Around the Block 2007

We are in Brazil, now to get legal!  We head down to the Policia Federal.  They are kind and encouraging.  First: "Your yellow fever document is not sufficient, you must have an International Vaccination Form.  But just go down to the posta (clinic) at the border with Bolivia (pix) and they will exchange this for the International Form!"

This is crazy, but we go.  At the posta, while they are making a new form (that says we got all the shots there in Brazil) I see a 'saying of the day' in Portuguese, which translates: "Don't tell God how big your problem is..... tell your problem how big your God is."  We are going to need this...

Vaccination forms done, we head over to customs.  OK, but we need this and this photocopied and notarized.  OK, but I don't even know how to say "notary" in Portuguese!  We ask alot of questions, figure it out and it's back to the Policia and the notary then back to customs.  It takes a while, but everything is good.  Then they come out to check the numbers on the motos and guess what?... My moto is one number off from the documents!  Another hour of deciding what to do.... then they sign off and let us go.. with a warning that in Brazil all drivers must be 18, and Luke is only 17.  Just a warning.....

It is now noon and 220km to Rio Branco (pix).  We buzz past police station after police station and just wave.  They wave back.  Before long we are in Rio Branco, which turns out is no small town.  Bridges are one way, but we choose correctly and are at our hotel before we know it. A/C!....

We arrive with $R 10 to our name and no bank will take our ATM card....  Don't let the Hotel know...  Try again in the morning....

NEXT DAY:  day14riobrancotoportov.htm

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