Last day, last blog from south america

Morning room service coffee and rolls. Dad left for meetings, I showered and met my tour guide at 10:30. Lovely lady who took me around city for 3.5 hours, seeing an overview of the sights and getting a history lesson in the process. Sao paolo named for st Paul, city was founded on his feast day by the Jesuits. Lots of graffiti, many many homeless camped on sidewalks and steps. Lots of police patrolling public areas too. Beautiful park, and the best news was it wasn't raining. The sun even managed to come out! Returned to fasano hotel about 230 and dad was waiting for late lunch. Went to amazing restaurant with a huge fig tree growing in the center. Nice meal .. Dad has sardines and I had salad of shrimp, lobster and scallop. Back to room, rested and watched movie, took a walk, pack bags, opted for another walk for some fresh air and sunshine. No dinner prior to long flights for both of us. Watched Australian open this morning.

Lookingbforward to seeing everyone ... Hangnin there Elizabeth.

Last night the dinner was in a very authentic Brazilian restaurant. I had a pork dish and dad had a fish from the amazon river.

Friday

Awoke to more grey skies. So much for packing summer things. Dad and I agreed we could make it with just coffee this morning. He left for a day of work visiting furniture places. My options were limited by the weather so I thought. Pool is indoor but closed today so I took advantage of the 15 min free massage which turned out to be 7.5 minutes on each foot. It was nice. Then I sat with the concierge and figured out a plan for the day. She suggested a mall which turned out to be a high rise building butnit was great. All the big names and lots of Brazilian designer shops. LV, Cartier, channel, Tiffany, ferragamo, Burberry, hilfiger. Spent most of the afternoon in there. Still raining so badly the gutters were difficult to hop across even getting into taxi. I know I said no souvenirs, but I thought each of you girls should have a special gift from brazil .... About the only time your mother will ever buy you a lace thong!

I believe dinner tonight will be with dads distributor ... Guess I'll dig out something from the suitcase.

Saturday I will do a private guided tour .. The only kind offered apparently. Maybe it won't rain ;-/

Found the flickr site for the hotel in Patagonia .. Those pics would have helped packing had I known about it!

On the drive to the shopping mall passed the bentley, Ferrari, lamborgini, BMW dealers. On the drive back thru a lovely neighborhood all the homes were behind big walls, most with barbed wire and several security cameras and double gates. Yesterday dad was driven back in an armor plated range rover with bulletproof windows and the security guard followed in a car behind. They are serious about their safety.

That wraps it up for now...

My day

Thursday in Sao paolo. Dad and I slept late after a long travel day on Wednesday. Too late for breakfast so only coffee in lobby. Walked the shops in neighborhood, every big name imaginable. Cartier, ferragamo, etc etc. Lunch at lovely Italian restaurant. Orichetti for me and risotto for dad. Stroll around, dad skipped and did a bit of work. Had 330 appt with local dealer. I went exploring on my own when he left.

First I went and checked out spa. Nice small massage area ... Got their price list and I am happy to say that I won't be having any services in the hotel spa ....example one hour relaxing massage is 118us$. Five hour brides day is about 900us$! Then I walked down a flight to the indoor pool. Pool, sauna ,steam shower....might be a less expensive alternative to the spa! But they charge for the bottle of water.

Then i left the hotel for a wander around on my own. Wandered the streets .. Lots of sales of Sumer clothes. Some observations while having a cappuccino in no particular order ... Gay men are much more blatant with their PDA. Lots of graffiti all over the place. I don't know who wears all the skimpy underwear being sold here bc the women are quite ample bodies mostly. I expected the stereotype statuesque model types. And there are some but rare. Returned to hotel at 7pm before dark .. So I don't get lost and it's safer! Dad not back from his afternoon appointment.

Morning started out with slight drizzle, progressed to heavier later in morning then stopped. Evening drizzle ... Sun never came out.

Obviously it could be a late dinner but that's normal for brazil.

Hang in there Elizabeth. Feel betterr Carolyn. August 11 works for me. Great picture Sarah.

More.... Dinner at portugese restaurant. Lovely exquisite meal, quality service presentation and pricing. Steak and fish for us. Friday dad has meetings, I will likely repeat much of today with some minor changes.

Wednesday to Sao paolo

Currently in the airport lounge of santiago headed over to brazil.

Early morningn wake up 345, shower and out at 415, arrived punta arena airport at 640 for 740 flight. One stop in way to santiago. Thru immigration to exit country and apparently I left somewhat important paper in my luggage! Had to go get a duplicate to be processed out...just a little hiccup and something else for dad to be annoyed about. But he handled it well (unless he was hoping to leave me behind
:-/). Got our seats changed to sit together for the trip to Sao paolo. Now we must have to make sure out luggage makes the flight as well.

Hang in there Elizabeth. Hear you're sick Carolyn .. Market will do that to you. Hope you feel better soon.

Good pictures to show when I see you all. Love mom

Familiar businesses

Ruby Tuesday
Dunkin donuts
Subway
Brooks brothers
Applebys
Mcdonalds of course

Louis vuitton
Feragammo
Pronovias! Free standing shop

And probably others that I'm not tuned into!

Sunday Jan 22

Hangin there elizabeth

Sunday started out at 355am alarm, shower, zip up and check out od hotel. 25000 peso trip to airport ...19000 from airport to hotel!? $50 vs $40. LAN airlines, good trip at 6am to end od earth over Andes mtns. Beautiful mtn range but kept thinking if we crashed they'd never find us ... Ever! But not a bad place to end up. Amazing mtns. Chilly in chile about 50 degrees. Two hour shuttle to hotel north of airport so not exactly down as far south as possible. SINGULAR hotel. Other shuttle passengers no shows but waited til last ones out. Windy! Yikes. Should have packed better. Sheep and cows. Nothing enroute to hotel. Seriously nothing. Andes mtns very impressive.

Hotel is amazing. Hidden gem. So impressed. Dad met me at registration. Had my doubts initially but wow. And of course its loaded with TA furniture everywhere you look. Dad is taking photos non stop. View from room is awesome ... Mtns and water. Signed up for boat tour on Monday and hotel tour which is an old meat packing and processing facility. Spa is beautiful. Bar is impressive. Restaurant is gorgeous. Not walking distance to anywhere.

Lunch of steak and. Risotto in dining room....mellow afternoon. Need to walk off lunch after dads nap! Dinner 8 or later chile time!

Observations: very few obese people seen in Santiago. Amazing.
Cars: toyota, chevy, subarsu, peugot, dodge .. Not merc or Lexus.
Churches everywhere

Saw a couple last night each pushing stroller, he had guitar slung over shoulder. I thought they might be going to party. Well later after leaving dinner at restaurant I saw them busking outside outdoor tables with him playing guitar and her on some reed instrument! Poor little kids where props .. She pushed with one hand and played her flute thing with the other.

So in Lower chile now. Very isolated but actually Internet connection is good. Dad had no Internet when fishing! And he survived! Sounds like he had good trip from what I've been told.

Hang in there Elizabeth!

In Santiago chile

Wonderful night sleep. Today is the day of full sightseeing. Will hop a tourist on off bus and do it. Now sitting in hotel lounge (thanks to dads status with intercontinental hotel use). Cofe, juice, fruit, yogurt, meat options. Had a nice lunch Friday so light supper of fruits delivered to hotel room complimentary of course! Took one photo of the bathroom sink ... Hope for more today. Wish I studied up on Spanish. Miami has no red carpet lounge ... Not good with five hour layover. Still amazed at direct flight greesnboro to Miami. Entry tax of 160 taxi of about 35 to hotel. I wonder if this breakfast is free ... Guess I have to sign something.. Sunday off to punta a arenas. CNN covering south Carolina primary. Thomas in Spanish on tv. Frazier, criminal minds, ncis advertised. Warm. BBC news. Unsure of future blogs and internet connection once I depart Santiago. Hang in there elizabeh.