Walkies
Went for a walk before lunch to stretch my legs (and not feel so guilty about what I was going to have for lunch). The guy here with me and I must have walked for mile or so to one end of town (at least where it goes from business to residential) and back. Got some decent pics of the streets, buildings and the Cathedral in the center of town. I got some pics of the huge cemetery at the other end of town yesterday. Unfortunately I don;t think the WiFi in the hotel is quite up to the task of transferring megabytes of pictures, so that's going to wait for my return to Estados Unidos in a few weeks.
Impressions thus far. The town is incredible. Small houses surrounding a business district that reminds me of Charlotte in attitude. Friendly, welcoming, non-threatening and full of small shops and places that surprise you at every turn. And, it pleases me to report, not a frikking Wal-Mart anywhere. Seriously, not a single big-box store to be had at any price. It's magical. In other places people that don't speak English will just walk away from you instead of try to understand. Here, they genuinely make the effort to communicate. Sometimes it's in a impromptu sign language, or pointing and grunting on both sides, but it's done with a warm smile and everybody is happy when ideas get across after your unplanned game of charades. Happily this means that you don't stick out like the proverbial sore thumb when you are walking around town and speaking in English. Nobody really seems to take notice of you, which is great. You get to sit back and absorb some culture and actually see how people live day-to-day instead of being treated like a "visitor" or alien of some type.
I've been told that Tuesday is the 152nd birthday of Botucatu (the town) and will be a big City holiday (not for the customer I'm here for, though) so that should be interesting.
If it weren't for that having to work for a living thing, I could definitely pick up and move here.
Impressions thus far. The town is incredible. Small houses surrounding a business district that reminds me of Charlotte in attitude. Friendly, welcoming, non-threatening and full of small shops and places that surprise you at every turn. And, it pleases me to report, not a frikking Wal-Mart anywhere. Seriously, not a single big-box store to be had at any price. It's magical. In other places people that don't speak English will just walk away from you instead of try to understand. Here, they genuinely make the effort to communicate. Sometimes it's in a impromptu sign language, or pointing and grunting on both sides, but it's done with a warm smile and everybody is happy when ideas get across after your unplanned game of charades. Happily this means that you don't stick out like the proverbial sore thumb when you are walking around town and speaking in English. Nobody really seems to take notice of you, which is great. You get to sit back and absorb some culture and actually see how people live day-to-day instead of being treated like a "visitor" or alien of some type.
I've been told that Tuesday is the 152nd birthday of Botucatu (the town) and will be a big City holiday (not for the customer I'm here for, though) so that should be interesting.
If it weren't for that having to work for a living thing, I could definitely pick up and move here.