Threats of chaos

Some time ago, maybe a year or more, there was a short bus strike. The companies wanted to raise the price of a ride on one of our many city buses some thing like another R$1 or so and when the talks weren't going well (or at all, I can't quite remember), the drivers took a one day strike that threw the city in to absolute chaos. Nannies couldn't get to their charges, doormen couldn't get to work, security guards were stuck at home, people who normally took buses had to brave the streets in their cars... I remember distinctly that there was a lot of traffic on the roads that day, and that several people were still waiting at bus stops in hopes of a bus coming by anyway, or that one of the opportunists would stop and give them a ride to where they needed to go for a small fee if it were on the way or a larger one if it wasn't. The city stops with out buses. We have no other transportation (save the monorail that has been under construction for 10+ years now) and those who are too poor to have a car but have a job and mouths to feed are the ones who get screwed the most. Some employers expect the employees to find there way to work on their own. Others will go pick them up or arrange other transportation. The traffic becomes ridiculous (when it already was before).



The buses are about to go on strike again. The drivers only make a little more than R$600 a month. If no agreement is reached for a pay raise, they will strike on Tuesday, as was announced on the news this morning. Lets all cross our fingers...

Acarajé passing

I have looked all over my computer and try as I might, I cannot find a photo to accompany this entry. I was informed that Dinha, the Bahia de Acarajé based in Rio Vermelho and one of the more well known ones in Salvador has died of a heart attack late this week. Some of my fondest memories are of eating near her street stand and drinking beer from our "home" bar there in the square. I never had the pleasure of meeting her (although my partner in all things Bahia did), but her acarajé and abará accompanied some of the most memorable first nights and experiences I had here in this wonder of a city. She will be missed, but her memory lives on in the form of tasty dendê foods.

Rain Rain, go away....

Yeah, so this is an old picture. But the stretch of road looks about the same right now, so I don't feel too bad posting it. Between being gripada again and all this lovely weather we are having lately, I haven't felt too inspired to go out taking pictures of new things. Not that there haven't been some interesting things happening here lately - an accident involving a SKOL truck and some cases of beer falling off onto the cars behind it blocking the entire Orla in the Itapua bound direction comes to mind - I just haven't felt like dragging around my camera.

Bringing in the catch

Yes, traditional fishermen still exist. Even in the middle of a rich weekend housing area. And they still drag in nets and it does take a whole team of people to do it. And all the weekenders come out to watch, totally fascinated by this traditional show of manual labor. Perhaps they were also jarred into remembering that the fish they eat were once living, flipping silvery forms in these nets. Perhaps some of them don't have jobs that require actual work, so the idea of work in and of itself is interesting.







*** DISCLAIMER ***
All of the fish shown in these photos were harmed and most likely eaten later that day.

Home security

As you may well know, crime is expected here - better safe than sorry. One generally does not walk around on the street without being constantly aware of the surroundings, who is walking behind you, and who is looking in your direction. Surprisingly, few people carry "self protection" type things like mace, rather it is safer to hand over your things than to resist the inevitable. For homes, however, we can be a little less discreet. Take this example - too cheap to spring for that electronic home security system or razor wire? Just break some bottles and mix up the cement and you can easily show off your "don't come here" attitude without removing your welcome mat. The poor man's answer to a low wall or an easily hopped border. Although, after having watched the last movie in the Borne series, one could think of some easy ways over it.

Feeding Micos

There is a large population of small monkeys here, and they hang out and beg just like squirrels and pigeons in the States. If you feed one, the whole colony shows up asking for a handout. It's kind of funny to go to the zoo and see the depressing animals in cages and see these guys perched on the signs outside of the cages. Our inner city pests. Occasionally in Pelo you will see a random guy on the street with one on a leash that you can pose and have your picture with. Their little teeth look pretty sharp, so I'd rather treat them as the wild animals they are. Still, they are awfully cute.

not my fault

It's not my fault I haven't posted the video of the river that was our street some weeks ago - it's a "my camera" / "your camera" issue, but rest assured I have not forgotten those who read and I will get the spectacular video up momentarily.