Brazil's São Paulo Guarulhos and Congonhas: the No-Sweat Guide to Navigating its Airports

I was talking to a friend, a successful buinesswoman, in Britain last week who was reluctant to visit Brazil because she said she found the country's airports intimidating. Specifically, the fact that there are two airports in São Paulo confused her. She is right to feel confused. São Paulo is truly an important city, one of the biggest and busiest in the World, and all international flights arrive there first, and not the capital, Brasília, I believe. I can remember having had a similar conversation with a conservation scientist I once worked wih in Mauritius. Mauritius' airport, though, had the charming, if unpronounceable, name of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport and overlooks a lush volcanic landscape.  São Paulo's airport is the Shrek of airport architecture, cute and big, and has the added advantage that at least you can say its name after a few beers - GRU which, usefully, is also its international airport code, you know, the one that travel agents use.

Maureen (Mo) was confused by the need for two airports in one city. As far as I can make out, São Guarulhos - Shrek Airport as I like to call it - handles international flights and Congonhas handles domestic flights. I keep wanting to call Congonhas Cegonhas, which means 'storks' in Portuguese.

Such is Brazil's geography that Congonhas seems to handle shuttle flights between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro whilst Shrek handles The Rest Of The World. Many people in Rio seem to spend their days using shades, Hawaiian shirts and swimming trunks, whilst a lot of people from São Paulo use suits and briefcases.  Thus it makes sense to have an airport wholly dedicated to the trasnportation of all those flip-flops and brogues.

And one more thing.  If you come to Brazil, and you should because they make a drink here called 'Little Country Girl' aka caipirinha and it is heaven in a glass, then be prepared for the fact that you will have to collect all your hold baggage at São Paulo Guarulhos on landing.  Even if you are not staying in Saõ Paulo but are in transit to another city in Brazil. Yes, you read that right.  Allow plenty of time when booking your flights between Saõ Paulo and your onward destination because your luggage will not be transferred on to your onward flight. Boa viagem!

How to... Get the Right Crutch Size

Introduction I have decided with this blog to write about my life and life in general with all its trials and tribulations. That is, any problem that I face, that I solve and that can possibly help you, the reader, should you be unfortunate enough to find yourself in a similar situation. Today is going to be quick. I had to take my son in to get fitted for a new pair of crutches. He is nine and had outgrown the others that he has been using for the last year. So we managed to find a shop that stocked them and we took him for a fitting. Children`s crutches come with a handle amd the handle should reach the child`s wrist. Told you I`d be quick!

How to be a Blogger, Choose a Work Placement and more...

Introduction I was talking with one of my readers last night and we discussed how, to be a blogger, you should write every day. The conversation stimulated me into putting finger to keyboard once more. This is because, as you may have noticed, I had disappeared into the ether for two months. There is a reason for my truancy. I have been completing my course. To do so, I came back home to my native Britain. The first four and a half years I studied in Brazil. As you know, of course, if you are a regular reader of this (and if not, why not?) I have been studying in Brazilian Portuguese, a language I learned in the street - that is to say, by ear. But I am pleased to say that I never fell prey to that classic mistake many language learners experience to their chagrin. I have usually managed to avoid using offensive language. What remains nearly completely beyond my comprehension, even after 12 years, is idiomatic experessions, for example, `Ingles para ingles ver`. What is easy to learn are swear words, because the little boy in me loves to learn them (with a relative being ex-military, dissent in the family ranks was never tolerated in my youth). But of course I rarely repeat them. Of course not. Never. Not me. So I hope it makes sense when I say that I wanted to spend the final semester of my course back in Britain (good Old Blighty) to re-learn my own language, strange though that no doubt sounds. You see, duing four and a half years at Vets` school in Brazil this Britisher acquired almost every veterinary textbook and dictionary published, anywhere, ever, in English and Portuguese. Yet still gaps remained in my knowledge, some caused by confusion due to my knowledge acquisition being lost in translation. So I came home and spent the longest period on these shores for 12 years. And it has been glorious. I don`t mean the weather. I mean the people. Sure, the first few weeks I was at a clinic seeing practice where I was almost entirely ignored. Okay, I did not expect the red carpet treatment, because it was largely them doing me the favour, but nevertheless a hint of friendliness, as opposed to near-indifference, would have been nice. I am exaggerating, but only slightly. Then I was switched to a different branch of the same practice, and things could not have been better. By the second day I was given meaningful tasks to do, and by the third I had performed surgery by myself. I am highly appreciative of the cat`s involuntary participation in this surgery. Even though there is no doubt whatsover in my mind that I am now bttom of said cat`s Christmas card list, having surgically ruined his marriage prospects. My best advice I can give to anyone thinking of doing veterinary medicine is that it is all about people. I have made some brilliant new friends over the past few days. So how do you choose a work placement that is right for you, no matter what your course? For me I have always been most settled in friendly atmospheres. As one vet said to me, if you have a chance to visit a practice, try to observe the way the support staff interact with each other as that can be an excellent indicator of the working environment and atmosphere.