrupted with occasional yowls of pain.
19. We stop twice because the bumpiness is causing excruciating pain.
20. Arrive and wait ten minutes for ambulance. Kate screams, "Hurry up geezer. Get me to the f.... hospital."
21. Ambulance takes us to hospital.