South Brazil: Curitiba

On our way north in Brazil, we chose Curitiba as our next stop. As seen in previous reports, our main mode of transportation is the bus. So we started this time at 7.00 in the morning, expecting to arrive in Curitiba around 18.00. When a story is introduced like this, one can already imagine that it will probably unfold unexpectedly.

After about 10 hours of pleasant travel, admiring the beautiful scenery along the way, getting some sleep, and learning Portuguese, we were abruptly stopped on the highway due to a police check. We had already experienced this several times in South America, but until now there had been hardly any significant delays.

Until now, I had the impression that police officers here are generally very friendly and nice. To avoid having too one-sided a view, I should now be allowed to have an experience to be able to consider the situation from a more complex perspective;).

The police officer rudely unloaded some luggage items he had chosen and then asked the owners to come forward. Peter also got out to find out what was going on and had to identify himself. Then the nice officer with a grim look entered the bus and emptied the garbage bin on the floor after a passenger had just left the onboard toilet.

When a local man around 50 smiled and shook his head, he was allowed to follow the nice inspector and also unload his luggage. Due to the language barrier, it was not quite easy for us to understand what was happening. Shortly afterwards, the 3 affected men, including their luggage, as well as our bus driver, were taken to the police station vis a vis in the police car. So we stood there, in and in front of the bus, without a driver and without any idea.

An elderly man made it clear that this was nothing special, the men just had to pay? For what? Slowly, a oppressive atmosphere was already setting in, caused by irritation, anger, but also a little uneasiness about the police-state-like action.

We waited on the side of the highway, in front of a fabulous sunset.

It was getting dark slowly. After a total of two and a half (!) hours, fortunately all four, including the bus driver, returned safely, albeit with slightly remorseful faces. Not everyone had regained their luggage. One of the affected men, a young man from Paraguay, mentioned that he had brought food with him, which was prohibited, and therefore he had to pay a fine and his luggage was confiscated. But despite the adverse circumstances, he remained relatively composed.

But then we finally continued, and each of us was just glad about that. When we finally arrived at the hotel around 21.00, we quickly went to a nearby restaurant for dinner and then fell into bed exhausted.

The next day we woke up well rested and explored the charming city.

Ray Charles large format on a house facade

University

View from the room shortly before a heavy downpour

What is also noticeable here is the extent of homelessness, which is unusual for us Viennese. In the evening, the very lively pedestrian zone turns into a sleeping place for many of those who have no home.

Especially late in the evening, you come across many waste collectors who tirelessly search for recyclable paper, plastic, and metal in the garbage bags placed in front of the houses.

'God loves me' - Impressive to see it so vividly..

As a special feature, there are special tube-like, quite elaborate bus stops equipped with conductors.

In the pedestrian zone, there is an old streetcar that now serves as a library.

In the evening, there was a mini rainbow parade in the main square in front of the hotel. The - albeit few - participants spread a very exuberant and great atmosphere with their singing and rhythmic drumming.

Tomorrow we will head to: São Paulo.......