April 21, 2012: Our Last Day In Brazil: The Voyage Home!
Leavoing Florainopolis
Sleep was restless and morning came quick. With all the last minute checks done I went down for breakfast around 7 AM. I was later met by Roy and we spent some time sitting in front of the hotel, people watching. We were approached by a rather unkempt person asking for smokes. We had none to give and he left disgruntled and talking to himself, Soon Marcio showed up and having checked out already we put our luggage into the vehicle. Marcio did not stay at the hotel since he lived in the city. Sandi and Paula showed up a few minutes later and by 10 AM we were on our way to catch our flights home.
We arrived at Florainopolis International Airport by ten thirty and Paula left to finish off some business with the vehicle. We bed farewell to Marcio and promised to keep in touch. She then came with us to "check in" for our flights to San Paulo. Fortunately our flight to Canada via San Paulo was classed as an international flight so our luggage was booked straight through to Canada. Relief was hearing that. No lugging luggage around San Paulo.
Here we had to say good-bye to Paula. While we were at the airport catching flights, we were going our separate ways----we to San Paulo and she to Porto Alegre. She had become a good friend. We would miss her. After a short period of time we boarded our flight to San Paulo and then repeated the procedure at that airport. We did have one scare. Actually two scares.
The first was when Roy and I became separated from Sandie at San Paulo. It happened so innocently yet became so frightening. It reminded me of an episode of the old series "The Twilight Zone". On minute we were walking behind Sandie who assumed control of the push cart that was loaded with our "carry on" bags and the next she was gone-----lost in the crowd. Now one would have thought that finding a beautiful blonde in a crowd of dark haired people would be a cinch but a half hour went by and nothing. We looked. We searched. We worried. I was starting to think that we would miss our flight. My imagination went wild. Did she get kidnapped! No not possible! Did she get suddenly sick? We got in line just in case we could spot her.
When we were about to be called to get our boarding passes, I spotted her in another line. She came over to us and was equally upset. By that time I had broken into a cold sweat and no doubt so did Roy.
We had just missed each other by a "hair" and look what happened. No wonder children have gotten lost and/or taken in crowded areas such as these. One thing, if Sandie did not want to be found, she would not have. Scary but this ended happily.
The next scare happened while en route to Canada and about three hours into our flight which was still over Brazil. We were approaching the border and coast when we hit some air turbulence. In one instance, the plane plunged over 500 feet. I heard some screams and concerned gasps and the fellow next to me grabbed my right arm with both his in a panic. It was his first time in an airplane. I quietly mentioned.
" If the plane was going to crash I don't think that would help verv much!" He looked frightened and held onto my arm even harder.
I continued, "Look! Just think of this as an amusement coaster ride. You have done that right?"
He nodded! His arm released a bit. I kept on. "Besides, this happens all the time!" His arms tightened up again! I finally convinced him that flying was safe and that the plane was not going to crash. My arm will never feel the same again!!!!
Other than that the flight was uneventful and three movies later, I was more than ready to get off the plane and get home. The rest of the story would be pretty familiar to many travelers. Disembarking, walking seemingly endlessly and waiting to get through customs and then pick up our luggage.
Roy's son was there to pick us up and our final journey home was pretty matter of fact.
I got home at approximately 9 AM and Darlene was sitting in the living room. "You're early!", greeted my entrance! Ah The Pain! The Pain!
Epilogue
We must be all familiar with the usual question from a person unfamiliar with the size of a country the size of Canada, the United States and/or Russia. "Ah you live in Toronto! You may know a friend of mine who lives in Vancouver." It is hard to imagine the sheer size of our countries. I made the same mistake with Brazil.
Brazil is HUGE and I had visions of paddling down an Amazon stream and eating Piranha for breakfast and doing all sorts things like manhandling Anacondas and Caimans. I was unprepared for the geography/climate that we stepped into.
If I was to describe the area in general terms it would be "Tuscan/Veneto like". Lush greenery, mild climate with some extremes of temperature, mountainous, aquiferos with many streams and rivers, diverse and breathtaking in beauty. The people were so hospitable and friendly. I could have easily become accustomed to it all.
We were in the lower third of South America which meant four seasons and some snow. It was strange to go from Spring to Fall in eleven hours and then back again to Spring on the way back home.
The other thing that in some way concerned me was that we visited two regions of Brazil: Bento Goncalvs and Santa Catarina. There are four more regions. One of them has two harvest a year and warm temperatures throughout the year. The question in my mind, "Did I do Brazil justice?"
The answer is yes!
The task of visiting every wine region would require awesome effort and time. It is better to do a great job in two regions than a quick but poor job in all of them. What we achieved was to visit effectively a great wine region that was relatively unknown and in one instance we another were was the first to be filmed by a wine television series. Being first was truly unique.
Brazil was an experience that we will long remember and it will be our continuing endeavour to publicize both Brazil and these two wine regions.
We would like to thank the Wines of Brasil and the Brazilian Consulate in Canada for assisting us with our visit. Most of all a big thank you to Paula, Jefferson, Marcio for making this trip so enjoyable.
Finally, I would like to thank the team. Sandie combined good looks and enthusiasm with talent and knowledge to make filming her easy. The show would not have been possible without Roy. The easiest way of describing his talent is this way.
Me "Roy there is a a nice shot that we should get!"
Roy: "Got it already!"
That's the way it was. Without him and his editing skills, there would be no series.
Thank you all!
End of Days 11/12
Sleep was restless and morning came quick. With all the last minute checks done I went down for breakfast around 7 AM. I was later met by Roy and we spent some time sitting in front of the hotel, people watching. We were approached by a rather unkempt person asking for smokes. We had none to give and he left disgruntled and talking to himself, Soon Marcio showed up and having checked out already we put our luggage into the vehicle. Marcio did not stay at the hotel since he lived in the city. Sandi and Paula showed up a few minutes later and by 10 AM we were on our way to catch our flights home.
We arrived at Florainopolis International Airport by ten thirty and Paula left to finish off some business with the vehicle. We bed farewell to Marcio and promised to keep in touch. She then came with us to "check in" for our flights to San Paulo. Fortunately our flight to Canada via San Paulo was classed as an international flight so our luggage was booked straight through to Canada. Relief was hearing that. No lugging luggage around San Paulo.
Here we had to say good-bye to Paula. While we were at the airport catching flights, we were going our separate ways----we to San Paulo and she to Porto Alegre. She had become a good friend. We would miss her. After a short period of time we boarded our flight to San Paulo and then repeated the procedure at that airport. We did have one scare. Actually two scares.
The first was when Roy and I became separated from Sandie at San Paulo. It happened so innocently yet became so frightening. It reminded me of an episode of the old series "The Twilight Zone". On minute we were walking behind Sandie who assumed control of the push cart that was loaded with our "carry on" bags and the next she was gone-----lost in the crowd. Now one would have thought that finding a beautiful blonde in a crowd of dark haired people would be a cinch but a half hour went by and nothing. We looked. We searched. We worried. I was starting to think that we would miss our flight. My imagination went wild. Did she get kidnapped! No not possible! Did she get suddenly sick? We got in line just in case we could spot her.
When we were about to be called to get our boarding passes, I spotted her in another line. She came over to us and was equally upset. By that time I had broken into a cold sweat and no doubt so did Roy.
We had just missed each other by a "hair" and look what happened. No wonder children have gotten lost and/or taken in crowded areas such as these. One thing, if Sandie did not want to be found, she would not have. Scary but this ended happily.
The next scare happened while en route to Canada and about three hours into our flight which was still over Brazil. We were approaching the border and coast when we hit some air turbulence. In one instance, the plane plunged over 500 feet. I heard some screams and concerned gasps and the fellow next to me grabbed my right arm with both his in a panic. It was his first time in an airplane. I quietly mentioned.
" If the plane was going to crash I don't think that would help verv much!" He looked frightened and held onto my arm even harder.
I continued, "Look! Just think of this as an amusement coaster ride. You have done that right?"
He nodded! His arm released a bit. I kept on. "Besides, this happens all the time!" His arms tightened up again! I finally convinced him that flying was safe and that the plane was not going to crash. My arm will never feel the same again!!!!
Other than that the flight was uneventful and three movies later, I was more than ready to get off the plane and get home. The rest of the story would be pretty familiar to many travelers. Disembarking, walking seemingly endlessly and waiting to get through customs and then pick up our luggage.
Roy's son was there to pick us up and our final journey home was pretty matter of fact.
I got home at approximately 9 AM and Darlene was sitting in the living room. "You're early!", greeted my entrance! Ah The Pain! The Pain!
Epilogue
We must be all familiar with the usual question from a person unfamiliar with the size of a country the size of Canada, the United States and/or Russia. "Ah you live in Toronto! You may know a friend of mine who lives in Vancouver." It is hard to imagine the sheer size of our countries. I made the same mistake with Brazil.
Brazil is HUGE and I had visions of paddling down an Amazon stream and eating Piranha for breakfast and doing all sorts things like manhandling Anacondas and Caimans. I was unprepared for the geography/climate that we stepped into.
If I was to describe the area in general terms it would be "Tuscan/Veneto like". Lush greenery, mild climate with some extremes of temperature, mountainous, aquiferos with many streams and rivers, diverse and breathtaking in beauty. The people were so hospitable and friendly. I could have easily become accustomed to it all.
We were in the lower third of South America which meant four seasons and some snow. It was strange to go from Spring to Fall in eleven hours and then back again to Spring on the way back home.
The other thing that in some way concerned me was that we visited two regions of Brazil: Bento Goncalvs and Santa Catarina. There are four more regions. One of them has two harvest a year and warm temperatures throughout the year. The question in my mind, "Did I do Brazil justice?"
The answer is yes!
The task of visiting every wine region would require awesome effort and time. It is better to do a great job in two regions than a quick but poor job in all of them. What we achieved was to visit effectively a great wine region that was relatively unknown and in one instance we another were was the first to be filmed by a wine television series. Being first was truly unique.
Brazil was an experience that we will long remember and it will be our continuing endeavour to publicize both Brazil and these two wine regions.
We would like to thank the Wines of Brasil and the Brazilian Consulate in Canada for assisting us with our visit. Most of all a big thank you to Paula, Jefferson, Marcio for making this trip so enjoyable.
Finally, I would like to thank the team. Sandie combined good looks and enthusiasm with talent and knowledge to make filming her easy. The show would not have been possible without Roy. The easiest way of describing his talent is this way.
Me "Roy there is a a nice shot that we should get!"
Roy: "Got it already!"
That's the way it was. Without him and his editing skills, there would be no series.
Thank you all!
End of Days 11/12
posted by Chuck Byers - Wine Consultant | 10:41 AM
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