Day 7 - January 8th, 2017
The day Erika and myself have been waiting for a very long time is finally here, Curitiba! We arrived in Curitiba, in the late morning, with nothing but excitement rushing through our bodies! We stayed at the Lancaster Hotel located in Curitiba’s City Centre. The day began with confusion about each others room situation. Some of students switched roommates, however, Catalina, Kim and I chose to stay together. Unfortunately Anna Rick had a bacterial infection in her eyes and had to go to the hospital with Professor Tait. Poor thing! This meant we were able to nap and eat while they were at the hospital. Our day consisted of sleeping and eating, and man did we need it!
It was raining this day but I can assure you, that did not stop us from going out into the city to look for something to eat. The city seemed huge and exciting. I wanted to venture into it! Not many people were out and about this day. It was as if we had the whole city to ourselves! I twirled my body in happiness, embracing every single element of the city.
The day Erika and myself have been waiting for a very long time is finally here, Curitiba! We arrived in Curitiba, in the late morning, with nothing but excitement rushing through our bodies! We stayed at the Lancaster Hotel located in Curitiba’s City Centre. The day began with confusion about each others room situation. Some of students switched roommates, however, Catalina, Kim and I chose to stay together. Unfortunately Anna Rick had a bacterial infection in her eyes and had to go to the hospital with Professor Tait. Poor thing! This meant we were able to nap and eat while they were at the hospital. Our day consisted of sleeping and eating, and man did we need it!
It was raining this day but I can assure you, that did not stop us from going out into the city to look for something to eat. The city seemed huge and exciting. I wanted to venture into it! Not many people were out and about this day. It was as if we had the whole city to ourselves! I twirled my body in happiness, embracing every single element of the city.
We left the hotel as group. Being that there was fifteen of us, it came to no surprise we each were craving different foods. Anna T, Catalina and I decided on a Chinese buffet located down the street from our hotel. After our stomachs were full, we were ready for a nap!
After Professor Tait and Anna Rick returned, we were then able to start our presentations around 7pm. Catalina and Kim presented information on Urban forest with a focus on Tijuca National Park. Christian and Jaclyn’s presentation was on water quality with a focus on Guanabara Bay and Sewage Treatment. Our night concluded after presentations were finished. |
Day 8 - January 9th, 2017
Our second day in Curitiba started off with a trip to the laundry mat. We each gathered our dirty clothes and dropped them off at the nearest laundry mat, shortly after around we took taxi’s to our first meeting of the day. The meeting was located in Cabral and held at IPPUC, the Institute for Research and Urban Planning of Curitiba. Our speaker Danielle Moraes informed us on the city’s Urban planning ideas as well as Curitiba’s growth as a city. After our first meeting we walked over to the Ciddle Gill where we indulged in an amazing buffet. After our stomachs were nice and full, we searched taxi’s up the street and proceeded to go to our next meeting. Our second meeting was located in Barigui Park with speaker Carlos. We arrived an hour or so early and enjoyed the parks environment in the mean time. When Carlos arrived, we took a tour of the park as well as went into one of their classrooms and learned about the park’s environment and their plans to improve some aspects of it.
As we were walking along side a river we were able to spot out the famous Capybara! Some of us tried walking across the swampy grass in an effort to get the best picture possible. Our muddy shoes was well worth getting up close and personal with the Capybara’s. At the end of the trail was a stop and shop with fresh coconuts, ice-cream and Açaí bowls. Of course I could not resist the fresh coconuts! After everyone was finished with their snacks, we headed back to our hotel in taxi’s. Tyler, Anna, Kim and I were in a taxi together. The taxi driver was talking to Tyler in Portguese the whole time while Tyler was just replying with a giggle and “yeah” as if he understood what he was saying. It was quite interesting. Our taxi driver tried to beat the rest of our classmates in the other taxis. Unfortunately he did not succeed, but it was an interesting experience!
When we returned to the hotel, Erika wasn’t feeling too well and suffered from heat exhaustion. Luckily after some fluids and sleep she was well enough to go to her and Andy Cross’s birthday dinner. The dinner was held in the Railway Museum as known as the mall. The dinner included a variety of meats, even the heart of an animal! Professor Tait was the dare devil in the group and tried the animal heart. Our night ended with a delicious dinner and mouth watering chocolate covered fruits for desert.
Day 9 - January 10th, 2017
Another day another meeting! Around 9am we were out the door, on our way to meeting with the Transport Network located in Rodoferroriaria. Our destination was a nice 20-25 minute walk. During our walk to the meeting, we were caught by surprise by a “pick pocketer.” The man started walking with us trying to snag anything he could get, too bad he was terrible at it and didn’t steal anything from us. Our meeting included information about the RIT, Rede Integrada de Transporte (Integrated Transport Network). The presentation reflected on their Green Line, accessibility, fleet composition as well as new projects with Eco-friendly bus transportation. We were able to view the RIT control room. It was amazing seeing how they observe the transportation of busses within Curitiba.
After our meeting, we walked back to our hotel where we slit up as a group and had some free time for a few hours. Andy T, Alex, Anna T, Jaclyn and I walked around the city and grabbed lunch. Alex and Andy T departed from us girls as we went shopping. Around 3pm we met back up as a group and took a ride on the tourist bus also known as the green bus. Our tour included trips to the Jardim Botanico (Botanical Garden) and the Opera de Arame (opera house). The bus had upper-decker seating where we witnessed beautiful views of the City. Across the street from the Opera house was a gift shop and lucky for us we were able to visit it due to missing one of the green busses. Good thing they come back every thirty minutes!
After we made it back to our hotel, our group spilt up for dinner. Some students went in the city for dinner while others enjoyed dinner in the hotel restaurant. Unfortunately Erika got heat exhaustion again and was unable to go forward with her and Anna Rick’s presentation. Around 10:30pm our group gathered in Catalina, Kim and I’s room, where we reflected on our day and shortly after called it a night.
Another day another meeting! Around 9am we were out the door, on our way to meeting with the Transport Network located in Rodoferroriaria. Our destination was a nice 20-25 minute walk. During our walk to the meeting, we were caught by surprise by a “pick pocketer.” The man started walking with us trying to snag anything he could get, too bad he was terrible at it and didn’t steal anything from us. Our meeting included information about the RIT, Rede Integrada de Transporte (Integrated Transport Network). The presentation reflected on their Green Line, accessibility, fleet composition as well as new projects with Eco-friendly bus transportation. We were able to view the RIT control room. It was amazing seeing how they observe the transportation of busses within Curitiba.
After our meeting, we walked back to our hotel where we slit up as a group and had some free time for a few hours. Andy T, Alex, Anna T, Jaclyn and I walked around the city and grabbed lunch. Alex and Andy T departed from us girls as we went shopping. Around 3pm we met back up as a group and took a ride on the tourist bus also known as the green bus. Our tour included trips to the Jardim Botanico (Botanical Garden) and the Opera de Arame (opera house). The bus had upper-decker seating where we witnessed beautiful views of the City. Across the street from the Opera house was a gift shop and lucky for us we were able to visit it due to missing one of the green busses. Good thing they come back every thirty minutes!
After we made it back to our hotel, our group spilt up for dinner. Some students went in the city for dinner while others enjoyed dinner in the hotel restaurant. Unfortunately Erika got heat exhaustion again and was unable to go forward with her and Anna Rick’s presentation. Around 10:30pm our group gathered in Catalina, Kim and I’s room, where we reflected on our day and shortly after called it a night.
Day 10 - January 11th, 2017
Meetings on meetings on meetings! Our day started off by catching taxi cabs around 9am to met with Curitiba’s politicans at Reboucas. The meeting consisted of future ideas for the city within Curitiba’s operation center, including operation Vale Do Pinhão which divided economic development within the city into eight different categories. The eight categories being, Geeks & Creatives, Academics, Inventors, Public Agencies, Entrepreneurs, Change Agents, Tech Companies, and last but not least Investors. The meeting concluded with a sad farewell to our dear friend Carlos. Kim, Tyler, Anna T and I went for lunch at a mall made out of glass, where we were able to enjoy the inside without missing the beautiful outdoors. Around 2pm our entire group took taxi’s to the Oscar Miemeyer Art Museum located in Centro Cívico. The Museum included a collection of fine art pieces and represented Oscar Miemeyer’s memory very well.
After returning to our hotel, Catalina, Anna T and I grabbed dinner at a Chinese place up the street from our hotel. Later that evening, Erika, Anna Rick, Anna T and Tyler presented their projects. Erika and Anna Rick focused on parks in Curitiba while Tyler and Anna T focused on Curitiba’s sustainability. After presentations and reflections most of the girls headed back to Catalina, Kim and I’s room where we relaxed in face masks and good conversation before bed.
Notes on Day 10:
Meetings on meetings on meetings! Our day started off by catching taxi cabs around 9am to met with Curitiba’s politicans at Reboucas. The meeting consisted of future ideas for the city within Curitiba’s operation center, including operation Vale Do Pinhão which divided economic development within the city into eight different categories. The eight categories being, Geeks & Creatives, Academics, Inventors, Public Agencies, Entrepreneurs, Change Agents, Tech Companies, and last but not least Investors. The meeting concluded with a sad farewell to our dear friend Carlos. Kim, Tyler, Anna T and I went for lunch at a mall made out of glass, where we were able to enjoy the inside without missing the beautiful outdoors. Around 2pm our entire group took taxi’s to the Oscar Miemeyer Art Museum located in Centro Cívico. The Museum included a collection of fine art pieces and represented Oscar Miemeyer’s memory very well.
After returning to our hotel, Catalina, Anna T and I grabbed dinner at a Chinese place up the street from our hotel. Later that evening, Erika, Anna Rick, Anna T and Tyler presented their projects. Erika and Anna Rick focused on parks in Curitiba while Tyler and Anna T focused on Curitiba’s sustainability. After presentations and reflections most of the girls headed back to Catalina, Kim and I’s room where we relaxed in face masks and good conversation before bed.
Notes on Day 10:
Day 11 - January 12th, 2017
Early birds get the worm, or gets to go on an amazing train ride through the Amazon Rainforest! Our morning began at 7am, we walked to Curitiba-Paranaguá railway where we hopped on a train that allowed us to see breathtaking views for three hours. These views were that of those one would see in a movie! Our train picked us up in Rodoferroviaria and dropped us off in Morretes where we able to enjoy a mouth watering lunch and explore the town. When I say mouth watering, I mean it. This restaurant was absolutely amazing, not just the food but the service as well. The manager shared many stories of his past, how he ended up in Brazil and where he’s off to next. Originally he was from Denmark and relocated many times for business purposes, so far Brazil is his favorite location and doesn’t plan on moving anytime soon.
After a few hours in Morretes, we took a bus to Antonina. We exploded Antonina for about a half hour then proceeded with our journey on the bus back to Rodoferroviaria. We took a quick pit stop to a market on our way back. I picked up a few cooking supplies to bring back to my mom in the states. I also indulged in a lemon sugar cane drink which like everything else in Brazil, was absolutely amazing. The way they made these drinks was by putting a large natural sugar cane stick into a machine that liquidated the stick and topped off the drink with fresh squeezed lemon juice. When we arrived back to our hotel we took a ride on Curitiba’s famous red bus! It indeed surpassed our expectations of the bus system. The commute was comfortable and stylish. Day eleven’s dinner consisted of room service; margarita pizza! We ended the night with a hangout in Catalina, Kim and I’s room.
Early birds get the worm, or gets to go on an amazing train ride through the Amazon Rainforest! Our morning began at 7am, we walked to Curitiba-Paranaguá railway where we hopped on a train that allowed us to see breathtaking views for three hours. These views were that of those one would see in a movie! Our train picked us up in Rodoferroviaria and dropped us off in Morretes where we able to enjoy a mouth watering lunch and explore the town. When I say mouth watering, I mean it. This restaurant was absolutely amazing, not just the food but the service as well. The manager shared many stories of his past, how he ended up in Brazil and where he’s off to next. Originally he was from Denmark and relocated many times for business purposes, so far Brazil is his favorite location and doesn’t plan on moving anytime soon.
After a few hours in Morretes, we took a bus to Antonina. We exploded Antonina for about a half hour then proceeded with our journey on the bus back to Rodoferroviaria. We took a quick pit stop to a market on our way back. I picked up a few cooking supplies to bring back to my mom in the states. I also indulged in a lemon sugar cane drink which like everything else in Brazil, was absolutely amazing. The way they made these drinks was by putting a large natural sugar cane stick into a machine that liquidated the stick and topped off the drink with fresh squeezed lemon juice. When we arrived back to our hotel we took a ride on Curitiba’s famous red bus! It indeed surpassed our expectations of the bus system. The commute was comfortable and stylish. Day eleven’s dinner consisted of room service; margarita pizza! We ended the night with a hangout in Catalina, Kim and I’s room.
Day 12 - January 13th, 2017
Friday the 13th! Our final morning in Curitiba consisted of a big breakfast followed by plane to our next destination, Iguacu!
Friday the 13th! Our final morning in Curitiba consisted of a big breakfast followed by plane to our next destination, Iguacu!