Miami Hurricane

Day 1 - Miami - Meeting Katrina

Yesterday, a couple of hours before leaving St. Louis, I heard that Katrina would be waiting for me in Miami. I didn't have the slightest idea of what was going on and I was completely packed and ready to fly. I couldn't postpone anything now.

Upon arrival, I could have an idea of what was laying ahead. The Fort Lauderdale airport closed 30 min after my arrival and Katrina was already giving us a preview of the damage that she should unfold. The eye of the hurricane would hit Miami around 10 pm that night. I managed to arrive at Tom's apartment in Coral Gables, where I took a hot shower and changed. Late in the afternoon we didn't have power anymore and the storm started to get worse. Inside the apartment everything was ok. We were gathered - around 10 people - playing drinking games and checking the lightnings and the development of the storm.

Without AC and with the temperature getting close to the 100s, we were being steamed up inside our own apartments. We tried to crack the windows just to be able to get some of the breeze that came along with the storm, but that was only possible if you wanted to get soaked wet with the pouring rain.

Now I'm at The University of Miami using one of their computers. I've just heard that power might be back by Tuesday - right when I leave. I'll try to keep you posted with info about my camping weekend in Florida :-)

I'll keep you in my pocket and feed you with peanut butter

That's what a real good friend mine usually says. lol

I can say that there is nothing worse then say good bye to someone that you would love to keep in your life. During the past couple of days I have been pretty anxious. It seams that I’m on a painful and long walk thru the death row. What lies ahead of me? What should I expect? Do I really need to say good bye?

Farewells are especially sad when deep inside you know that you won’t be able see all your good friends back again. Spectacular people who entered your life without being asked and now are gone, in a split of second. My Mom usually says that’s what makes life something fascinating. I can definitely say that I’m a better person today, and every single person that crossed my life within the last 18 months has a very important contribution.

With a mixture of excitement and sadness I have to say good bye. Excitement mainly because I’m a couple of days to make a very old dream come true: For the next 3 months I’ll be visiting places in the USA, Europe, Morocco, India and Nepal. Adventure ahead!

With all my heart I leave my best wishes to everybody here!


Celso

523 days and a couple of hours

That's how long I've been living here. Now it's time to pack. Yesterday I start searching luggage to pack all the stuff that I bought. Unbelievable the amount of useless things that one can gather is such a short period of time. I went to a couple of different places and the biggest bag doesn't seam to be big enough. I also sold my car. Challenge ahead on those last days. Unlike back home, car here is an essential tool on your daily life. No car means rely on favors of good hearted people :-)

I also need to find a - cheap - backpack. They all range from USD 150 to USD 300. I can't spend that much! But I'll need one, mainly in India. Don't wanna go bulky.

I just came out of the worst sore throat ever! I knew what I needed since the beginning: Amoxicillin. Wish I had brought some from home. At least it would have saved me a couple of hours on Monday. I waited for 2 hours to see a doctor. Not even in the nightmare of the Brazilian public health system you wait that much. Maybe it was just bad luck. Maybe.