Silly Brazilians

Two very interesting things have happened in the past week. The first, happened last Thursday, which was holiday and so neither of us worked. We woke up late, had just gotten our coffee and were headed to sit on the porch. I look out and see this giant hot air balloon looking thing falling from the sky. All week I asked around about it, and basically everyone said that I was seeing things, except I got a picture of it.

Ok, so after watching this balao as the Portuguese call them, they are gang related and completely illegal. They are fueled by alcohol and fire connected to a fuse. At the end of the fuse, are a bunch of firecrackers. So, the gangs launch these and send them towards the airport, but ours got a little off track.

The second interesting event happened last night, from our apartment we overlook a large road that also leads to the football(soccer) stadium where their was a big game last night. Our dinner was interrupted by fireworks and singing/chanting, and when we looked outside we saw a long line of traffic and the drivers waving huge flags...and everyone thinks tailgaters are crazy: listen to this.