24.01.: Rio do Sul / SC

24.01.:

self-fulfilling prophecy or have I actually already made the step into South American reality?

coffee room is what the breakfast room is called

before I say goodbye to Pomerode, the Vice President of Sales Excellence - similar to the magnates in Davos - still has to attend photo sessions.

The pharmacist's granddaughter looks me deep in the eyes and says that if I come back, there will be a room available for me.
I return the compliment and thank her for giving me the 'president suite'. I had the only room with a balcony and a light-filled bathroom!
She looks somewhat confused and may be thinking about her president, not knowing whether to be happy or look shyly to the side. She may have seen the news about his presentation in Davos... I leave that open.

The temperatures of the previous day have been forgotten by the weather. Low clouds hang over the mountains. We have already had the first shower.
The sun, however, does not want to give up and shows itself in all its glory for moments, until it finally submits to the thickening cloud cover.

My rain pants and anorak protect me to some extent, but I want to move on.

It smells of forest and mown grass.

I pass by the VW workshop again. It is open, and I hope to find oldtimer Käfer - in Brazil they are called Fuscá - from Europe. Not the copies that were assembled here from different model years. Front and side parts from the 60s, fenders, rear window and tail lights from the 70s.

look into the engine compartment of the Bulli

Käferfreude Fürstenfeldbruck cannot be correct...

it was called 411 in Europe

160 km/h and the Wolfsburg on the steering wheel

we don't know the Variant like this

we would only find them on selected junkyards

but instead, I find a VW bus with split windshields that can be opened and a Brazilian-built VW Variant.

VW do Brasil did not have a good reputation here during the military dictatorship. Regime opponents were betrayed by the factory security to the military police and even held in the factory - in the so-called pigsty. The union leader and later president Lula da Silva was among those observed and arrested.

Former CEO Hahn confirmed the spying, but emphasized that it was only needed for company purposes...

The spare parts warehouse here would bring tears to any Beetle fan's eyes. The semi-circular bumpers, the flower vase for the dashboard, brand new tanks and fenders for the front and rear, screws, hoses, air filters, taillights, turn signals, and trim...

Such a Beetle - completely overhauled - is traded here for 10 to 20 thousand reals.

But importing and selling it in Germany for ten times that price wouldn't work, because the TÜV on the one hand and the true Beetle specialists on the other would immediately recognize that it is not the European model.

The rain has subsided. I enjoy the drive through the European valley. The trucks driving in front of me are not important to me. I can slowly say goodbye to the valleys of Kufstein and get used to the square functional buildings along the main roads again.

20 kilometers before Rio do Sul, I take off the much too warm rain protection and find a small restaurant where I can get a coffee and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

A young couple is in charge here and curious to their fingertips. She has a Spanish mother and he Italian parents. I will certainly spend an hour there. Their dream is Europe! Italy. First to try it out and then later to live there. Maybe to open a restaurant? She is 24 and he is perhaps two years older.

Meanwhile, my phone rings!!! That has never happened before. I happen to be online. I am terrified.

Anja, my tenant, waits with the news that there is a water damage. It's still manageable, but... where she can find the main valve to turn off the water. Moderate excitement, but then the experts are there and only replace union nuts and bolts. Lucky escape! What if...?

I say goodbye to the two youngsters and come back to reality for half an hour. I decide before I arrive at the Ferrari hotel that I will only stay here one night.

It is said that Italians and Germans must have found their beginning in the New World here. There are supposed to be Italian restaurants, and my mouth is already watering. There should even be wine!!! Nothing of the sort is happening. Drabness on the grand boulevard. Trip hazards and the exact opposite of yesterday.

The temperatures are somewhat more pleasant. The 300 meters are noticeable. Tomorrow, there will be 600 more vertical meters.