Darvaza-Turkmenistan The Doorway to Hell

Darvaza-Turkmenistan The Doorway to Hell

Yes, it’s a wonderful feeling.

Two days of suffering the torments of a serious belly ache. There were times I thought that I was on the brink of the Doorway to Hell.

It does exist, you know, talk about ‘a burning ring of fire’ as Johnny Cash put it.

Today is another holiday in Brazil. “Zumbi dos Palmares (1655 – November 20, 1695) was the last of the leaders of the Quilombo dos Palmares, a fugitive settlement in the present-day state of Alagoas” – Wikipedia

Last Saturday I was having a beer in the shade in the park in front of the botequim, it was a hot, hot day. We were joined by the local guy who pedals fresh bread rolls around on his bicycle each morning. The conversation became interesting as the guy realised I was a foreigner. We’d never really spoken before apart from the odd time I buy bread rolls, or we pass in the street.

Flat-EarthersThis guy, late fifties of European descent, had absolutely no concept of the world, he didn’t even seem to realise that the world was round and had another hemisphere. His idea of the world was Brazil, Portugal and the heathen Americans fighting in a desert. Strangely enough he also knew that Finland existed, and kept confusing my NZ for Finland. He had no idea that the Pacific Ocean existed, nor of Australia, although he had heard of Africa.

That wasn’t the end of the confusion. He was a Catholic, whereas I am an Atheist, he couldn’t grasp the idea that someone had different beliefs, that was just totally beyond him.

I have met some poorly educated people many times in the past, but never one with such a narrow view of life. It would have been almost pathetic, if he was a decent sort.

Then he left with no idea that he should contribute to the beer he had shared with us, which was considerable.

Zê and I just looked at each other and let him pedal off.

It’s 1am, I have just watched Brazil trounce Chile 2-1 in a good fast clean football game played in Toronto; which was certainly better than last week’s game against Honduras, which as a very dirty game. If Honduras had spent more time playing and less time using dirty tactics maybe they wouldn’t have lost 5-0.

KochApp1Tomorrow tonight, New Zealand plays Mexico… gulp! This game will decide NZ’s fate for the World Cup.

Rather amusing, I saw that there is an app barcode reader that tells you if a product is produced by any of the Koch Brothers industries… I couldn’t believe it; but apparently, if you want to boycott Koch industries it could come in handy.

I got a Happy Blog Anniversary from WordPress…

anniversary-2xMy account is five years old, although I have only been seriously blogging here for two.

I have tentatively had some nibbly things during the evening and it doesn’t seem to have unbalanced my bowels, maybe I can try eating normally today.

It’s now bedtime, if anything noteworthy happens during the day, I’ll do an update.

I’ll leave you with this piece of nostalgia…

Later.