Fun Fact: Goiana prides itself on the fact that on a per capita basis it has the 2nd most green space in the world! Question: What city is 1st? Hint: I guess technically it should be more often called white space. The answer is at the end. Did some exploring today but gave up early afternoon because it was just too hot. Hit in the mid-30's. Even all the green didnt help. Goiania is a planned city built from scratch. Nothing existed here when it was incorpora...

There is an old saying: "Daughters know best." Or maybe I'm confusing it with something else. I have done some traveling over the years, but both of my children have been to far more places than I have, especially Cassandra in the last few years where she has had to do extensive travel for work. Although, I believe I have her tied in Continents. I'll have to get to Asia before she gets to Australia. Maybe I can get Sarah Palin to lend me a boat for an afterno...

July 23 Today was a travel day. It was an afternoon flight so I did not have to rush. It gave me time to exchange some money to last me for the next week or so and to pay one last visit to Trianon Park. Ibirapuera is a wonderful park for doing things but this is a park to relax and think. It is no doubt my favorite part of the city. Hard to think the entire area was like this a couple of hundred years ago and now, literally steps away is Paulista, the commerci...

Sometimes things you do on a whim turn out to be invaluable. Before I left I ordered a cheap Bluetooth GPS receiver on eBay from China. I thought it might be handy. Just stick it in your pocket and forget about it. I didn't realize it would be indispensable. You are able to download maps on Wi-Fi only iPads and iPod touches but the problem has always been these don't come with GPS chips. A bluetooth GPS receiver solves that problem . I downloaded maps before ...

Another interesting day. The rooms in the hotel are apartment style. That is they come with a microwave, small refrigerator, dishes, etc. I decided the smart thing would be just to make breakfast in the room. So yesterday I went to the supermarket around the corner and bought some groceries. I expected to find good fruit at reasonable prices. Another wrong assumption. I picked up four tiny bananas for about double what we pay. All of the fruit and vegetables wer...