Prosperity Comes to Espirito Santo

In April we had a 5-day quick visit to our family in Brazil. In each visit it strikes me how Brazil constantly re-defines itself. This time it was apparent that the time for that old joke about "Brazil always being the country of the future" might be retired. 

Most of my nephews and nieces, who I had long noticed were so serious as students, now have almost all landed good jobs in the entrepreneurial sector, many associated with Petrobras. They are building a HQ in Vitoria that is said to employ 10,000 future jobs. For right now, many of that generation have left Vitoria to take jobs in Rio until the new HQs opens up. Most of them are individual consultants, self-incorporated. Benefits vary, but it is a different mold than that of "government employee-mentality".

Another nephew plays in a band in bars at the "Triangulo das Bermudas". This is a collection of lively night spots in Praia do Canto, which you shouldn't miss. Praia da Costa in Vila Velha has also developed beautifully.  Daughter Julie already settled on her dream home there, right at the curve at the beach, but, lacks the $300,000 to buy it. Housing prices in general have soared in the passed six years. Is it a bubble or something those of us that have thought about retiring there shouldn't miss out on?

The hills inside Vitoria, that used to house the favelas, are now all built up with real homes. Even the downtown is undergoing historic preservation. The CVRD plant, once the jewel, is now looked at as an eyesore and source of pollution. 

While I haven't gotten back to Barra de Sao Francisco for about 6 years, I am told that it is hard to find a parking spot. The Barra and Ecoporanga have both profited big time from the development of granite. I would love to see the Barra now.

Crime remains a problem, but like in the US, it is concentrated in pockets. Close in suburbs, like Cariacica must be very difficult to live in, but that has little impact on day to day life in Vitoria, except for some normal precautions one might take anywhere. 

Most of my friends from back in the day had long since moved from the interior to Vitoria, making it easy for me to visit them. Now they are retiring and turning the country over to a new generation. I think the new generation will do very well. My friends are starting to move again to places 40 or 50 miles out, like Campinho and Aracruz. They talk about turning back to their hunting and fishing roots and a quieter lifestyle. Sounds nice.

Vitoria was cleaner and prettier than I ever saw it before. Traffic was sometimes congested, but orderly with a surprising respect for pedestrians. The people were happier than I remembered, even from just a few years ago.  It was a short, but great trip. We did it now, mostly out of fear that our own nation's economy may be entering a more tenuous phase and who knows when we will be able to do it again. I hope it will be often and frequent. 

I guess, for Brazil, the future has arrived.