The rainy season has arrived fast and furious. Despite the fact that heavy rains plague us at least 3 months out of the year here, engineers cannot be troubled to deal with adequate drainage when designing roads and city spaces. Sometimes it seems they cannot even be troubled by trying to address traffic flow. Today it began raining heavily around 10 AM. A normal 5 minute drive took more than 2 hours. Some parts of the city were completely under water. Where I work people were out digging canals around the building to try to get the water directed somewhere other than inside the building.
Streets like this one, which are so numerous around the city, become waterfalls of rushing water carrying with it all manner of crap from the surrounding areas above. It all pools at the bottom, some low laying area, sometimes inside a parking area, or worse someone or several people's homes, and more often than not, also a busy street. People try to escape the rising waters, driving the wrong way down one way streets, coming head to head with motorists trying to go the opposite direction trying to do the same thing and bringing everyone to a complete stand still.
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Our mayor, or someone, declared a state of emergency (again) and advised everyone to stay home so as to not float away in their cars. Here I am at home, despite not having a car.
4 comentários:
I am supposed to be going to Salvador in two weeks! Is it this way all around the city? My visas are still being held up. I wonder if it is because of this...or maybe the swine flu?
Yes, it is this way all over the city. But luckily as we are on the ocean, the water has somewhere to go eventually, so unlike in Pará, we flood and then the water level goes down when the rain stops for a while. So cross your fingers that it isn't raining so much when you get here. May is the rainiest month. Maybe bring some hip-waders (j/k).
That's an interesting thought about the swine flu, it's possible. Everyone here is super paranoid about it.
Well our visas should be arriving Monday, so I guess the swine flu scare was not holding them up...I will be staying in Barra, near the coast, on the sixth floor, so hopefully things will be okay...
Hi AkuTyger!
Sorry to post this here--couldn't find your email on your blog. Would love to be in touch. Just moved to Salvador recently. I'm also in education, and have a blog about my experiences here: www.thegoldenpapaya.com
Would like to link to your sites, would be happy if you choose to return the favor.
I see you haven't posted for awhile, though.
If you'd like to email me, I can be reached at estanford1@yahoo.com.
All the best,
Ellie
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