Before we talk about this week's outing, I think we should say something about these pink skies. They really aren`t the color you see here in this shot. It may be that our camera is failing or that the camera card has become corrupted. We`ll try a new card next week, although some, including our grand daughter Emma think they are quite nice and would like to come to Brazil to see the pink skies. This is a view of the Santos/Sao Vicente beach from the Oscar Niemeyer lookout point.
Oscar Niemeyer was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the 15th December 1907. He graduated from the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes in Rio de Janeiro in 1934. At this time Oscar Niemeyer joined a team of Brazilian architects collaborating with Le Corbusier on a new Ministry of Education and Health in Rio de Janeiro. Oscar Niemeyer worked with Lucio Costa and Le Corbusier till 1938 on this project.
He is probably the most famous architect Brazil has ever produced. The picture before this one is the lookout point he inspired and comemerates his contributions to Brazil. He was the principle designer of many of the buildings in Brazilia.
Here some city workers are doing some repair work in front of the lookout platform. It is located on Ponchat Island just off the coast. It offers a spectacular view of the coast and of the ocean.
Santos is a coastal city about 75 kilometers from the city of Sao Paulo. We took a day trip on Friday March 27th, to visit this city were I labored 46 years ago. Nothing looked familiar to me except the the large high rise apartments along the beach. It is the largest port in Brazil and was the point from which the vast quantities of sugar and coffee left Brazil for more than 250 years. This is a fish market on the wharf area of Santos. Notice the white crane on the roof ready to swoop down and snatch any disgarded fish.
Another view of the fish market
We had stopped here to ask direction to a couple of restaurants we were looking for. One turned out to be not a restaurant at all, but a small potable cart on a street corner. And we never did find the other one.
So...as hunger became more accute, our search for an authentic Brazilian dining experience gave way to expediency and we unanimously voted for the Golden Arches.
Sometimes we succumb to circumstances. But even though Jerry and I are not great fans of McDonalds there was something strangely comforting about the meal fries, a salad, a chicken sandwich and a Guarana.
And then we visited an "orquidario" or an orchard park in the very middle of this large city.
A peaceful oasis in the heart of the hustle and bustle of this sea port. It was so serene and the dense tropical jungle that surround the center of the park effectively cut out most of the noise of the city
Ponds abounded. We watched these turtles for quite sometime until we realized that they were made out of bronze. We did find several live turtles, one curious turtle started to follow us out. We were able to outrun him.
It was very warm here and very humid. It was easy to close yor eyes and imagine what it must have been like 500 years ago when this city was founded.
This may have been an ugly duckling at one time, but now was a very handsome blackswan.
There were several large coy or carp in these ponds that would come to the surface as if to beg for food.
Although this bird was very still it was nevertheless a real bird. It was a very spectacular drive home. Sao Paulo is about 2500 feet higher than Santos. The highway connecting the two areas is and engineering marvel. We are so greatful to be here and also able to see so much of this beautiful land. We are grateful to be here.... and we love all of you.
Before we talk about this week's outing, I think we should say something about these pink skies. They really aren`t the color you see here in this shot. It may be that our camera is failing or that the camera card has become corrupted. We`ll try a new card next week, although some, including our grand daughter Emma think they are quite nice and would like to come to Brazil to see the pink skies. This is a view of the Santos/Sao Vicente beach from the Oscar Niemeyer lookout point.
Oscar Niemeyer was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the 15th December 1907. He graduated from the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes in Rio de Janeiro in 1934. At this time Oscar Niemeyer joined a team of Brazilian architects collaborating with Le Corbusier on a new Ministry of Education and Health in Rio de Janeiro. Oscar Niemeyer worked with Lucio Costa and Le Corbusier till 1938 on this project.
He is probably the most famous architect Brazil has ever produced. The picture before this one is the lookout point he inspired and comemerates his contributions to Brazil. He was the principle designer of many of the buildings in Brazilia.
Here some city workers are doing some repair work in front of the lookout platform. It is located on Ponchat Island just off the coast. It offers a spectacular view of the coast and of the ocean.
Santos is a coastal city about 75 kilometers from the city of Sao Paulo. We took a day trip on Friday March 27th, to visit this city were I labored 46 years ago. Nothing looked familiar to me except the the large high rise apartments along the beach. It is the largest port in Brazil and was the point from which the vast quantities of sugar and coffee left Brazil for more than 250 years. This is a fish market on the wharf area of Santos. Notice the white crane on the roof ready to swoop down and snatch any disgarded fish. 
Another view of the fish market
We had stopped here to ask direction to a couple of restaurants we were looking for. One turned out to be not a restaurant at all, but a small potable cart on a street corner. And we never did find the other one.
So...as hunger became more accute, our search for an authentic Brazilian dining experience gave way to expediency and we unanimously voted for the Golden Arches.
Sometimes we succumb to circumstances. But even though Jerry and I are not great fans of McDonalds there was something strangely comforting about the meal fries, a salad, a chicken sandwich and a Guarana.
And then we visited an "orquidario" or an orchard park in the very middle of this large city.
A peaceful oasis in the heart of the hustle and bustle of this sea port. It was so serene and the dense tropical jungle that surround the center of the park effectively cut out most of the noise of the city
Ponds abounded. We watched these turtles for quite sometime until we realized that they were made out of bronze. We did find several live turtles, one curious turtle started to follow us out. We were able to outrun him.
It was very warm here and very humid. It was easy to close yor eyes and imagine what it must have been like 500 years ago when this city was founded.
This may have been an ugly duckling at one time, but now was a very handsome blackswan.
There were several large coy or carp in these ponds that would come to the surface as if to beg for food.
Although this bird was very still it was nevertheless a real bird. It was a very spectacular drive home. Sao Paulo is about 2500 feet higher than Santos. The highway connecting the two areas is and engineering marvel. We are so greatful to be here and also able to see so much of this beautiful land. We are grateful to be here.... and we love all of you. 
