Robin Sparks

An American woman’s global search for a new country

Oi. The Only Macs are at MacDonald’s

September 6, 2005 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Oi! (Brazilian Portuguese for hello). I have a computer bloated with stories and photos meant to be passed on from me in South America to you in North America. But there is a language problem. My Mac speaks a different language...

New Digs

September 2, 2005 Rio de Janiero, Brazil I´ve just moved into a castle. No joke! I moved out of a non-descript hotel room in Copacabana, to my own little Rapunzel room high up on a hill in a castle complete with everything but a moat. You can see the Valentin Castle...

FIRST SIGHTING – FORTALEZA

September 9, 2005Fortaleza, Brazil – Maybe I’m just tired from arriving in Fortaleza at 2 AM last night only to be told my hotel was full. Or maybe it’s the constant wind. It could be the random sprouting of multi-story buildings blocking the view of...

FEAR And LOATHING In FORTALEZA, Part 1

September 9, 2005 Fortaleza, Brazil A man in the hotel lobby introduced himself as Steven. He was a stocky American with a Brooklyn accent, mid 60’s, wearing a wife beater shirt, baggy shorts that ended below chubby knees, and teva sandals. He had a voice that...

Hair SCARE

September 18, 2005 Fortaleza, Brazil I did my traditional foreign country beauty shop visit today. It’s the best way to get the pulse of a place and a cheap hair cut. I’d asked Francesca to take me to the best salon in Fortaleza, but here we were pulling...