Our Time in Guaçui

As has been everywhere we´ve been, we recieved a warm welcome to Guaçui by our hosts on Friday afternoon after a stop in Alegre to meet the mayor, visit local Rotarian businesses and a fabulous lunch. As we travel further inland, the towns are smaller and the principal industry is agriculture. We started our afternoon in Guaçui with a tour of the Coca Cola distributor - Aguicol - owned by one of the club members. Then it was off to Colagua, a local milk cooperative. Next stop was to the second Cristo Redentor erected in Brazil. We had a quick tour of the town and dinner with our hosts ending a very long day that began at 8 and ended after 11.

On Saturday we were out by 8:30 and drove to a hydroelectric facility - Bem Vino - a 55MW facility completed in December 1999. As is with many such visits, we travel about an hour over dirt roads to get there. We are then treated to a relaxing afternoon lunch at vale das Quaresmeiras, a quaint resort nestled in one of the many valleys surrounding the town.

We arrive back at our host families in time to shower change and get ready for the club meeting for another presentation. The meeting begins at 8 and Rotarians from Allegre have driven up to see our presentation. There are over 60 in attendance for a club that has 30 members. The meeting lasts until after 11, and by the time we return to our host homes, re-pack to leave in the morning, none of us gets to bed before 12:30. In the morning we will leave for Venda Nova at 8:30, so it is another long day followed by a short night. But it has been worth it. We find out we are the first GSE team to visit these clubs and our hosts are more than gracious with their time, treasures and talents.