In Recife and Itamaraca for a bit
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My wife Rivane and I are in Recife (Espinheiro/Encruzilhada area) until Jan 18.
We'll be staying one week in Itamaraca, starting Saturday Dec 14 through Friday Dec 20.
If anyone in the area would like to meet up while we're here, just let me know.
The ongoing plan is to visit 3-4 times a year for 6 weeks or so each time. (less than 180 days)
@John_D
Hi John
We have been living on the tropical island of Itamaracá for over 17 years, and it would be great to organise a meet. Where will you be staying when on the island?
I also know there are others who will be in Recife when you return, so maybe another meeting may be in order?
Hi Peter, we'll be staying in a house on Rua Marcílio A Filho in Bairro Novo.
I will be in Recife with my family Dec 25 - 28 - in Boa Viagem. I also have plans to visit Peter on the island too as I like it there too.
I agree - let's do something. The more the merrier....
@John_D
There is a few of us foreigners (mainly Brits and Americans) going for lunch at the Yacht Club tomorrow, meeting around 12 noon - would you care to join us? Nothing formal, just some beer, food and good conversation in a nice location... Do you know where it is?
@Peter Itamaraca
That sounds good. Looks like it's about a 6 minute Uber ride from our place.
We have our 4 year old granddaughter with us until Monday morning, would it be okay for her to tag along with us?
@Pablo888
Let's see what we can organize. 👍
@Peter Itamaraca
That sounds good. Looks like it's about a 6 minute Uber ride from our place.
We have our 4 year old granddaughter with us until Monday morning, would it be okay for her to tag along with us? - @John_D
Yes, no problem, one of the American couples have their 5 year old daughter with them... When you get to the door just say you are with me (Peter), or whatsapp me a message. I will pm my contact...
@John_D, not sure if you are a sailboat fan, but while you are at the club, you can ask to check the small hobie cat that is owned by many folks. I am interested in something like that but i would be using it so infrequently that I would very much prefer a very small ownership portion. Alternatively, I would get a laser (dinghy) that I can pick up and go.
Enjoy the lunch and the wonderful sea breeze...
Fractional boat ownership is the way to go. A business partner of mine in Canada bought a mid 6 figure powerboat for his lakefront cabin. 2 years later after moorage fees, insurance, maintenance, fuel, lost opportunity cost and about 8 days of actual usage, he lost over 60% when he sold it. Just like horses or British automobiles.
@John_D, not sure if you are a sailboat fan, but while you are at the club, you can ask to check the small hobie cat that is owned by many folks. I am interested in something like that but i would be using it so infrequently that I would very much prefer a very small ownership portion. Alternatively, I would get a laser (dinghy) that I can pick up and go.
Enjoy the lunch and the wonderful sea breeze... - @Pablo888
That small sailboat is owned by 4 people, but they are rarely here at the same time, and often there is only 1 of them here, so I am sure you would be welcome to join them as they are always looking for someone to sail with...
he lost over 60% when he sold it. Just like horses or British automobiles. - @kolyaS122HSU
Are you suggesting that, uniquely, British cars loose value over time? And all others appreciate? Some of the cars that appreciate the greatest in the world are old British cars... just as some horses do.
It is all a matter of making the correct investment at the correct price at the time of purchase!
LOL so you are paying attention. I have a very good Irish friend who worked in the luxury car business with me for 30 years. Terry was the kind of guy who could stick his arm up to the shoulder into a 50 gallon drum of horse manure and extract a pea sized diamond. Didn't mean the contents of the drum are worth more however. Unlike my boat owning partner, I too had some financial misfortune, but on a much smaller scale with owning older Rolls Royce sedans, which I bought from my friend Terry.
you would be welcome to join them as they are always looking for someone to sail with... - @Peter Itamaraca
Yes, I am always interested in anything sea related. However, as an ex-boat owner related to me, owing a boat is like taking a shower but instead of water, it's dollar bills that go down the drain.
Is @John_D interested in joining?
Just dreaming and wishful thinking...
owning older Rolls Royce sedans, which I bought from my friend Terry. - @kolyaS122HSU
@kolyaS122HSU, I really do not understand why Rolls Royce are so expensive. I have worked with Rolls Royce turbofan jet engines and I understand the differences with other similar products from other vendors.
Is a car not simply a vehicle that brings you from A to B? And all the rest of gold and glitter just a reflection on the owner - which is a personal preference?
Not judging - just trying to understand here... Or may be this is a discussion over wine or choppe....
12/16/24 I have worked with Rolls Royce turbofan jet engines and I understand the differences with other similar products from other vendors.
- @Pablo888
I worked at GE Aircraft Engines once upon a time. A jet engine whose blades operate reliably in an environment at temperatures in excess of their own melting point is one of the signal triumphs of human intelligence and engineering, a miracle that takes off and lands thousands of times a day and carries millions of people.
12/16/24 I have worked with Rolls Royce turbofan jet engines and I understand the differences with other similar products from other vendors.
- @Pablo888
I worked at GE Aircraft Engines once upon a time. A jet engine whose blades operate reliably in an environment at temperatures in excess of their own melting point is one of the signal triumphs of human intelligence and engineering, a miracle that takes off and lands thousands of times a day and carries millions of people.
- @abthree
Yeah... That's an engineering marvel. I was exposed to Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and GE engines.... Those are beasts that operate wonderfully in the air. That's why I love to see those airplanes take off.
Too bad that the era of the 4 engine plane is over... mainly because of the increased efficiencies and power of those jet engines.
May be they should bring back the concorde.
owning older Rolls Royce sedans, which I bought from my friend Terry. - @kolyaS122HSU@kolyaS122HSU, I really do not understand why Rolls Royce are so expensive. I have worked with Rolls Royce turbofan jet engines and I understand the differences with other similar products from other vendors.Is a car not simply a vehicle that brings you from A to B? And all the rest of gold and glitter just a reflection on the owner - which is a personal preference?Not judging - just trying to understand here... Or may be this is a discussion over wine or choppe.... - @Pablo888
We can chat over adult bevvies as there are too many stories to tell.
Rolls Royce is now designing a new nuclear power plant.
@Pablo888
Thanks for that info. I haven't tried sailing yet. Something to think about though. :-)
@abthree
Side note - I'm thinking about pursuing a private pilot license, possibly an instrument rating/certificate later.
By pursuing, at this time, I mean I have an interest, have set up a home simulator with three 55" TVs and running x-plane 12 on a mid-level gaming pc, and enrolled in an online ground school... The expensive (and slower part) will be the hours required actually renting/flying a plane.
Plus I need to accumulate some more time with my CPAP to pass the medical exam. Before, I was happy with 4+ hours per night (minimum requirement for health insurance coverage) but the FAA requires 6+ hours per night, so I'm working on developing that history now.
@Peter Itamaraca
Thank you so much for the invitation. It was great to meet everyone and spend some time together.
We ended up coming back to Recife the next day, that house we were staying in had some "insulation" problem in that it was so hot in there all the time. I think because the ceiling is brick directly against the roof tiles with no separation or air flow to dissapate the heat, the ceiling just radiates the heat into the house. Even the lady who came to take the keys said she dislikes cleaning this house because it's so hot inside.
We are planning to come back to the island for probably 2-3 nights sometime the first 2 weeks of January. This time we'll be staying with a couple Rivane knows there, Lu and Edson. They rent a 5-bedroom house there near the beach, and love to have company over and entertain. That's something I've found to be very consistent -- is how the people we meet are so open and welcoming -- and I really enjoy and respect that culture here. :-)
@Pablo888 Thanks for that info. I haven't tried sailing yet. Something to think about though. :-) - @John_D
@John_D, my first career was as an A&P mechanic and that's why I know how to distinguish airplane engines from the hum of the airplanes when they go full throttle. Each engine type has a different resonant frequency...
I had the chance to get part ownership of a Beechcraft Bonanza. It was around $60K which is no problem. The issue is the on-going certification costs which far exceeds the initial purchase price. Everything on the plane needs to be re-certified periodically. Even though I can do most of the work myself, I am no longer certified and will need another A&P to certify - which is not easy these days.
That's why I switched to sailing small boats. In Brazil, there is this body of water nearby where it is relatively cheap to enjoy a day in the sun. Just need to make sure not to become shark-bait.
I am also tracking the recent advances by Larry Page regarding his one to four passenger VTOL electric plane which would be self-guided. No need for runways or certification for those.... Again, just dreaming out loud....
Hope to meet everyone next week when I am in Recife.
12/17/24 In Brazil, there is this body of water nearby where it is relatively cheap to enjoy a day in the sun. Just need to make sure not to become shark-bait.
- @Pablo888
Salt water environments generally should be safe. Expats (and everybody else) should avoid exposing themselves to standing fresh water because of the risk of schistosomiasis, a debilitating parasitic disease that is endemic to Brazil. The intermediate vector of the parasite, a trematode worm, is a widespread freshwater snail (genus Biomphalaria); unlike many pathogens, the worm larvae can and do penetrate unbroken skin. There have been periodic attempts at eradication in Brazil, but schistosomiasis is considered a "neglected tropical disease" by the WHO.
Entry of the parasite will often cause a rash on areas of skin that have been exposed, and anyone noticing a rash within a day or two of exiting a body of fresh water should be tested. Infection is not immediately life threatening, but once the parasite becomes established it becomes increasingly difficult to eliminate, and the effects of infestation become increasingly more severe.
Expats (and everybody else) should avoid exposing themselves to standing fresh water - @abthree
@abthree, thank you for the warning.... Fresh water harbors a variety of hazards,... dengue, malaria, bacteria, etc.... I am also afraid of piranhas.
I also saw that a few beaches in Rio wlll not be safe for swimming the next couple of weeks. I remember to avoid Botafogo... I will send the link to that list if I find it again....
Here is the list: https://diariodorio.com/confira-quais-p … -dezembro/
I had the chance to get part ownership of a Beechcraft Bonanza. It was around $60K which is no problem. The issue is the on-going certification costs which far exceeds the initial purchase price. Everything on the plane needs to be re-certified periodically. Even though I can do most of the work myself, I am no longer certified and will need another A&P to certify - which is not easy these days. - @Pablo888
One of my Ferrari clients owned 3 different Russian L-39 jet trainers, a Cessna Citation, as well as a Piaggio all at the same time. Each of the L-39 examples cost about $300K USD (lunch money for a two seat high performance jet) and they looked they were like new. But, the running costs and expenses were much, much, more. He actually sponsored 2 former Romanian air force mechanics to immigrate to Canada and work at his FBO hangar as his employees specifically to keep them in the air and certified. It is another league all together when you are worth 9 digits.
@John_D, here is the list of beaches to avoid swimming in Recife...
https://www.diariodepernambuco.com.br/n … banho.html
Just FYI.
Avoiding swimming, in general, is something to consider.
The following are aids in helping you figure out if the waters of you municipality are being treated. If they aren't, well, fresh or salt water, it is not advisable.
I hate to burst anybody's bubble on their own piece of paradise but Brazil really lacks in water treatment of most types.
Sistema Nacional de Informações Sobre Saneamento (lots of data but you have to dig deep).
https://www.gov.br/cidades/pt-br/acesso … ticos-snis
Easier......
Take a look at most any municipality that has reported water/sewage info:
https://www.aguaesaneamento.org.br
https://www.aguaesaneamento.org.br/muni … re-compare
Let's pick a popular destination where there's a fairly well-to-do population as an example, Campos do Jordão, SP (according to aguaesaneamento.org.br):
Population 77632
Municipal plan: yes
Pop. without water: 34.09%
Pop. without sewage: 42.17%
Pop. without garbage pickup: 3.03%
Homes subject to flooding: 2.7%
Some municipalities simply don't show data and often that is because they are so poorly administered.
I never swim in freshwater places EXCEPT very remote areas I am very familiar with and am very cautious about saltwater swimming.
MattB
In Rio you do not want to swim in the Guanabara Bay area due to pollution. Locals swim however at Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon, and as far down south as Grumari where the surfing crowd hangs out.
The waters in the NE around Recife are known for regular shark attacks, so, be forewarned. Also, the very painful "Portuguese Man of War" jellyfish can be found there as well.
I can't swim, so........
I don't really plan to swim.
Is it tradition to wear white and to jump over 7 waves in the new year?
Good that Copa is a good place to get into the water....
@Pablo888
Interesting that you were a certified mechanic at one point. It seems there is a high demand for that.
I've thought about building a plane from a kit, for the experience of doing it but also for the ability to do the maintenance myself going forward.
At the same time I'm finding it's often cheaper in the end to rent than to own, when it comes to expensive tools and toys. :-)
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