Sidewalks:
Sidewalks are owned by the building or house that they are in front of, thus every section has a different surface, at a different level, on a different slope, maintained to a different standard..
this one is the main drag, 2 lanes each direction, crazy people driving the buses , they park on the sidewalk, double park or triple, the only way around for a pedestrian, is to step out into the lane with the on coming bus..always walk facing traffic!!
The sidewalks are used for many things..
Parking cars:
this drives me nutz, no room to pass in front or behind, you have to walk on to the street.
Construction:
They Mix cement, mortar, cut wood, tiles..all the work is done on the sidewalk.
Storing Construction Material:
Sleeping:
The guy behind the walker is napping, these guys are flanelinhas, these guys stake out a piece of road and "Help" you park or un-park and then ask for money..basically they do dick, and if you don't pay they will NOT watch your car, and something will most likely happen to it...!!
Business:
Garbage:
They pile garbage ( which is picked up every night) on the side walks, the recycler's ( Just a bunch of people with hand carts or horse drawn carts) pick through the bags looking for things of value, hey it is a system that seems to work, they spread garbage all over the place.. Usually this is cleaned up by morning, the official garbage men seem to handle this. It always happens at night, I never see how it works, I just see the results in the morning
and lastly..and least likely..walking..
The area may be flat, but you get a workout every walk. because of holes and levels, you have to look down, you miss a lot.. I have learned to look down, scan for 10-20 meters.. look up look around then look down again to scan the next 10 -20 meters, almost doing it unconsciously. Opps I forgot to mention, pedestrians are invisible to traffic, cross walks are a waste of paint ( And I think a signal to drivers to close their eyes and floor it), traffic lights.. if seen are ignored..
I have translated the traffic signals for you
Canada = Brasil
Green = Green
Yellow = Green
Red = light shade of green, if something bigger then you is crossing, slow or stop, if smaller or more cowardly then you..floor it.. (this is the Macho rule.. will get into that in another entry.. that will be a long discussion...
So be careful crossing the road...
OOPS I forgot..Always be ready to dodge a motorcycle.. when the roads are crowded or blocked..the Moto's take to the sidewalk...
Sidewalks are owned by the building or house that they are in front of, thus every section has a different surface, at a different level, on a different slope, maintained to a different standard..
The sidewalks are used for many things..
Parking cars:
this drives me nutz, no room to pass in front or behind, you have to walk on to the street.Construction:
They Mix cement, mortar, cut wood, tiles..all the work is done on the sidewalk.
Storing Construction Material:
Sleeping:
Business:
Garbage:
They pile garbage ( which is picked up every night) on the side walks, the recycler's ( Just a bunch of people with hand carts or horse drawn carts) pick through the bags looking for things of value, hey it is a system that seems to work, they spread garbage all over the place.. Usually this is cleaned up by morning, the official garbage men seem to handle this. It always happens at night, I never see how it works, I just see the results in the morning
and lastly..and least likely..walking..
The area may be flat, but you get a workout every walk. because of holes and levels, you have to look down, you miss a lot.. I have learned to look down, scan for 10-20 meters.. look up look around then look down again to scan the next 10 -20 meters, almost doing it unconsciously. Opps I forgot to mention, pedestrians are invisible to traffic, cross walks are a waste of paint ( And I think a signal to drivers to close their eyes and floor it), traffic lights.. if seen are ignored..
I have translated the traffic signals for you
Canada = Brasil
Green = Green
Yellow = Green
Red = light shade of green, if something bigger then you is crossing, slow or stop, if smaller or more cowardly then you..floor it.. (this is the Macho rule.. will get into that in another entry.. that will be a long discussion...
So be careful crossing the road...
OOPS I forgot..Always be ready to dodge a motorcycle.. when the roads are crowded or blocked..the Moto's take to the sidewalk...
Nice observations. I reckon that Brazilians are excellent drivers in a mad kind of way. Sure, road markings are mere graffiti, but it is a skill to drive using both wing mirrors simultaneously. Reactions have to be so sharp. That said, I wouldn't have the courage to learn to drive here.
ReplyDeleteMy Wife has been driving for 30 years.. she didn't learn to shoulder check until 5 year ago when getting her drivers license in Canada.. Since We have come back to Brazil, she is trying to break the habit of looking behind her, like she says..."anything that happens behind my retinas is not my concern"
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