All day at the Banco!

12.8.2010

All day at the Banco!

So... in order for me to see Brasil, I have to have a car.  Right?  Well we woke up at 9 and were on the street by 10.  We walked a hot and sweaty mile with purpose.  The purpose was to stop in every dealership on the way and look for the perfect car.  By the 7the dealer.... I saw it.  97' Fiat palio weekender.  130 kilometers which is approx. 90 miles.  Not bad and perfect.  In Brasil all cars are compact at best midsized unless you have tons of cash.  A Hyundai Santa Fe like the one we had in Colorado is priced new at around $80,000 real.  This is approx. $50K u.s. dollars.   Anyway people don’t drive more than 10,000 kilometers a year because there are other forms of transportation available and gas is expensive.  Mind you resale value is good too.  And I can pick up friends and family at the airport because it seats 5 comfortably with Bhellie and some luggage.  Most cars wouldn’t even fit Bhellie.  Can’t have that.
Oh the bank.....
Tomorrow will be the 3rd day that we stand in lines at the bank trying to get money out.  It is more complicated but I will just say good thing they have air conditioner.  Also, banks have about 10 security officers with bullet proof vests stationed at any one time.  They also do not give large sums of money to their customers because of the safety factor on the street.  I do feel safe here, but I understand. 
Everything here is a fiasco but one thing is that the system is very simple but comprehensive.  I will go into more detail as I experience it on my own.  Remember, I am only observing.  I do not speak the language very well and my ear still isn’t trained to pick up conversation.  I am about as good of help hear as a 2 year old carrying a fish tank.