Miami

Miami Quicky

So I just left Miami. I was there for 10 days for a job interview editing video for a construction company that I use to work for as a laborer years ago and a doctor’s appointment. Also I only drank one day. It was a good time but quite calm. I didn’t see any friends except Richard. I stayed at his apartment. Thank goodness he let me stay with him because a hotel stay would have been financially crippling. Two of the days I stayed at an Airbnb, though. It was in a treehouse surrounded by lush green jungle in the city. A secret place only the cool people know about.

Purchase Blunder

On my last day there I took an Uber to the Fort Lauderdale airport to realize that I made a mistake by booking my flight for the wrong day! So I had to immediately buy a new plane ticket for that day. What a clusterfuck! Oh well, at least I handled it well and didn’t get upset.

Where it all began

I’ve been in Sacramento for a few weeks, saw friends, saw family. The American River has been great. I hung out at Kevin’s house with his wife and Aaron Hermann and his wife, Denise. It was wonderful talking to both of them while standing in the same garage that we hung out in years ago. In spite of my constant worrying about life, man life is great! And a great future ahead of me. If I play more cards right, be productive, and initiate a relationship with a woman.

Mushrooms

Lot’s of Friends and family. Went to a cool bar called Mushrooms. It had character, for sure. I was with an old High School friend named Darnell. It was cool we ate some shrooms, too.
Spent about 3 weeks in Sacramento, but it’s time to hit the road. Going to Tucson then Mexico City. I find myself choosing to not hang out with people because I tend to drink when I do that. In spite of wanting to hang out with people. I’m more charming, alert, and good-looking when I’m sober. It’s the start of the rest of my life.

Tucson

After Sacramento. I flew to Tucson, Arizona and met my brother there. We went to visit our Mom. She isn’t responsive. They say she’s about to die but they’ve been saying that for a long time. She is in her bed but not talking or moving, really. Eyes are open, though.

The First One to Go

Tucson was a success. I saw Mom, Kelly, and my aunt Mimi. It was great. And we attended a University of Arizona football game. The last day we all visited her. She listened to us. We talked of memories that included her. Kelly said to her tenderly, “You can go Mom. It’s OK. We’ll see you later in the other side.” The next day she passed away.

Texas

I spent 3 weeks at my older brother’s house just north of San Antonio in the country. He and his wife live on 5 acres with a barn. No animals yet but they’re going to get chickens and goats. Everyday, my bro Kelly, and I worked on the property, cutting down trees, burning the wood, building gardens, taking things apart, putting up gutters, weed whacking, mowing the lawns, and moving dirt to fill holes or some form of landscaping. We cleared out a space under the trees in the forest behind the backyard fence. It’s now like an enchanted forest. I loved being at his place, and the pool with a view, but I gotta roll on.

Their nephew, Esteban, was there so we all had a merry time doing fun stuff. This included visiting two amusement parks, a water park and Six Flags. Their scariest ride called The Joker we rode 3 times.

Editing

I’m editing many projects one being the Roadents trailer. Is this documentary of a bad ass biker gang, but instead of Harley Davidsons they ride the little electrical scooters you rent on the street. Watch below.

Miami Revisited

Now I’m back in Miami, specifically in Plantation, a little west of Fort Lauderdale meeting with a construction company about an editing job. BTW, I use to work as a laborer for this company back in 2008-2010. Alongside my co-workers and boss we sweated under the Florida sun building stone and brick structures and constantly mixing concrete, or cement, or thin set. We have a lot of fond memories together. Hopefully I’m going to edit for them remotely.

Conclusion

Life will be a new beginning if I can finagle a ‘remote job’ while living overseas, in Brazil for example. There, it’s more difficult to communicate and understand but sometimes it’s better like that.

Miami is my Homebase

Been back in Miami for about a week. Miss Brazil, can’t believe it came to an end. When you’ve been embedded in a country for 6 months it grows on you and you start to metamorphosis into it. I was turning Brazilian then it came to a crashing halt. It had to happen. Yet, now I’m feeling recharged in the States…ready to get down and tackle new challenges. I’m couch surfing at Richard’s house in Miami Beach, an old friend from my military days. A couple of blocks from his apartment is a park and I was doing my daily exercises there when a woman approached me. We talked about a lot of things without delving into emotional stuff. We may go out again. Also, been visiting ol’ friends from the neighborhood like Neal McEldowney.

Editing Doldrums

I’m been finding it hard to edit. For example I have the footage of a small Brazilian Beach town, Cambury, beautiful footage, but I don’t have the motivation to put it all together. Perhaps it’s because I’m not getting anything in return for the work I put it. I edit, upload then nothing. But I continue. Even if none of my videos take off at least I’m developing my skills and becoming more qualified to acquire a job in the audio/visual arts.

Santos Video

Yet, I did just complete a video about Santos, Brazil. It took me awhile to complete, but I love it, because I have lots of shots of people in addition drone shot of buildings and mother nature. The video is below.

Tampa Bay Days

Been in Tampa/St. Petersburg area visiting Oppie and Thu and having a blast. We watched some Euro Cup Games and the Tampa Lightning games. The Lightning won the Stanley Cup so it’s been been fun going to the bars and cheering them on and drinking and eating good food.

Looking like a biker

I’ve had a difficult time getting started with filming The Road-ents, a story about a biker gang who ride electric scooters that you rent on the street. I even made jackets with the insignia on the back. One day after filming me and Oppie went to a supermarket and I thought twice about entering the store with the jacket on, because it looks like we’re in a real gang. It says “The Road-ents, The 2 Percenters” In the parking lot I took my jacket off. Oppie who still had his jacket on said, ”What? I thought we were going in with our jackets on.” So I casually put mine back on like I that was my original plan and we did our shopping like a couple of biker gang members out of their element. At one point we were at the self check-out line and I didn’t know the code for potatoes and I had to ask for help. People were looking at us and looking at our jackets.

Filming commenced!

We’ve been filming a lot of the Rodents. Damn it feels great to be doing sketch comedy again. It’s been difficult to get back into the game. We filmed in a bar and were in full Road-ents gear and people we’re giving us much attention. I loved the attention. Now I understand why older guys form biker gangs. And me and Oppie are both in our 40’s so we fit the bill. Oppie said, “You gotta know when to turn in your polo for a denim jacket.”

Conclusion:

Just because you see the Matrix doesn’t mean you can perform better in the Matrix than those who don’t see the Matrix.

Beach Town

I’m in Santos, and the São Paulo coast is my type of place. Southern Brazil. It’s a temperate tropic environment but with temperatures of a temperate climate sans snow. I’m kinda board but I just went out with a friend that I met here, Caio, and he took me to his neighborhood and it was really fabulous. An area between green mini mountains that dot the city. Lots of trees there and a small lake.

Small Town Paradise

I went with a group of Brazilian friends to a beach village just north of here, Cambury. I stayed at a hippy beach house. It was a great time. Bonfires at night. Communal breakfasts in the morning. It was a surfer house in a forest. Yet, while there during the days I joined my friends that I came with at the beach and I took a picture of the group with my drone. In the pic one of the girls was on her phone. Back in Santos I texted her via Instagram asking her what she was looking at. And she responded, “The feed.” I told her that ‘feed’ in English means food, especially the kind we give to animals. She wrote back “Sorry” in English. We never spoke again. Meanwhile back at the beach house, a few of the Brazilians spoke English and wanted to practice with me. Soon I was speaking a lot of English and it was getting annoying, do I dipped out.

Money Well Spent

I just had sex with a prostitute. I arrived at her place and just before we were going to begin, she asked me if I wanted her friend to join in. (Extra price, of course.) I thought that would be great but what if she’s unattractive? I said I wasn’t sure so she went to get her friend. When I saw her friend I said, “No, I don’t want two girls.” But then I felt bad and relented. The sex was fabulous, and her friend assisted. I really needed to have sex. It had been 3, maybe 4, years since I had sex. It’s damn good to be back! Even though they were pros they’re still women. I came close to having sex with a girl in Belem, but never pulled the trigger. So perhaps it’ll motivate me to go after some of these gorgeous women I see in the streets!

English as a Second Language

I was walking along the beach boardwalk at night looking to interact with Brazilians. Sounds of the waves, perfect temperature, people in the park and on the beach. Every 5 blocks or so there’s snack-bars with outdoor seating. I walked up to a table and glanced at the menu. The waitress said something and I answered back in Portuguese. She noticed I was a foreigner. She said,”If you want to speak English, you can.” All smiling. I responded un-smiling, “No I don’t want to…..We are in Brazil, after all.” She said ok and still had a smile. I left after a quick peruse of the menu, and I immediately felt guilty. She was so happy to speak some English. I understood because I would be happy to speak Portuguese, or Spanish, back in the States. I know how it feels. Yet, I honestly don’t want to speak any English while in Brazil, thank you very much.

So I walked around and had a cup of coffee in a Pizzaria a block from the beach. Then I walked back over there and up to her. “So you speak English, huh?” We had a great conversation. She had learned English while working and living in Qatar. I left and she invited me to come back. I won’t. It can be easy to fall into speaking English in a non-English speaking country as an English speaker.

São Paulo Again

Just arrived back in Sáo Paulo after almost a month in Santos. Near the end I exchanged Instagram with a cute girl who worked at a restaurant I frequented. For the next two days, my last days in Santos, we communicated a lot. If I wasn’t leaving I would have asked her out on a date. Yet, Santos is only an hour from São Paulo so I may go back for a quick date one day before boarding the plane to go home. Who knows? Perhaps, it’ll could blossom into a long distance relationship and I’ll see her again.

Making Progress

Today I walked downtown São Paulo, Avenida Paulista. Lots of People doing what people like to do. I got the nerve to approach girls on two different occasions. It was merely small talk like, “Is there a supermarket around here?” But it’s a step in the right direction. I will go beyond just small talk someday.

Manifestacão Contra Bolsonaro

Over the weekend there was a big protest on the main boulevard, Avenida Paulista. It was a leftist gathering demanding the impeachment of the Brazilian President Bolsonaro. The reason: That he is responsible for the Covid deaths. Of course I filmed it. After it was over I went to a bar and had a beer and immediately met a Brazilian girl. She asked me my name and I said, “Viggo.” I then said, “…and you are Fernanda.” She responded,”Yes, how did you know?!” It was a guess.

Brazilian Speak Easy

We then went to a bar that was still open after the mandatory Covid shut down time. We took an Uber and she got into an argument with the driver because he answered that he supported Bolsonaro after she asked him who he supported. The bar had a lot of protesters winding down with a drink, a smoke, and a game of pool. We kissed, drank, and smoked and made out. I will see her again.

Mini Date

I went out on lunch day with that girl from Santos that worked at the restaurant. I just happened to be town. I’making progress to be more romantically active. I just need to get out there and go on dates. Force myself, at times.

Conclusion

Attend protests, marches, demonstrations, and sit-ins. You’re likely to experience something you’ve never done before.

Brazil’s Metropolis

Oh Säo Paulo, how I love and missed thee. It’s big, tall buildings, great subway system, fairly clean and organized, interesting architecture. it’s closed restaurants only for take out. Fresh air, perfect in the daytime and slightly chilly at night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3IzXykhVQA

A Rutina

Daily routine: edit video, study Portuguese take hot shower, go take the subway to a location to film with the drone. Return to the hostel, eat dinner study Portuguese, some Spanish, and edit video. No beer, no weed, and for the last 3 days no news, no Youtube, and no social media. Man, I’ve been yearning for this lifestyle. Only thing missing is a girl. I walk around and see many girls that I want to talk to but I haven’t got up the nerve. Soon, I will. Sink, swim, success or crash and burn I have to do it.

Jumpers

Today I did some droning off of a bridge when I noticed a group of people with “mountain climbing equipment” it looked like they were bungy jumpers. I approached them and they said they were jumping off the bridge and swung from one side to the next. Whoa! “Can I film you? I have a drone!” I got some terrific video of the jumper/swinger.

Social Development

I still haven’t got up the nerve to talk to a girl and ask her out. I’m scared of the strange and uncomfortable situation and yes possible rejection, but fuck, I’m 47 and time is running out to settle down, get married and have children. I have to get over my fears and talk to a girl that I don’t know. Approach a girl in public and make small talk. My future depends on it.

Drug Free

Other than that my days have been excellent. No drinking or smoking and exercising regularly. I’ve been running almost everyday and it’s hilly here so I’ve been running up hills which both hurts and feels good. I love it here in Sao Paulo the spider web of metro lines allows me to explore the city with ease. There’s so much to explore, and film.

A First Step

So I finally talked to a girl in public. But it was a begger, at least that’s a start. She approached me for money I gave her some, but also asked her some conversation starter questions like, “What do you like most about living here?” and “What are you most passionate about?” She was very receptive and happy to answer my questions. It was a positive interaction. I’m happy.

Waterfalls, Big Ones

At the bus station heading to Foz do Iguaçu. There’s waterfalls there that I’ll drone, plus it borders Paraguay and Argentina, gunna investigate how or if I can enter Paraguay. I would like to spend a few months in that country after Brazil, if not then I’ll boogy back home.

There’s really nothing to write about that I haven’t wrote about earlier. If I approach and talk to girls and ask them out, then I’ll have something to write about. Even if I’m rejected that’s still something to write about.

Randevous James Bond Style

I was at a rest stop during the 16 hour bus ride from Sao Paulo to Foz do Iguaçu when I approached and spoke with a fellow passenger as we were waiting to get back on the bus. She was from Foz do Iguaçu. It was a good conversation, nothing profunde, just small talk, but it’s a step forward in my developemente, to be more social, to initiate the interaction.

Depart the Interior of South America

Well mission accomplished. I came, saw, and left. While in Foz de Iguaçu I filmed the Iguaçu waterfalls, crossed the border into Paraguay which allowed me to find out exactly what I would need to travel there as a tourist. They want proof of neg covid test, vax for yellow fever, measles, international travelers insurance and to pay a visa which is about a 100 dollars. I wont be going to Paraguay after all. Also, while in Foz do Iguaçu I continued my habit of running. It seems like I experience my first “runner’s high” I knew it would happen someday, and this is after years and years of running. It’s always been a pain in the ass, yet I knew if I continued with it someday I would learn to like it.

Now I’m on a 20+ hour bus ride to the coast.

The Brazilian Coast

Fast forward about 3 weeks: I spent 2 fun filled weeks in Santos and a few days in Cambury, a secluded beach surfer down surrounded by lush temperature jungle. There’s nothing like this in the United States. It’s a mix between Hawaii and California.

And I love Santos. It’s like a more gangster version of Ipanema Rio de Janeiro. It’s a gritty beach town and people walk around with surf boards. I’ve befriended locals. The first one is Caio and he works the front desk in the Pousada. One day I filmed him and his buddies catching waves with a drone. He invited me to spend the weekend with his friends I’m digging them. I asked one of the girls out, Bruna, but she said she was busy. Perhaps I’ll try again. I’m looking to pick up a girl, but I need to make the first few moves.

Conclusion

I’m not looking forward to returning to the States in June. I would like to remain in Brazil until the money runs out.

River Town, Afuá

I’m in a wonderful little town called Afuá. No cars, motorcycles, or even electric bikes. The town is on the water on an island called Marajo which is in the Amazon delta next to the Atlantic Ocean. The ground here is swampy especially when the tide is high so all the buildings are elevated above ground and wooden bridges connect everything. Arriving by boat is the only way to reach this place. While flying my drone I’ve met many people. One day I was flying my drone on a little pier and 3 little girls came up to ask me what I was doing. The drone always attracts people. I showed them the video in my phone and took some video of all of us. The girls were estatic and I they didn’t want me to leave. Also, I filmed some young people dancing on top of a boat and jumping from the very high part of the boat into the water. It was a videographer’s dream. I was in the right place at the right time.

Mask Hysteria

Lot’s of people still wearing masks. I never felt the need to wear one. I just think it’s hysteria. 99% or more survival rate. It’s like the flu. I’m sure it’ll be around next year, too. Here it has been decreed that all the passenger boats cease operations for a week so I’m stuck in Afuá for while.

Strange Encounter in a Men’s Bathroom

From Afua I took a clandestine boat to Macapa and the next day boarded a plane to Fortaleza from which to go to Jericoacoara to visit Silvana, my ol’ friend who I met in Porto Alegre back in 2004. The following happened in the Belem Airport. It’s something that happens frequently. Creepy gay men trying to create some sexual encounter. Very annoying but part of life. I sit down in the airport seating area at the gates to board the planes. In the row of seats behind mine which face the opposite direction sits a guy who is turned around like 180 degrees trying his best to look at me and/or make eye contact. So I stand up and walk about 10 feet away so he would have to put himself in an even more uncomfortable position to make visual contact. But hey, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe he’s not gay. Maybe I’m just imagining it. Time passes and I gather my stuff to go to my gate. On the way there I hit the bathroom. In the bathroom are a row of 5 urinals I go to the one all the way to the left. Then a guy enters and uses the one right next to me. Jeez. Normally, guys don’t like to piss next to each other if they don’t have to. I’m thinking “this guy doesn’t know the unwritten rules?” Then I notice it’s the gay guy from outside that was trying to get my attention. Figures. I’m never wrong about this. At least there was a partition between us so he couldn’t oogle my cock while panting with his tongue out. That happened to me in Europe years ago.

Beach Town Jericoacoara

Back in the touristy beach village, Jericoacoara. It’s paradise like. Yet now there’s very little tourism. Plus, the bars, and restaurants, and surf and sailing classes are all closed. It’s depressing.

I spend about a week here and hang out with my friend Silvana, We did some work around the Pousada she runs. Year work. Smoked and talked, listened to music, cooked, and watched movies day and night. I was sad to leave.

Conclusion

Anyways I’m going to Sao Paulo regardless. Perhaps, I’ll meet my future wife there. If I live anywhere Sao Paulo is where I would want to live.

My bike ride trip, about 750 miles, is complete. I’m now in Belém and I’ve been in Brazil for 3 months, yet I’ve extended my visa for another 90 days. Hopefully, I’ll have found a job or have gotten engaged/married before I’m illegally in country. Yep, married—big step, but I’m ready, locked and loaded. Even if I’m not in love, I’m willing to tie the knot.

My Future

I want to stay in Brazil, perhaps forever, but if I can’t then I’ll dip out for awhile to plan my next move, which may include a sojourn in the United States to visit the dentist and buy things that I can’t find in Brazil, like medicine and electronics. Or I’ll go to a neighboring country. Paraguay looks inviting. They say it’s the weirdest country in South America.

New Habits

Breaking news: I haven’t drank alcohol in 3 months and haven’t smoked weed in 2 months….unprecedented! I wanted to do this for so long but it was difficult while living in the US, yet here in Brazil I’ve been alone a lot which has made it easier. Surprisingly it’s been easy to hang with people while they’re drinking. I admit I miss the socializing fun mental state that comes with drinking.

Girls

I met a girl, Jamila, while on my bike trip. She was on a business trip in a town that I was passing through. She lives in Belém so I invited her to go out for coffee. She never showed up. I waited for an hour then told her I was leaving. She later invited me out to a live music show that night. Ok, why not? It was fun. Two days later I invited her out to see a movie. She at first said yes then later texted and asked if I would rather go to a restaurant/club on the water. I said yes, thinking it was a restaurant. It was a cool place, kinda rustic, hard to get to but I found my way, but not a restaurant. More like a two story shack on the water. Everyone was dancing and drinking. I wasn’t in the mood nor was I going to drink. I hung out for a bit, but decided to leave. These type of situations were ones that I loved. I would drink and dance and have fun. But now that I’m not drinking they’re not as enjoyable. As for the girl I never saw her again. But at least I made the effort to go out on a date, and got to see a few spots in Belem.

Belém

My time in Belém was great, productive, and relaxing. I had a quaint little motel room with an open space to the outside world. Like a window with no glass, just bars. No air conditioning, only a fan. I droned a lot and stayed healthy. Below is a sample.

Amazon Boats

Now on the Amazon river part of my trip. Back in 2003, I was in the Amazon for 7 months during my first trip to Brazil. I love just being on a boat. You’re like trapped on it with a bunch of other people so you’re forced to socialize. They serve food and have coffee. You got your hammock that you sleep in and the view of the water and jungle passing along all day and night. The motor is loud though, and on the top deck they tend to blast music all the time, which can be annoying, especially if the music sucks.

First stop: Portel. Spent a few days there got some drone shots. Second town was Breves which is on the island of Marajó. I’d been here years ago, it’s changed a lot. Got drone shots and spent time in my room studying Portugues and Spanish. My Spanish is good but I can always improve. There’s lots of good looking girls here and I wanted to talk to some of them and go out on a date but I just wasn’t feelin’ sexy. Hopefully next town, which will be Macapá, the capital of the state of Amapá.

Reached the Big City

Just spent a week in São Luis, a city that was a colonial town founded back in the 1600’s. Prior to Sao Luis, I was on the road for a few weeks from Jericoacoara to Sao Luis. It was hard, hot, sunny riding. I was exhausted and my knees were feeling strange. Not pain just a form of fragilness when I bent down. In Sao Luis I met a girl named Prescila who invited me to go with her to the beach to meet up with some of her friends. I first I said no because I was lovin’ the time alone then I said yes because I need to be social if I’m going to make friends and find a girlfriend/wife. The beach was great and even though the people there were drinking I only drank sodas or juice. One of the guys lit up a joint and even though I decided to take a break from marijuana I joined in. 

Beach Conversations

A few days later Prescila invited me again to the beach. So a bunch of us were sitting around a table at an open-air beach restaurant eating and drinking and one of the girls who looked to be a mixture of African, European, and American Indian began talking about how people of African descent were marginalized. I listened but didn’t take part in the conversation. They were speaking in Portuguese and my Portuguese isn’t that good but I’m able to understand more than I can speak. Or let’s just say that when I speak it’s very slow and my vocabulary is limited. And even in English I tend to stay out of the conversations, especially controversial ones. Don’t want to rock the boat and get people mad at me. Eventually the conversation morphed into another subject but she always came back to the same topic: the Europeans/whites control all life and the people of African descent are victims. No matter what the subject turned into she always found a segway back to blacks are victims in this world and whites/ Europeans are the victimizers. Since I was sitting at the table, I felt trapped to listen to her speeches. It was getting dark and we had been at the beach for hours and I was eager to return to the city and get back to my duties, which including editing video. She was getting drunk and angry. She was mad that feminism was only feminism for white women, and she was mad how European religions were being forced on non-europeans. I stayed quiet and just waited for the time to depart the beach. We left the restaurant and stopped off the beach house of one of girl’s friends. While on the front porch we called an Uber and the angry girl said to me with enthusiastic anger, “Don’t tell me you voted for Trump!” Whenever Trump is brought up I don’t answer or try to change the conversation but this time I felt I had to say something. “No I didn’t vote for Trump, but I will say that I’m not a Democrat.” “Who I vote for is a private decision, but if you really want to know, I didn’t vote for him, I haven’t voted in years, but I am a Republican.” I was going to continue to talk but I realized that that might be liking throwing fuel on the fire. So I said, “Do you have another question?” The girl was kinda shocked. Prescila went to talk to her and I don’t know what they said but I could understand the emotions. The girl started to cry but got herself back to a calm state. Anyways, things calmed down.

Covert Business

We all were about to leave and the girl was like,”What? You guys are going to leave?! You’re not going to sleep here?” With a ting of sadness. Then we all started feeling guilty because we didn’t want to leave her. One by one each person lost their will to leave and agreed to stay and sleep over. I was the last one still insisting on going home. It was dark, though. And I didn’t have the app for Uber. I was feeling their sadness in their puppy dog eyes. I broke and said I would stay. As I stepped up on the front porch deck of the beach bungalow, they said,“He’s staying!”. Everyone was happy. Later, we were all just chillin’ on the porch and the girl announces that the head of the house would like us all to pay 20 reais(Brazilian currency) to stay over. We were all surprised but nobody protested. Ha ha, she was planning this all along. We were hoodwinked. 

But we all paid and had a pleasant time at the bungalow. I got to see some fishermen return that night with a bunch of fish. We bought some and had a fish dinner with rice.  

Departure

I took the boat out of São Luis heading north-east to the town of Alcantara, a colonial town surrounded by jungle. It was raining off and on the day I arrived. The next day I departed at 10am. The ride was up and down hills and rainy. I had to stop and wait out the rain 4 times that day. At dark I made my destination: Boquimao. Rained all night….the jungle has begun. 

Last Month in the US

After living in Miami for 2 years following my 2 years in Madagascar, I left Miami and did a tour of friends and family. First was San Antonio to visit my brother and his wife then Tucson to visit my Mother, then to Sacramento to visit my Dad and two younger brothers. Lot’s of good times. I saw an old friend from High School, Carolyn Gallaghar. After college she had moved to Argentina and stayed there for 20 years got married and had two daughters. She’s wonderful. An adventurer. She and her family one time drove from California to Argentina in a camper.

After Sacramento went to Nashville to visit a childhood friend, Brett Kenney. He’s now a police officer in the Nashville police department. Then return to Miami to tie up a few loose ends and box up my bike to board the plane to Brazil.

Jericoacoara, Brazil

Back in Brazil is liking going back to a world that you lost abruptly 16 years ago. And I’m staying with an old friend, a Brazilian girl about my age. She lives in Jericuocara in northern Brazil. It’s an isolated beach town. You have to take a four wheel drive vehicle to get here across sand dunes. The streets and pathways are all made of sand. It’s windy all the time. I don’t know how long I’ll stay here, but no matter what, I have to leave soon to travel by bicycle to Belem which sits at the mouth of the Amazon. I’ve been there before and liked it. From Belem I’ll take a boat up river. I may go past Manaus all the way to Peru to a small town called Iquitos. Another town that I’ve been to many years ago, that time while in the Air Force stationed in Panama.  

 My friend, Silvana, has been a wonderful host. We’ve been going out together hitting beach, the restaurants, and having a few beers. The night lights here are so pleasing and easing on the eyes, The sand floor gives it a natural look, like you’ve stepped back in time of our forefathers before they invented cement. It’s constantly about 75 maybe to 80 degrees but always breezy so it’s always comfortable. 

My Portuguese is coming back, slowly. It’s forcing me to speak slowly. So far Brazil looks the same as before. I’m excited for what the next few months have in store for me.

Oh, I bought a good lens, 20mm, from my friend. Giovanni. It’s being sent here from Miami. I was  hesitant to buy it then I realized that in order to make money as a videographer I need a wide angle lens. While here I plan on making some money doing some video gigs.

Conclusion

It feels like I’ve been in this country for a long time then I realize it’s only been a week. Everything here from the weather to the Portuguese has been extremely stimulating. I look forward to the rest of my time in Brazil which could be forever and include raising a family.

Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvanio

I went to visit John Gillette. He’s an old friend from the Miami Beach days. We made lots of short films together. He moved back to Pittsburgh and opened up a BBQ restaurant called Chief’s Smoking BBQ. I took a flight north for a little R&R.

big transition

I left Miami perhaps for good. I moved back there in October of 2018 after 2 years in Madagascar. Now it’s October 2020 and I feel it’s time to move on to somewhere else. Right now I’m visiting my brother in San Antonio but soon I’ll go to Tucson then to Sacramento to visit my younger brothers and my father. After that who knows. Perhaps to Brazil, or to Spain, if the European Union is open to tourists. 

This is a big transition time in my life. And it’s not the first time. 

Last Fandango

My last week in Miami I rented a car and Richard and I drove to Everglades City in the southern coast of Florida. There were lots of fishermen there and maybe hunters because they dressed like hunters, camuflage. Very green and full of insects and alligators and snakes.

Rolling Stone

The next few months look good. Gio moved to North Beach. Richard, Neal, and Stazio still live in North Beach. We filmed lots of films together. I will miss them all. 

In Sept 15, 2020, we moved out of our apartment in Design Place, Little Haiti. I threw out a lot of stuff ‘cause I’m hitting the road. Throwing out this stuff, I’m throwing out memories, the past, and dreams never fulfilled. It’s depressing and liberating. I’m being born again, like I’ve been born many times. A new place to live. Travel. Rolling Stone. Will it ever stop? 

rich and famous

I’ve discovered the music of Sixto Rodriguez. It speaks to me. In the 60’s he was unknown in the United States mainstream and then become hugely popular in South Africa. But he didn’t know, and lived a life like a hermit in Detroit where he’s from. Someone from South Africa investigated his death and found him alive, so he went back on tour and has been rich and famous ever since. 

Conclusion

Being a rolling stone requires deep transitions and perhaps, I’ll be rich and famous.