Transport

Brazil's cars are much smaller than Oz cars. I saw no big 4WDs and very few cars the size of a Holden or a Falcon. Fiat has a big presence, with many really cool models that we probably won't ever see in Oz. The one that I was most taken with was a dual-cab ute about the size of the old Subaru Brumby. It looked tough and stylish, and was a good size. So many towns have narrow, cobbled streets that perhaps big cars are a hindrance. Many cars can run on petrol, LPG or ethanol. Trucks, even the ones I spotted on the big highways seem to be smaller, with very few B-doubles. It seems like an inefficient way to move stuff, but I guess it works. In the interior of Brazil, donkeys, mules and horses are still used to move goods and people. One of the most ironic sights was when we were gridlocked in Belo Horizonte and were passed by a guy in a horse and cart. Sadly, many of these working animals are in poor condition and it wrenched at my heart. I suspect life is not much better for their humans.

Some of the major highways in Brazil are in very bad condition - pot-holed with cracking and slumping pavement and very lumpy and bumpy. On the first day of the field trip, the cobbled roads in the Rio hinterland were absolutely abysmal. I thought I was going to end up with back problems from the constant juddering. Poor Pedro - being an owner-operator, he was understandably worried about the wear and tear on his bus.

In Buzios, which has either cobbled or dirt roads, the sandy soil caused many of the cobbles to shift, leaving big gaps or holes. On the way into town from Ferradura, we walked past a manhole cover that had slumped about 25cm into the ground, leaving a huge hole. If a motorbike were to hit it, it would end in tears.

I saw very few luxury cars in Brazil - a few Mercedes and BMWs.

Brazilians have speed bumps and aren't afraid to use them. Anywhere. Even on major highways. You can be barrelling along at 100kph, warning sign - lombarda ahead - down to 20kph. Eek.

Brazilians have speed cameras and aren't afraid to use them. Often combined with speed bumps, they guarantee that people drive flat out, followed by abrupt braking.

Some of the major roads in Brazil have big terminus in the middle of the roads where their equivalent of the RTA reside. They are also the resting place of wrecked cars and trucks, of which there were many. Rather sobering, and probably the reason for all the speed bumps and cameras.

After crossing into Argentina at Iguazu, roads did not initially improve. I wondered if Australians would put up with the it, but I guess out in the sticks, they do put up with it. I saw the first large 4WDs, but cars were still generally small.

Buenos Aries has so many cars, and more affluence was displayed. The city is full of little blue and yellow taxis. They are very cheap and easy to flag down and use. Whether you can actually move once you get in one is another matter. Traffic is frequently gridlocked. The drivers have been to the Rome-school-of-driving and do not seem to obey any rules, apart from 'don't run into each other'. Two lanes of traffic become 6 or 7 lanes, a gap is spotted and everyone aims for it and try to squeeze in. There's much beeping and gesturing, but on the whole it seems to work. I suspect that if thye drove as politely as Australians (mostly) do, traffic wouldn't move at all.

Somewhere to stash your dog while you eat at the service station!

 

Poor little boy horse dressed in pink, Tiradentes

 

Lima has more luxury cars than any other city we've visited so far.

                                                    Steep Ouro Preto street