President Bush makes an official visit to Sao Paulo!

The leader of the free world arrives in Sao Paulo this afternoon. I doubt Americans who live in the USA have any clue what goes on prior to the arrival of our twice-elected president of the United States.

Several days ago 12 bullet-proof SUVs, the presidential cadillac, food, gasoline, and even toilet paper arrived in preparation for the First Lady and President Bush. Last night and today we'll see 250 secret service officers making their presence known around the areas where the President will be traveling.

Already streets are closed in the Morumbi area of town. Morumbi is where the Hilton Hotel is loacted, where the Bush's will be staying overnight. Morumbi is where the US Consulate is located as well. At the hotel tomorrow, Bush will meet with Brasilian President Lula.

Morumbi is a major business area of Sao Paulo. Here, international businesses such as Hewlett Packard, Nestle, Microsoft and others all have headquarters. Bom Dia Sao Paulo (Good Morning Sao Paulo) is reporting that if you work in the area, it'd be a better idea to bring lunch from home rather than try to venture out to a restaurant or one of 2 malls in the area for lunch. Security will be tight.

City crews are out today painting curbs, cutting grass and tearing down people's houses. They actually tore down a lady's house where she's lived for 15 years. Now granted it was a slum house but her home nonetheless. Ohhhh, she's mad. The city has also evicted families who live under overpasses in Kombis (VW vans) on the route where the President will pass.

We (Americans) have been told not to venture into the Morumbi part of town or downtown. In fact the consulate sent out a warning last night to Americans who live in Sao Paulo. Protests are planned against the President and against the war. Hitler is what he is known as to those who hate him.

Should be an interesting 2 days around here. Come on down!