Today is somewhat of a rest day for me. I made it here to Brasilia two days ago, travelling over the Guyana jungle to the border town of Lethem. I will expound on the journey in another post. But believe me when I tell you it has been an absolute blast so far!!!
Saw the Ecuador - Switzerland game yesterday, and felt it for the home team of Ecuador whose supporters outnumbered the Swiss by 10:1, at least! I wore my yellow Jamaica shirt in support of them.
Of course, once others realised we (bredren from Jamaica was there) were from Jamaica, we were all the rage. Everyone wanted to take pictures with us. The only sad part was when they asked, hypocritically, if Jamaica was one of the 32 teams in this year's World Cup. I reminded them that not too long ago we were part of it all. Memba!
For the English-challenged, they repeated the names Bob Marley and Usain Bolt as they bigged us up. For the Swiss, I responded with Federer. Not sure that went over as well as I would have liked!
Brasilia is an astounding beautiful and well-designed city. It is surreal to be in the city designed by the great Ocar Niemeyer, one of two persons whose work inspired me to study architecture and urban planning. The other is Frank Lloyd Wright.
You can drive miles throughout Brasilia and not come to a traffic light. The roads snake over and under each other allowing for interrupted flow almost throughout the entire city. There are even tunnels below the roads to provide for pedestrians.
I am told that no other city has as much green space as Brasilia and it certainly looks that way. The islands between opposing traffic can be as wide as 100m or more. There are sectors for embassies, hotels, and government. And the weather is perfect!
My only problem with Brasil so far is the lack of English-speakers. My Spanish has allowed me to get around, but for a country that has invited the world to this big dance, there should be more English-speakers, if only at hotels, airports and on tours.
Still, I'm loving this place! Beautiful country, and beautiful people!
And ah not even reach Rio yet!!! D
Saw the Ecuador - Switzerland game yesterday, and felt it for the home team of Ecuador whose supporters outnumbered the Swiss by 10:1, at least! I wore my yellow Jamaica shirt in support of them.
Of course, once others realised we (bredren from Jamaica was there) were from Jamaica, we were all the rage. Everyone wanted to take pictures with us. The only sad part was when they asked, hypocritically, if Jamaica was one of the 32 teams in this year's World Cup. I reminded them that not too long ago we were part of it all. Memba!
For the English-challenged, they repeated the names Bob Marley and Usain Bolt as they bigged us up. For the Swiss, I responded with Federer. Not sure that went over as well as I would have liked!
Brasilia is an astounding beautiful and well-designed city. It is surreal to be in the city designed by the great Ocar Niemeyer, one of two persons whose work inspired me to study architecture and urban planning. The other is Frank Lloyd Wright.
You can drive miles throughout Brasilia and not come to a traffic light. The roads snake over and under each other allowing for interrupted flow almost throughout the entire city. There are even tunnels below the roads to provide for pedestrians.
I am told that no other city has as much green space as Brasilia and it certainly looks that way. The islands between opposing traffic can be as wide as 100m or more. There are sectors for embassies, hotels, and government. And the weather is perfect!
My only problem with Brasil so far is the lack of English-speakers. My Spanish has allowed me to get around, but for a country that has invited the world to this big dance, there should be more English-speakers, if only at hotels, airports and on tours.
Still, I'm loving this place! Beautiful country, and beautiful people!
And ah not even reach Rio yet!!! D
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