A tough week

This has been a tough week.

What should have been a day to remember our past tragedies, instead became a day with new tragedies.  People have been killed because of who they are and what they stand for; colleagues and friends all over the world have been in danger.

I have no words.

Here is the statement from Secretary of State Hilary Clinton on the tragedies.

We lost some great people: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and Security Officers Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty  They will be missed.

Hannah Draper over at A Slow Move East has a wonderful post about a recent adventure with her boss - Ambassador Chris Stevens.   He sounds like someone I would have loved to work with.

Digger at Life After Jerusalem has great post about the realities of diplomatic life.  Her post includes links to some great articles well worth reading.

Hatred and intolerance are never the answer.

Caldo de Cana

Brazilians love their sucos (juices).  You can get all kinds of fresh juices here - tangerine, lime, pineapple, pineapple with mint, mango, graviola - I could go on and on.  In restaurants, I always ask what juices they have that day and try something new - they're all wonderful.






But there's one type of juice that you usually don't get at a restaurant.  You get it from a street vendor who has a special way to juice it - it's sugar cane juice.  I finally had a chance to try it when we went to Mercado Sao Jose the other day.


First the guy selects a stalk of sugar cane.

Then he starts the motor of his machine and runs it through the press.

The he folds it and runs it through again.

The press does a good job of really crushing the sugar cane and getting all the juice.

As he crushes it, the juice runs out and into a little strainer.  He also adds just a bit of fresh orange juice.

 

And then - you get the caldo de cana!  It was actually quite tasty - sweet with a faint flavor of molasses (which makes sense of course).

Driving in Brazil

Driving in Brazil is very creative.  Yes there are laws and rules and it's important to obey them.

But - it's interesting to see how many of the "rules" are more like suggestions.

Like:

• Going the correct way on a one way street - especially if your garage is at one end and you just need to get to the other end to get to work / restaurant / beach.
• Turning left or right from the closest lane.  If you're in in the far lane and need to make a turn (despite cutting across several lanes of traffic), it can still be done.
• Stopping in the middle of the street - to pick someone up / drop someone off / talk to a friend in the next car.
• Riding your bike in the fast lane towards oncoming traffic.   You get bonus points if you are also carrying

• small children
• propane tanks
• several people precariously balanced

But the best thing thus far happened today.  At lunchtime, leaving our restaurant which was located at the end of a 4 lane highway before a bridge with no turnoffs, I asked the valet the best way to get back to our neighborhood (the opposite direction).  He told me I had to go across the bridge, then turn around and come back via the other bridge and street - pretty much what I expected.

But when we got ready to go - they suggested we instead drive the opposite direction of traffic, straddling the sidewalk and the street for about a block until we could turn right and head to the other highway.  We had a valet person motioning us along and clearing the way.

I love driving in Brazil!