{"id":3471,"date":"2017-01-28T23:43:57","date_gmt":"2017-01-28T20:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dknolte.com\/?p=3471"},"modified":"2017-03-09T13:46:06","modified_gmt":"2017-03-09T10:46:06","slug":"the-city-honors-saint-paul-of-tarsus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dknolte.com\/?p=3471","title":{"rendered":"The City Honors Saint Paul of Tarsus"},"content":{"rendered":"

A<\/strong>ccording to Wikipedia, \u201c\u2026 Sao Paulo is the 11th<\/sup> most populace city on the earth, and largest Portuguese-speaking city in the world \u2026\u00a0 The city, which is also colloquially known as Sampa or Terra da Garoa (Land of Drizzle), is known for its unreliable weather, the size of its helicopter fleet, its architecture, gastronomy, severe traffic congestion and skyscrapers.\u201d<\/p>\n

I don’t know anything about its helicopter fleet, architecture or gastronomy, but I see it from my 9th<\/sup> floor balcony.\u00a0 A view of a soccer field below, and beyond that, skyscrapers.\u00a0 At first I disliked the sport field, but then I realized, if not for it I would see nothing but tall buildings which seem to go into the horizon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>And as you will notice in the image below, I have what appears to be fencing on the balcony.\u00a0 It is made of string instead of wire, which I assume it is to keep birds out.\"\"<\/a>My balcony is long and narrow. \"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>The rectangular hole in the wall is a BBQ grill.\u00a0 One thing certain about this country, the Brazilians take their meat very seriously.\u00a0 Everyone cooks meat, therefore all houses and apartments need a place to cook it.<\/p>\n

And they do cook meat very well.\u00a0 And beans.\u00a0 These Brazilians know how to cook meat and beans.\u00a0 Every restaurant serves meat and beans.\u00a0 The little place I go for lunch has meat on a grill, and beans, rice and a few vegetables.\u00a0 I cannot imagine this country being friendly to vegetarians, but I know personally several who do find a lot to eat.<\/p>\n

Many of the restaurants have a selection of food that you load up on, then place your plate on a scale and pay per kilogram.\u00a0 I have a very good lunch with a bottle of water for about 10-12 dollars.\u00a0 With a meal like that, I have a small dinner.\u00a0 Usually a sandwich or toast.<\/p>\n

Now, the Brazilians are not people who enjoy spicy food.\u00a0 As a matter of fact, you will not find black pepper on tables at a restaurant, because it is too spicy.\u00a0 When I go to the little restaurant for lunch (Santina de Maria), I will ask for some of their spicy sausage.\u00a0 It is not spicy at all, but it does have a very unique flavor.\u00a0 The first time I tasted it, I wondered whether it was good meat or not.\u00a0 I took a chance and ate it anyway and did not wake up dead the next morning.\u00a0 Every time I ate it since then, it tasted the same.\u00a0 So I guess it’s just the spices they use and not bad meat.<\/p>\n

The best way to describe the traffic here is cordial.\u00a0 If someone wants to cut you off, they use their blinker and wait for you to give them room.\u00a0 Not what I am used to in Turkey.\u00a0 Everyone drives the speed limit, because there are cameras everywhere watching you, which will send you a ticket in the mail for speeding or running a red light.\u00a0 As I type this, the lady who owns the “Damnit Cat” that I took care of for 6 weeks, just took me to a restaurant for lunch.\u00a0 She told me she gets so many tickets each month, that she no longer even tries to drive politely.\u00a0 She said, her approx 300 Reais <\/b><\/b><\/span>a month ($100) is just the price of driving in Sao Paulo.<\/p>\n

She also told me that because of the crime in the city, when you drive late a night you ignore the traffic signs.\u00a0 No stopping at a “Pare” (stop) sign due to the possibility of being car jacked.\u00a0 Yes, you may be pulled over by the Pol\u00edcia<\/span>, but the fine is part of being safe.<\/p>\n

The People.\u00a0 I was told the Brazilians are the happiest people in the world.\u00a0 With the crime I would question that, but working with these good people, I can see their happiness deep inside.\u00a0 There is Jefferson Tisano who works in the Maintenance of the Consulate who does everything he can to hold his joy inside while he works.\u00a0 One of these day, I will take him out for a beer after work to see what’s inside that glorious cerebral matter of his.\u00a0 There is a small diminutive electrician named Fransisco who is always smiling.\u00a0 Always.\u00a0 When I say, Fransisco, why do you smile so much?\u00a0 He says, I dunno!\u00a0 Then there is Felipe who is cautious with me.\u00a0 He is in charge of the local guard force and tries to maintain a serious nature when he is around me.\u00a0 But I have seen him smile and laugh when I was not nearby.<\/p>\n

Now, there is something we must talk about.\u00a0 After coming from a Muslim country with its call to prayer 5 times a day, starting at about 4-5 am, I was looking forward to being in a Christian nation with churches and cathedrals abound.\u00a0 But alas, no.\u00a0 No, as in no churches and cathedrals abound.\u00a0 I thought that Brazil would be like Ethiopia or Russia with its Orthodox churches everywhere like the mosques in Turkey.\u00a0 Sometime, I will have to search one out, wherever they are.\u00a0 But I have yet to hear any bells at all.\u00a0 *sigh*<\/p>\n

Okay. Enough for this post.\u00a0 Kick butt.\u00a0 D.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to Wikipedia, \u201c\u2026 Sao Paulo is the 11th most populace city on the earth, and largest Portuguese-speaking city in …<\/p>\n

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