Rhinoceros Beetle

Along with the little June bugs, these rhinoceros beetles have been flying at night since the rains began. I found this one in the pool along. A week later, I picked up the carcasses of 17 beetles, male and female (without the horns), in a courtyard at the church. These beetles are about 2 inches long and large. They are super cool.

Week 9: One week after the first rains

One week and three heavy storms later, the grass was turning green and much less crunchy. We even got the Halloween decorations up.

Along with the rains we have also had a burst of insect activity. The cicadas are out and filling the air with their buzzing. There's also some sort of bug that sits on in the bushes near the back porch and calls between 6PM and 8PM every evening. It sounds just like a buzzing electrical transformer that is about to go out. It can be difficult to tell the difference between bug noises and electrical noises here.

We've also had a burst of activities from beetles that look very much like the June bugs in the U.S. Every night, these beetles fly around the lights in near the pool, and the Jacob gets removes about 50 or so that drowned in the pool from the night before.

Week 8: First Rain

On October 2nd, the first major rain of the rainy season reached our home. This photo shows a portion of our back yard and what it looked like after four months without rain. It was very dry, and there had been several brush fires, large and small, in the area, even quite a few on the margins of town along the roads. Smoke, dust and ash had filled the air, and got on everything leaving a constant layer of reddish dust with black flecks on everything. There were definitely paths through the dust on floors were we walked more often.

The air during the dry season is very dry too, down below 20% humidity most of the time. The medical office at the embassy suggests drinking about a pint or so of water every hour. At school, the kids carried water bottles, and outdoor physical activity was limited. We were told that the Federal District state government actually closed schools for due to the dry weather for a couple of days last year, just like a snow day back in the U.S.

Despite the dryness, the leaves on the hedges were still green and the mango trees were growing fruit. There were even trees with leaves. One nice thing about the dry (o seco) was the lack of mosquitos. And the beautiful sunny days.

Week 4: After the Parade

Following the parade, the Brazilian Air Force stunt flying team performed. Brazil is a major manufacturer of prop airplanes, and they supply military and commercial fleets around the world. The pilots who flew during this show were expcetionally good and the show was quite entertaining. I especially like the stall and free-fall stunts and the close flying formations.

Near us was an ice cream vendor, and he was having a promotion (sale) of only one "real" (Brazilian dollar) per container. That ice cream was the best and least expensive ice cream we have had so far in Brasilia. The flavors were strawberry, strawberry/chocolate, mango, pineapple and maracuja (passion fruit). It was totally worth seeing the parade just for the ice cream. By the way, ice cream sold in the supermarket runs for about R$13 to R$17 per liter, and it's tastes old. We also have a frozen yogurt stand near our home, but the price there is about R$7 for the size we got at the parade.

There were several types of vendors at the parade: agua de coco (coconut water), hats, cotton candy, pastels, popcorn, jewelry, and even the enterprising folks with coolers of water and beer.

There were no receptacles for garbage on the parade grounds. The entire area was covered with plastic bottles, political flyers, cans and other trash. Everyone just used their container and dropped it on the ground when done. Joseph, Emma and I couldn't stand to just leave our trash on the ground, so I picked up an empty plastic bag and hauled our trash to an overflowing receptacle near the cathedral.

We walked from the parade site to the US Embassy trying to find a taxi to take us home. We decided that it would be easier for us to explain to a taxi driver to get us at the embassy than try to describe where we were on the Planalto. I tried to wave a couple of taxis down while were walking, but was denied. It was a hot, dry and sunny day. I got very sunburned because I forgot sunscreen and let Sam wear my hat. Besides, walking a few blocks only added to the adventure, thrill and misery of the day.

At the embassy, I called for two cars. Soon after I called, a single taxi arrived. I thought I had been clear that we needed two cars. Then I looked inside and saw that the driver already had two passengers. He told us that he could take us home, then told his passengers to get out (I think they may have been family members). I feebly asked where the other car was, and then we loaded all eight of us and the stroller into a car that's about the size of a Toyota Corolla. On the way home, we passed the two taxis I had ordered. It was a very fast drive home, and I felt a little bad for not waiting for the other taxis, but I guess that's life for taxi drivers.

Week 4: Brazil Independence Day Parade

We took a couple of taxis to get to the parade from our house because we didn't have a car. Also, it probably would have been difficult to find a place to park. It certainly was difficult to find a place to watch the parade and get a decent view. The city did set up a several bleachers that held about a couple of thousand people, but we did not arrive early enough, nor did we have the right credentials to be able to sit in that area.

We ended up being with the people and got to practice our Portuguese. The city also set up a row of fences in order to prevent people from stepping out into the parade route. They also posted military police officers every 20 feet or so along the parade route to remind us to stay on our side of the fence. One of the unfortunate consequences of the fence is that it didn't allow for anyone in the front to sit, so there was no good way to get a good view unless you were in the front, climbed a tree, or we're over six feet tall. I managed to find a small bump to stand on by the side walk and hold my camera up to see the parade through the view screen.

None of use qualified in that way, but little children have a way a getting to the front in Brazil. Our parade viewing neighbors grabbed our smallest children, commenting on their beauty, and passed them up to the fence and then over to the other side of the fence where they were able to sit on the road and watch. My kids were a little hesitant to leave us, but it was a better view. They were a little disappointed that no one threw candy from the tanks.

Week 4: Brazil Independence Day Parade

The day after the US Labor Day, we went to Brasilia to watch their Independence Day Parade. It was very much like any US parade with marching bands, bagpipe bands, people dressed in native clothing, school kids marching, and representatives from every branch of the military services. There were even a few fly-bys from Brazil's Air Force. The parade also included various military vehicles, fire trucks and finished with a host of horses and riders from the Palace Guard.

The Determined Turtle and the Alligator

We visited the National Zoo of Brasilia yesterday, and one of the pens was full of turtles (tartarugas) and two alligators (jacare). The alligators did not move for the 15 minutes or so that we stood and watched them. Jacob was pretty sure that they were fake, but then the jacare blinked. One turtle was determined to get on top of this living log, tried from the tail and failed, and then went for the approach behind the head. We did not see the little turtle climb on top of the gator before we moved on to another pen with a very large crocodile.