I had a descent sleep in a perfect location, a fresh and cool wind all night, no offensive noise from the nearby bridge and the main road Boa Vista – Venezuela and extremely friendly neighbors; obviously my friends but as well the owner of the restaurant. I had to organize my life, organize the revision for my old friend the car and organize my economic situation. I had no money left, not a single Real. I walked up to the bridge, positioned myself and positioned my backpack and kept waiting for a lift to the center of Boa Vista. A Volkswagen bus stopped and took me half the way, the other half I had to walk while having the first wave of fever of the day right in the beginning extreme heat of the midday.
Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.
First all the way to Volkswagen Perin to see my friend the car and to pick up some copies of my passport, my driver license, the car documents and the company documents. I had to speak to the manager, Victor to understand the costs, the form of payment and confirm a day for the revision. I had all the information from Victor, went to see my friend, picked up the copies and walked to my house bank. The girl, the assistant, the beauty queen at the entrance door said she would offer help, instead she offered arrogance, incompetence and ignorance. I had to leave the backpack outside while immediately inside the next girl, the next assistant appeared and said she would offer help. She tried to help according to the bank guideline book but did not have the competence for my particular case and so I wanted to speak to a manager.
Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.
The beauty queen turned out to be one of the managers and she used her time to speak to the other female managers about me, about my case. She had decided that the bank could not help me without any documents and this was the guideline, no exception, no flexibility. An angel appeared in the form of the male branch director who just came back from lunch. I used the right moment, ignored my ticket, walked to his desk and explained my case. I presented all documents and all copies I had and waited for a positive reaction. He looked at all the documents, asked the second assistant to make copies, walked to the secure office area, came back to his desk, walked to secure office area again and finally came back to his desk with a withdrawal paper of the requested 200 Reales. I needed an angel, I needed a competent director, I needed an understanding human being, not a beauty queen or a machine and Senhor Helder from the branch in Boa Vista was that human being. Thank you very much.
Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.
Now I walked to the Western Union representatives, Banco do Brasil and TC Cash Exchange to learn that both would not pay out any money to me. They did not accept the newly issued documents from the Tabatinga Federal police nor the not authenticated copies of my passport or my driver license. I had to walk back to Volkswagen Perin and speak to Victor one more time. I felt confident to ask him to receive the money from Europe and I felt confident that he would give it to me. He agreed to help and receive the money. I scheduled the revision for Monday, this way we would have enough time for the money to arrive and pick it up.
Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.
I have had fever waves at several times during the morning but now I had money, I had 200 Reales of my own money; I could buy some ice cold drink. I went to the DB supermarket and bought a bottle of Coca Cola from the freezer. I had to look for a present for Irene; it was her birthday today. I chose olive oil, Extra Virgem with the logo of a Spanish woman, green olives with a logo of a Spanish woman and bread, asked for tape to tighten it all together and paper to wrap it up as a birthday present.
Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.
I walked to the bus terminal and waited for the bus to the shopping ‘Patio Boa Vista’. When bus number 308 arrived, the driver referred to the next bus with the number 308, the next bus would go passed the shopping ‘Patio Boa Vista’ and all the way to the Balneario. I waited for another hour more or less but was now on the bus all the way to the Balneario. It was 19:30 hours, I was feeling a bit guilty to arrive that late, and I was hoping that they did not wait for me with the BBQ. The bus stop for the Balneario was way after the bridge and I had to walk back a bit. I walked the bridge in the dark and walked down the track to the restaurant.
Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.
I could not believe my eyes, the vans were gone, the vans were not there, were not where they were supposed to be, under the big tree. My friends had left, no message, no letter, no note, they were gone. I could not believe this. Was it my anger that called for the heavy wind that was coming up, was it my disappointment that called for the dark grey clouds, was it my sadness that called for the rain. I headed for the bridge for cover and started to prepare for the night, nothing comfortable around, no tree, nothing only dirt. The big stone by the fireplace was flat, not big enough to sleep on but with the backpack as an extension the best that I could make out of the situation.
Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.
I was hungry and I was thinking to open the present, now that it was my present. I still wanted to take a picture of the present tomorrow morning and did not want to destroy everything or open everything now. I opened the paper carefully, then the plastic that was around the bread and ate from the top and then the dough inside, as I used to do sometimes as a kid. I could not eat much and was full quick, closed the plastic over the bread and the paper over my present. I was ready for the night; it was 21:00 hours. The dogs would be my security and would warn me about any stranger coming to the restaurant or to the bridge.
Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.
I had just closed my eyes when the dogs informed me that some strangers were coming. I was curious, got up and walked a bit towards the restaurant to have a look. I could not believe my eyes, one of the vans had arrived, Yonathan had just arrived. I packed my temporary home up again and walked to them, really, really happy. They had left the Balneario after lunch and had been in the city to use the internet in the public library and to do shopping in the supermarket. The birthday party was about to begin, the fireplace prepared, the table out and the food prepared. Claudio and Irene arrived as well and I had to think of my present with shame, the top of the bread and part of the inside eaten. The present itself was one surprise, the half-eaten bread was another surprise and Irene had admitted earlier that she like birthday surprises.
Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.
Yonathan was responsible for the Uruguayan BBQ and organized the fireplace and the charcoal. The table was ready and it was time to open presents; being Spanish Irene liked my present, had to laugh about the missing top and started immediately to cut the bread and distribute the pieces with olive oil and sea salt. The fire and the charcoal were hot enough and Yonathan put the grill in place and the meat on the grill. First the Provolone was ready and absolutely delicious, time for another present, beautiful earrings from Yonathan and Betty, second a sausage was ready, cut and delivered on a wooden plate, third another sausage was ready, fourth the first slice of meat as ready, fifth the second slice of meat was ready, time for the last present, a sponge from Claudio. I enjoyed the party but could not really eat. Happy birthday Irene.
Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.