On the Way Home

Every day we walk to the metro stop; go down the escalators; go through the turnstiles; walk down more steps; and, if we get there at the right moment, we can walk right into the "cab" or whatever the compartment is called on a subway train.

Most days we just miss it or it hasn't come yet and we have a short wait for the next one. We are at the end of the green or "Verde" line and we have to ride one stop and then transfer to the yellow or "Amarelo" line.

If we are having good connection times we can jump through the doors and hustle across the platform and squeeze into the train. Most days we have a little longer wait than the first time and we have to stand up for the next four stops, packed in like sardines.

Once there we go back up the steps, through the turnstiles, down a tunnel, up some more steps and into the bright sunshine. We cross several streets - one a major intersection where we often cross two lanes and wait in the middle until the next light turns for us to finish crossing the street. We walk a few more blocks and come to our school building.

Coming back after class, shortly after noon, the ride and walk home are a little more restful. The stations are clearer, the trains much less crowded, and the traffic minimal. These pictures show the last station and part of the walk home. The construction is for a new bike lane and the graffiti under the bridge is ever changing. Notice the pink buildings in the last picture that Don is walking towards. Those are our buildings - we are almost home.