The journey started in the night between 5. and 6. March, at about 1 a.m. The day had already been chaotic, me trying to finish all things on my list, and still discovering more and more. Backup important phone numbers, print map of the city, take some familiar food... prepare for 6 months in the unknown. Since I knew Brazil was dangerous, I tried to prepare for the worst - being robbed just after arriving and losing my phone, money and baggage. But this was too much paranoia - the opposite happened :-)
It was a cold night, windy and snowing in Frankfurt. During the flight to Lissabon I tried not to imagine how Brasil would be.. but I couldn't stop. It was a mixed feeling of awareness for danger and happiness. I didn't want to be a greenhorn in the wild west, speaking almost no Portuguese and not knowing the environment and the rules...
From Lissabon I switched to another plane. When it took into the sky I knew for sure - now there is no going back! I was finally free from the dilemma of going to Brazil or throwing everything into the trash! This thought was punching me hard in the last 4 months.
While wating in the check-in room I was looking at the brazilian passengers.. normal people talking.. and one guy looking dangerous! Ha another one too! Hmm, 3 dangerous guys in my plane! I decided to keep an eye on them, but it was not necessary. In the plane I was sitting next to Bruno - the first dangerous guy :-). With him I spoke Portuguese in real conditions for the first time!
Bruno turned out to be a really cool and friendly man! He was a little older than me and worked in Portugal and visited his family in Brazil. He had a bad headache because of drinking too much beer last night with his friends. But that didn't stop him from drinking about 8 beers during the flight - no tea, no coffe, only beer :-).
We were close to Belo Horizonte when I saw the most beautiful and amazing clouds in my life! Big fat clouds looking like mountains arround us, and the sunrays parsing through them. This was heaven!
When we arrived in BH, it was a great warm summer evening. A crazy change - from snow to 28 degrees. Even my camera had condensed some water, so the picture got bad.The airport was full of lights and many people outside relaxing in the cafes. And Tulio and his brother Tasso were waiting for me :-), and greeted me warmly. Here I met Tulio for the first time... but with him and his Brother I felt I was with old friends... at home :-)
