SPOTLIGHT ON: JEREMIAH STANLEY...IN BRAZIL

Jeremiah Stanley is my (Filipino Martial Arts) student, friend and fellow traveler. He is an ER nurse by profession and he also happens to be an arnis, kempo and jiu-jitsu instructor, . I wrote an article about him last year describing one of his extended trips. Well, the travel bug has bitten Jeremiah again, and I have decided to let him tell his own story this time. Here is his first email installment (unabridged).

Subject: Bom dia do Rio!
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 08:52:10 -0800 (PST)

Well here I am in Rio! It is indeed one of the most beautiful cities I´ve been to! So far, I´ve been to Sugarloaf mountain where I hiked up the adjacent hill then took the cable car up to the top of the mountain, excellent view!

Ipanema beach was the next day and I hung with some travelers and a Brazilian to be introduced to the Carioca (person living in Rio)beach lifestyle. And an old colonial part of the city named Santa Teresa where we took a tram, or San Francisco style cable car up. Then we visited some parks overlooking the city and took in a nice museum with impressive displays from Europe, Asia and Brazil.

I´m mostly hanging with people from the hostel, but am getting much braver with conversations in portuguesa. It´s funny they understand me more than I understand them; right now I´m just using my spanish with portuguese sounds hoping that it translates okay. But hey, it´s only day 4! This is mostly to let y’all know that I´m here and alive. So don´t worry Mom!

Tchau,
Jeremiah