Day Four: Muito Obrigada (Thank you very much)

Day Three found us taking a cab to ANOTHER airport to try to make a flight with GOL Airlines from Sao Paulo to Belo Horizonte. When Cara finally cracked (took three days) and stared right through the ticket agent, he knew he had to help us or we'd literally kill him. We were tossed from line-up to line-up (no one wants to help the displaced Varig folks b/c there are so many of us) and finally secured three seats (at the emergency exit no less!) to BH. And Renuka and I were interviewed by a SP newspaper reporter. We're gonna look for the article today.

The pousada (hostel) is super-clean, there's wireless, and good breakfasts (papaya, watermelon, fresh juices, etc.) and the view from our window is fantastic: blue sky, puffy clouds, palm trees, and other green vegetation. Muito bonita!

After two showers, I finally feel that I've washed off the airport from myself, wearing contacts has never been so refreshing, and even the cold-water shower isn't so bad. We have a home now.

First impression/stereotype: Brazilian men are so good-looking. Even the not-so-hot ones are attractive (sorry North American guys, we still love you!) and the women ranging from young girls to about mid-30s are beautiful. There's some natural "essence" that makes them seductive and intriguing. Confidence maybe? Good skin? Low-rise jeans? We don't know yet but we give them credit.

Things are looking up.