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"The Jeep actually belonged to Peace Corps but stayed in Cachoeiro at least 60% of its working hours---I did a lot of traveling in southern ES for the Vitória office, but would occasionally go north as far as Conceicao da Barra. Other than Vitória and a small part of Cachoeiro, there were no paved roads at that time. Despite mostly slow and cautious driving (mud, cattle, and washouts were frequent on the 'roads' I traveled), this Jeep took a beating but continued to function under some very adverse conditions. On the way back to Vitória from Alfredo Chaves one afternoon, three of the motor mounts completely cracked. I was also returning from Mimosa do Sul one very rainy night on a narrow dirt road and both windshield wipers flew off into the brush! There are many stories of weird things happening with that old blue Jeep!
By the way, I didn't mentioned the elderly English couple that lived in Vargem Alta. They had arrived in Brazil in the 1920's to direct the construction of railroad tracks in Minas and ES. I stayed at their home one night and they were delightful hosts!!! Also, little Vargem Alta had a sizable 'silk worm' operation during World War II. There was still an old vine-covered building there where they made silk for export until the late 40's. I had one of those "I don't believe it" moments in the early 1990's when I was in a very upscale gift shop in DC's Georgetown and encountered these hand carved bird whistles---which I immediately recognized like the ones that the Coelho family in Cachoeiro had carved for me as a present. Puxa vida rapaz! Those were Coelho whistles in that Georgetown gift shop (Brazilian rosewood) and had the mark of a rabbit on each whistle. It was a moment where I almost had a total emotional meltdown of saudades for this wonderful family I had known! Small world indeed!
When I arrived in Brazil, Don Batcheldor was the ES Director. He was replaced by Bob Backus. After two years, Paulo Guimaraes became the new ES Director. Bob and his wife returned to Vermont. He went to medical school and is now a physician, his wife (Jan) became active in local politics and is now a State Senator. Paulo was an outstanding Director and the last I heard, he and his wife moved to Rio and may still be there. I would love to know what ever happen to "Angela"--the admin. asst. in the ES PC office. She was an outstanding person and friend to all of us.
I finally got back to Brazil in August of this year, BUT did not have time to visit ES. I was directing a film crew doing commercials on a very tight schedule. Most of my waking hours were spent coordinating the 'talent', the writers, the technical crew, the Brazilian support team, and keeping the Ministry of Culture off our backs. :) We landed in Rio one morning and were shooting commercials outside of Belo Horizonte by that afternoon. Five days later, I had to be back in DC. It was an unreal emotional experience for me to return after 30 years! I felt I was in some bizarre Fellini film where the past did not fit the present, the 'new' Brazil was fascinating to absorb, but I longed to see some old PC friends magically appear somewhere in the neighborhood where we shot the commercials. I am determined to return when I have more time!"
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