Day 12: August 22, 2014

Today is the day we all return to the United States from Brazil.  It was bittersweet, but I was glad to be heading home.  After going to the local Foz de Iguassu airport with the majority of my classmates, Aryel and I went on to Rio de Janiero to continue or journey back to the States.  After catching some coffe at the Rio de Janiero airport, Aryel and i eventually split ways as I continued on to a connecting flight to New York and Aryel went to North Carolina.  

After spending 8 hours on a flight from Rio de Janiero to New York with no in-flight entertainment, nobody is a happy camper

I landed in New York early Saturday morning, around 6:00AM.  Hoping to arrive back in Washington DC at an even earlier time, I transferred flights from my 11:00AM to 8:00AM.  Unfortunately for me, my flight was delayed significantly and ended up leaving at the same time as my original flight.  After spending upwards of 14 hours in the air I finally reached home.  Brazil was truly an unforgettable experience, where I made great friends.  I can’t wait for the opportunity to be able to travel there again.

Day 11: August 21, 2014

After seeing the leisure side of the Parana River at Iguassu Falls, today, we attend the energy generating side at the Itaipu Dam.  Itaipu is the largest hydroelectric power plant in Brazil, completely powering the neighboring cities.  Itaipu alone has the electric potential to power the entire world for 2 days, a world record!  The Itaipu Dam is very interesting in the sense it is a joint venture between Brazil and Paraguay.  The entire facility population is always composed of 50% Brazilian workers and 50% Paraguayan workers.  The facility itself straddles the border of the two countries.  Going on the technical tour of the dam, we were allowed inside to observe one of the working turbines producing energy.  Truly engineering at its finest.  Having such large access to water and hydropower being such a clean source of energy, it is very clear why Brazil has such reliance on this form of energy.  Visiting the Itaipu Dam was easily one of the highlights of this trip.  In addition to it being amazing from a engineering standpoint, the structure itself was beautiful and provided a great view of the river.

Selfie with the dam

Entrance to the Itaipu Dam

Our tour guide explaining the discharge point of the dam

Plaque stating the dam could power the world for 2 days. A WORLD RECORD!

Main Control Room

Turbine at work

Following our visit of the Itaipu Dam we had a farewell dinner.  Although we were all somewhat excited to head back to the States, we were all sad that we had to split ways even if temporarily.

Farewell Brazil

Me and the myth, the man, the legend, Ihor

The guys and our tour guide

Day 10: August 20, 2014

After doing so much traveling lately, it was good to finally spend some time in one location for a while.  Today we visited both the bird park and Iguassu Falls.  The bird park was unbelievable! We were able to see very exotic animals, we would typically be unable to see in the United States outside of watching a documentary on Animal Planet.  We had the opportunity to enter aviaries where the birds were allowed to roam free around.  One animal I was particularly excited to be able to see in real life was the toucan, a bird native to Brazil, known for its large colorful beak.  I also had the opportunity to hold a large parrot and pet a boa constrictor.

Selfie with Toucan Sam

Parrot drinking water

Pet the boa

Meet my new buddy

His name is Bruno

Following the bird farm, we visited the Iguassu Falls.  Iguassu Falls are one of today’s seven natural wonders of the world.  Every site of the falls was completely breathtaking.  Having grown up and spent most of my life in big cities, I was completely taken aback by the view of the falls. I couldn’t help but take tons of photos to try and capture the moment.

Joe, Elijah, Aryel and myself at the park entrance

Selfie with the profs

Incredible

Falls + Rainbow

Quick picture in front of the "Devil's Throat"

A breathtaking panorama shot

Day 9: August 19, 2014

After a somewhat rough night in our hotel, I did not have much sleep going into today.  There were a lot of bugs in the hotel we stayed in the last night, so it was very difficult to go to bed.  Waking up early in the morning, we high tailed it out the hotel and straight to our next company visit, RENUKA Sugars.  RENUKA was actually the company I was assigned to research during the portion of class we spent in Pittsburgh, so I knew a fair amount of information going in.  RENUKA Sugars is a large sugar refinery in Brazil, producing refined sugar, raw sugar and ethanol.  In addition to these three major products, RENUKA also produces electricity by burning a byproduct of the sugar refining process called bugasse, a waste from the sugar cane.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos of their facility from the inside and were limited to a view from outside.  It was a breathtaking facility and a marvel of modern engineering.

A far away shot of the sugar refining facility

Water cooler at the sugar refinery

Quick selfie before the sugar refining process presentation

Snapshot of the presentation

After touring the sugar refinery, we embarked on another long 7 hour journey, this time to Foz de Iguassu.  Foz de Iguassu is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Day 8: August 18, 2014

Today we visited the Universidade Federal do Parana (Federal University of Parana).  During our time there we visited their hydropower dam simulation facilities and micro algae biomass labs.  Of the two, I found the hydropower dam simulation facility particularly interesting.  At the time of our visit, the university was crafting scale models of dam currently under construction, the Belmonte dam.  The purpose of their dam simulation facility is to recreate the dams to be constructed in a controlled and environment and study how they impact the environment, how designs can be improved and made more efficient.  

Previous dam projects worked by the university.

In addition to the dam simulators, we also visited the university’s biomass lab.  In the labs, the university grew micro algae.  This micro algae can be used for a variety of purposes, one of which is fuel.  One of the byproducts formed in the growing process can be used as fuel when burnt.  As a mechanical engineer, I did not find this part of the visit particularly interesting, but I feel this is mostly in part to dislike of chemistry and biology.  After visiting the Federal University of Parana, we embarked on one of the longest legs of our trip, a 7 hour bus ride to Vale do Ivai, a small town home to a sugar refinery plant.

Day 7: August 17, 2014

Today we finally leave the state of Santa Catarina and head for the city of Curitiba in Parana.  Though not intended to be a long drive, about 5 hours, there was a large car accident along the way that delayed us for a number of hours.  Unfortunately for us, we didn’t have any games on the bus, so we did the best we could with what little entertainment we had (mostly just Elijah and I playing music).  Along the way we stopped at another churrascaria.  This particular churrascaria was much bigger and busier than the one we had gone to earlier in the trip.  After gorging ourselves on meat and driving a few more hours we finally arrived in Curitiba.  Instead of stopping at the hotel first, we directly to the main purpose of visiting Curitiba,  experiencing the Oscar Niemeyer Museum.  Oscar Niemeyer was a very famous Brazilian architect, responsible for numerous beautiful buildings.  

"The Eye"

Entrance Ticket for the Oscar Niemeyer Museum 

Pitt takes over the museum

Funky art

Blocks on blocks on blocks

"Deep Introspection starring Adam Pereira" Photo Cred: Joseph Santorine

The Scream 2014

After the museum, we retired to the hotel.  Arriving to the hotel somewhat late at night we ate dinner at a nearby mall.  Still very enjoyable however.

Day 6: August 16, 2014

Today was an action-packed day; the day we go white water rafting and go to the hot springs.  After feeling pretty under weather thus far into the trip, the hot springs was exactly what I needed.  Checking out the hotel early in the morning, we packed onto the bus and ventured out to the countryside where we would be white water rafting.  At first I was slightly intimidated, having never been rafting before, but it quickly proved to be very fun and one of the best parts of the trip.  In my raft, I had Elijah, Fowzia, Summer, Joe and Aryel.  The other groups may not be willing to admit it, but we were definitely the best of the three groups, moving the fastest and working together the best.  The river water was very cold, but very clean.  It was great seeing Professor Abad rafting with us as well.

The greatest group of rafters to ever grace a Brazilian river.

Pitt does white water rafting

Seconds before we all jumped off a giant rock into the river

All the above photos are courtesy of Dr. Abad.

After rafting all of us felt terribly cold and could not wait to get to the hot springs.  After a short drive to the hot springs resort, we all quickly took showers and ate dinner together in the main dining area.  Like the many meals we’ve had in Brazil up to this point, it was a buffet style meal.  We spent the rest of the day going in and out of the various spa areas and hot spring pools of the resort.  During this time, our guide Ihor, taught Elijah, Joe, Nick and myself how to play dominos, a popular game among older Brazilian men apparently.  All in all our time at the resort was fantastic and unbelievable.  

Day 5: August 15, 2014

Today was our free day, where we had the liberty to do whatever we wanted within Florianopolis all day.  Waking up around 11AM, myself, Elijah, Joe and Summer decided to explore downtown Florianopolis and really get a sense of what the city was like.  The downtown area was very busy; the streets were filled with people.  We walked through numerous markets, sampled food from street vendors and watched a local band play on the steps of church.  We stopped for breakfast at a small, hole-in-the-wall juice bar we discovered downtown.  I had pao de queijio (Brazilian cheese bread) and freshly squeezed mango juice, all of which were incredible.  The juices are going to be one of the things I miss the most about Brazil as they are all freshly squeezed and made on the spot, having no type of preservatives or concentrates, just straight juice.

Pao de quejio. One of Brazil's most simple, yet most delicious baked goods

After breakfast we continued exploring the city and visiting more of the local stores and markets.  We walked all the way to the far end of the downtown area where I ended up being a pair of look-a-like fake ray bans (don’t tell anyone they aren’t the real deal) for R$40 (roughly $20 USD). 

FAKE BANS

Later that night we contacted another group of ISA foreign exchange students also studying in Florianopolis.   It being their last night in Brazil we agreed to meet at another local nightclub called 1007 later that night.  It was a great experience being able to meet and hangout with other kids studying abroad in Brazil outside of our own group and being able to interact with Brazilians in a party setting.

Elijah, Aryel and myself at the Club 1007 highlighter party

Day 4: August 14, 2014

We definitely had a very busy day in Florianopolis today.  The city tour originally planned for the first half of Friday was moved to today to allow us to have the entire Friday to ourselves.  The city tour was absolutely amazing.  We did a tour of the entire island of Florianopolis, visiting its many beaches, popular sites and fishing towns.  Every site we visited was entirely too beautiful and I couldn’t help but snap a couple of photos.  Of the many places we visited I was particularly struck by the beaches we visited.  The water was so pristine and clean, but very cold.  Despite being under the weather, I couldn’t help but jump in along with the other boys on the trip.

A picture from the lookout point overseeing all of the city of Florianopolis

One of Florianopolis' famous surfing beaches

Joe, Elijah and myself at viewpoint looking out over the surfing beach

Kim, Aryel, Fowzia, Elijah, Summer, Joe and myself at another beautiful viewpoint over Florianopolis.

A panoramic shot of another Florianopolis' beaches

Nick, Aryel, Elijah, Joe and myself

Stay tuned for our debut album "Dem Boyz on the Beach"

Following the city tour we attend a lecture at the University of Santa Catarina hosted by Dr. Baltazar Guerra.  Despite Dr. Baltazar Guerra being an economist, he is deeply involved in search for new renewable energy sources and the push for sustainability in Brazil.  In his lecture he explained to us Brazil’s current energy status and how a joint effort between Brazil, Chile and Germany is being made to develop renewable energy programs in South America.  It was very interesting to see how much progress has already been made with their program.  Following the presentation by Dr. Baltazar, myself, along with Elijah, Joe, Summer, Fowzhia and Jessica all went to dinner together at a nearby pizza place.  Pizza is very different from the pizza in the United States.  It definitely is of better quality and more similar to traditional Italian pizza.  To wrap up the night we all attended a night club along the Florianopolis shore called Sete (Seven in Portuguese), which was a great time.

Day 3: August 13, 2014

Today, August 13, we started our day in Osario, a town nearby the Enerfin Wind Farm.  I did not have the best start today, as I felt a little under the weather, feeling as if I was coming down with a cold of some sorts.  I also didn’t get much sleep as the hotel room in Osario was very cold and the bed wasn’t very comfortable.  After eating breakfast at the hotel with the other students, we rode the bus to Enerfin Wind Farm.  Wind energy is a blooming energy source in Brazil, this wind farm almost nearing completion with over 80 wind turbines already in operation.  Enerfin is a Spanish-owned company operating wind farms throughout Southern Brazil, Canada and Spain.  The company is also beginning operations in Australia.  I thought it was particularly interesting how sophisticated the wind turbines implemented on their wind farms were.  All implemented a solid drive system as opposed to a gearbox system, requiring less maintenance, providing a longer life and producing significantly less noise, major drawbacks of the gearbox system.

Selfie with a wind mill

So many wind mills

Windmills on windmills on windmills

After the wind farm visit, on our way back to Florianopolis, we stopped at authentic Brazilian barbeque, a churrascaria.  The food was DELICIOUS!  At a Brazilian barbeque the waiter brings you meat on a giant skewer, and cuts you pieces.  The waiter will continue to serve you meat until you tell him to stop.  As a big fan of steaks, going to a churrascaria was like a dream come true.

Day 2: August 12, 2014

Today, August 12, we visited the Tractebel Energia geothermal facility in Capivari de Baixo, a coal fire energy plant.  They are the top private energy producer in Brazil and owned by GDF Suez.  Tractebel has a variety of plants ranging from hydroelectric to biomass to geothermal.  Tractebel as a whole accounts for 7% of the energy produced in Brazil. In visiting their facility we had the opportunity to see their main control room, where it was very interesting to see much of their controls were analog as opposed to the expected digital.  From the screens in their control room we were able to observe the crucial elements of the coal fire burning process.  We also had the opportunity to look inside an open steam turbine currently under maintenance.  At the time they only had 6 of their 7 coal fire burners operating.  They are the process of constructing an 8^th unit.   Tractebel as a whole was a very interesting company and it will be very interesting watch it grow and increase its role in energy generation in Brazil.

Tractebel Energia Brochure

Scale model of Tractebel facility

Actual facility from the outside