It has been a long 29 hours!

Will start off with the excuse of typing this on my phone on 4 hours of sleep, please excuse the typos.....

Ahhhh, wow is about all I can say.  Yesterday at 2:30 when I kissed my family goodbye seems like ages ago.  Let me try and recap the last 30 some hours!

1st- 2 hour flight to Dallas

2nd - Meet Todd and other members of US Team (Paul, Johnny, and Andy Peterhn, Rhett and Joe Heartsill, and Gary Haven (as well as various crew members) for a beer ( or two, or three) before embarking on an 11 hour flight to San Paulo.

Erica as Beautiful as always!

A little group poker on the flight, pretty cool computer system.

Then 11 very uncomfortable hours in coach ( cramped, arm rest does not move, can't crawl over Todd to pee.......) finally Sunrise and San Paulo!

After making it through customs easily, except for Johnny (JP) who got pulled aside (seems to be what happens when you check a burner in a suitcase that looks like something that would hold a bomb.  Anyway, our Bazilain new best friends we there to great us ( local crew that somewhat speak English) and after exchanging money we were quickly on our way to the parking lot.

Parking lot problems:  1st how to get 17 people and luggage into 4 Ford Rangers.

 

It worked, but the issue was that it took so long to figure it out, that when we when to leave the parking lot out tickets were no longer good because they were now expired.  A few back ups, fixes of the " parking garage arm" , and additional dollars(real) we were on our way to pick up balloon systems from the shipping agent.

Not sure what to say here besides Cluster F?'&k!  17 people, luggage, 4 balloon systems all fitting into 4 Ford Rangers.  Oh ya, did I mention no fork lift and a great part of town?

And believe me these pictures do not do this part of the day justice!

Next a two and 1/2 hour drive to San Claro.  Not sure how to describe this.  All I can say is trucks, motorcycles, and sure death!  

Finally, Rio Claro ( after stopping at the nicest cross between a Flying J and Cracker Barrel Brazil has to offer).

Hotel checkin, key cards to keep lights on( more on that later, toilets that flush the wrong direction (pictures of that later) and more moving of equipment!

Ok, finally reached the end of the day and hade time to catch the sunset and a few drinks with friends and new friends.

Exhausted, but can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!