thegoodfellas/blogset-br huggingface dataset:
of course. They were of a modern school of thought, in which new was better, and that old things only served to stand in the way of progress.Thus one could only imagine what types of jokes might have come his way, given these circumstances.By Wednesday afternoon, as Maria May showed up at the jobsite, in route from the airport, with Lagrecca in the front seat and little Nicolau at the wheel, to check in on the crew s progress, the gang was just settling down to some after-work refreshments.The ten year old honked the horn while parking the new beetle in a gravelly corner beside the toppled tree. Lagrecca allowed the anxious boy to jump out through his side just like an animal might, so as to use up his remaining energy making a white-haired Polly doll' fly around the premises.Serendipity came down, from what used to be the west wing of the roof, and took Maria into his fatigued arms. Lagrecca appeared to be avoiding the couple as he walked straight over to share a beer and make small talk with the crew. The clouds passed by rapidly in the clear, cold, darkening sky, forcing Maria to dig into her car for a red ski jacket.Nicolau! she cried.I d like you to meet someone... Serendipity was still awaiting Lagrecca s greeting when her son approached him with a small handshake accompanied by cheek kisses. He practically threw his 'Polly doll' into Dippy s face for him to meet as well."And who might you be?" coughed Serendipity."I m Polly, the restaurant chef s girl. she answered.Then Maria asked him to explain the trip he d taken to 'Campos do Jordao' with his father.Serendipity stayed at the same bed and breakfast as you both did son.Oh, the Pousada da Maca' ha?! commented Dippy in a surprised tone.And did you eat the famous apple strudels, and a lot of fried pinion nuts, and maple ice cream? he continued.Nicolau made the little Polly doll nod her head repeatedly.Next, Serendipity took Maria by the hand to show her their progress as well as to complain about his three assistants. She soon made him realize that one of the crew members was indebted to the Mosela Tavern, so his buddies had offered to help him work it off.Soon after the crew had excused themselves, with the objective of meeting Joao for a long night of football and beer at Gehren s Bar, Lagrecca approached Serendipity in the same sardonic manner as the ruff-necks had, offering a handshake, then helped Maria and Dippy clean up around the place.In half hour it had gotten dark and cold at the Pfefferkuchen-gingerbread house', which helped to accelerate their return home.Lagrecca promptly departed to join the group down at Gehren s Bar, while Dippy settled in at Maria s flat. Sometime during the night, his grandfather called to inform him that the carpentry tools had arrived, so Serendipity said that he d go down with his friends for a visit on Friday.That night Serendipity was so tired that he could hardly even
play with the kids. Maria tucked him into bed early, promising not to delay her return. But by the time she finally came into the room, the Californian was fast asleep dreaming of syrupy Stroopwafels, tall snowy mountains, and people yodeling about the Mattertal valley in a sing song form of Swiss-German which was foreign to his ears.The next day dawned so cold that Dippy found it difficult to get out of bed. He even settled for a steamy shower, and entered the sunlit kitchen for his morning coffee, packed his lunch for the fourth day, and was once again off to the jobsite; however, in Maria s car this time, because she didn t need it for anything on this day.The morning mist clung thickly to the deep green subtropical hillsides, forcing Serendipity to close the windows every time he passed through a cloud bank. He arrived at the site before the crew, as was usual, but noticed that by- half past twelve they still hadn t shown up; that s- half past twelve now... It became immediately clear to him what had befallen them the night before- Germany had lost to Spain.So he decided to make it a four day weekend and drove over to slip a shopping list under Joao s door for the following week s work.The day became pleasantly warm, and by the time of his arrival at Maria s flat, things were really getting hot. Some of her friends crowded into the apartment for a barbeque, while the kids played agitatedly in the small town. Maria s girlfriends yelled for Andre and Nicolau to come up and eat, but they seemed to be quarreling extensively about city politics, to the effect of impressing a temporary new member of their town; consequently paying the adults no mind.Serendipity! shouted one of Maria s dance colleagues, from the apartment door.My daughter s playing down there with your boys! and she began trying to convince Dippy to lend a hand with the kids, then the young woman just disappeared back into the flat, leaving him alone with the children."Ok then..." He said to himself.It was a pleasure to meet you too! he shouted up at the door.Dippy then stepped into the village.And who might you be? he asked, while looking at the new town member. The little girl turned red and said that she had been playing with Nicolau s white-haired Polly doll.She and the restaurant chef were cleaning up the mess around the farm so that they could start on the repairs. Andre sneered at the whole situation just as Dippy patted their heads and climbed up the stairs to join the shindig'.Serendipity had barely made it through the door, after promising the kids he d return for a village tour, when suddenly Lagrecca pulled his air-cooled Volkswagen up onto the curb with such momentum that Dippy s formal introduction to Maria s friend was interrupted in mid sentence.I hadn t realized the size of them bells! And when they began tolling, we all bloody ran for cover!Lagrecca gave
kisses all around, then, presented Maria with a mug sporting an engraving of King Peter s cathedral on one side.She looked at him affectionately.But there s no clock on its tower! she reacted.No? Well, I thought you d like it anyway lass. They were selling them at the Germania souvenir shop.Then he turned to Serendipity and reminded him about the gothic Lutheran church they d seen days backRemember the one situated behind Dom Pedro s Cathedral? He informed his friend about the traditional Sunday masses still held in Deutsch, and that it could be interesting for Serendipity to attend.How did you discover it Lagrecca, from Natalie? inquired Maria.Well it s an old Hunsrucker s church. Is she Lutheran then? he asked, while touching an index finger to his lips and squinting at Maria s curious grimace.Serendipity smiled like a child, while Lagrecca made a statement to Maria and her not yet introduced friend.It appears to me that you Petropolitans continue paying taxes to your formally exiled Royal Family. Does this mean that the Imperial city still belongs to The Crown'?Laudemio! shouted Maria s still, not yet introduced friend above the music.That s the name of the property tax which we pay to King Pedro s family till today. she added, while calling her angelic daughter back up to the house so that they could head home.Lagrecca spoke again, smirking.I had no idea that the Cathedral was a Royal Family tomb either!They went so far as to produce perfectly carved stone sculptures of Dom Pedro II, his wife, daughter, and his French son-in-law, above each of their respective tombs; you know...on the right just as you enter the building? Some claim it to be of Norman-French design. he added with a lifted index finger.Then the Englishman covered his laugh, and pronounced the Cathedral of Pedro de Alcantara to literally be-the Dead Center of Petropolis... Ha, ha, ha.... continued Lagrecca.The group of friends couldn t get past his dark British humor.And as the party carried on laughing, Lagrecca spoke again.And you know what? It took a hundred years to construct. he said, with tongue in cheek.Poor old Pedro and Isabel never got around to seeing it completed.Speaking of special spots, are we on for tomorrow? asked, Dippy.My grandpa says there s a surprise for us waiting down in Rio de Janeiro.Maria and Lagrecca both nodded their heads, but were soon interrupted by a long, high-pitched scream which came reverberating up the stairs from down in the miniature village.Maria May, who recognized her son s voice, ran to the door.
Frau Helle K. Uhrmacher is the good witch of the story- Serendipity s Matterhorn, since all fairy tales must have both a good and a bad witch. In the story she is an immigrant to Brazil who arrives along side her husband Mr. Uhrmacher, and a gingerbread house. Out in her backyard she has built a stone lined circle where she teaches her apprentice Maria May Braun magic spells through the use of special wands. She draws a triangle within the circle in order to explain about the three powerful trees: 1. The Zauberbaum, or magic tree- in German, is represented by what Serendipity Van Der Zee calls a Sweetplane, and Frau Helle calls an Ahornbaum. The most common names are Sweetgum and Liquidamber. Now this is a most colorful specimen since it produces star shaped leaves which turn a multitude of colors during the Petropolis autumn and winter months. Along with this feature are the spiky seed pods called Cukoo birs, that if stepped on while walking barefoot can be treacherous. But this is no reason to shy away from such a beautiful tree, especially one which makes sweet sap. In the story Serendipity s sister Ester K. Van Der Zee is fond of chewing this sweet substance-like gum, and gives her brother some to try at the base of the Disneyland Matterhorn Bobsleds in California. This is the tree chosen for a magic wand by both the main character and his lovely girlfriend Maria May in the story. When I was a kid these trees grew all around the Disney mountain but were eventually removed for unknown reasons. 2. The Hexebaum, or witch tree- in German, is represented by the Mexican cypress or Cupressus Lusitanica which was taken to the Iberian peninsula during the colonial period, and then brought to the Brazilian highlands by the Portuguese Crown. It looks so much like a witch that many Brazilians consider the tree hexed. It is truly utilized for stuffing coffins due to the cedar-like scent of both it s needles and wood. It s twisted long arms flail in all directions giving it a walking aspect, and it really does try to amble around during the summer rains when it often falls victim to it s own top heavy structure and shallow root system; many a car and house have been destroyed by these toppling beasts. In Serendipity s Matterhorn it s wood is Frau Helle s choice for a wand. 3. Finally we get to the Geistbaum, which means ghost or spirit tree- in German. It is most popularly known as a Brazilian Monkey Puzzle or Candelabra tree. But it is an aAraucaria and referred to as a pine. In actual fact it is not even a pine at all and is native to the southern hemisphere only. In the fall this tree produces inch long nuts called pinhao or pinions. They are roasted over a fire or boiled in the pressure cooker and eaten like chips or fries, with salt, mustard and ketchup; yummy to your tummy! Anyway, it has
the strangest form of all since the tree stops growing vertically but not horizontally, as the branches continue expanding outward until the top of the tree is totally flat, like a candelabra. It grows mostly on the frosty high planes towards the south of the country, however, due to it s ghostly shape, has been planted all throughout the southeastern mountains of Brazil as well. The Monkey Puzzle would make a great DR. Seuss Christmas tree due to the spiky leaves, which can really draw blood when touched incorrectly. Finding yourself surrounded by these three beautiful trees when a thick fog rolls in can be a memorable experience, and certainly promotes a better understanding of the sensations felt by Serendipity and his friends here in Petropolis.
I cannot begin going through the story of 'Serendipity s Matterhorn, a contemporary fairy tale' without first explaining to the reader about the inspiration the city of Petropolis has given me for such a book. Ever since I was a child of two years old my parents have been bringing me to visit relatives in this mountain city where the backwards seasons, 3,000 foot altitude, and original German colonization always gave me the impression that I was in some strange 'Swiss Canton'. Who would ever believe that such a place could exist about an hour and a half from Rio de Janeiro? The explanation is rather simple:Back in the 1800 s Napoleon Bonaparte s army advanced on Portugal, convincing their royal family to abandon the country. So the British navy helped them set up a new kingdom in their colony of Brazil, which was at that time only some neglected territory. However, when they actually tried living in Rio de Janeiro, with it s tropical climate, they found that their 'fantasyland' would have to be moved up into the mountains where cooler temperatures would allow for European style comfort.Now this royal family was extremely wealthy and had great power to build anything they liked, so a German engineer named- 'Frederick Koeller' was commissioned to lay out a romantic old style city modeled on both Paris and London. He took advantage of meandering rivers to produce canals, of the mild climate to cultivate temperate gardens, and situated the urban center along- 'the Gold Road' running between- 'Minas Gerais state' and- the port of Rio de Janeiro. Now- 'King Dom Pedro II' could rule Brazil, keep an eye on his gold, silver and ore exports, and invite all of his friends to live in his-'upside down kingdom', complete with fog, palaces, cathedrals, German, Portuguese, and Italian immigrants. Brazil is therefore distinct from other South American countries as a direct result of this fact. It was not only able to remain a single country- unlike it s Spanish neighbors, but also became a cosmopolitan land because of mass immigration.What more could I say- if you ever come to Rio de Janeiro, spend a night in the only imperial city in the Americas. Most people around the world have heard of Rio de Janeiro at least one time or other but almost nobody has ever heard mention even a word regarding Petropolis. The reasons for this are that Rio has a multitude of fun in the sun types of beaches, and it s a metropolis of around 11 million people who carry with them the sensuality of their tropical heritage; after all, Rio has a long history of hosting both exuberant carnivals and soccer matches. It is in this chaotic city where one can witness steep sided rock-slab mountains marching straight out into the open blue sea, along side tourists who people speak all of the international languages. With these exceptional qualities, who wouldn t have heard about such a marvelous place. On the other hand, little Petropolis has no ocean, it merely sits on top
of a rugged high plain which stands above the Guanabara bay. From the city of 'Petros' the watery expanses which bathe Rio de Janeiro, gleam in the setting sun as though they were part of a series of large lakes. From up at this altitude one could never imagine just how hot and muggy sea level can get, for the air currents up at 3,000 feet are mostly fresh and cool. I often set off to visit view points where I can see a wide panorama of mountains, valleys, the city of Petropolis, as well as Rio de Janeiro, all in one shot. From certain points it becomes quite clear the way in which the ocean breezes confront the dry winds of the high interior plains of Minas Gerais just north of here. These Sea Mountains act like a barrier against the humidity of the South Atlantic Ocean; so much so that there are days when the forming cloud bank will engulf the frontal mountain escarpment, spilling into the lower canyons, and scenting the air with a seaweed type of smell. We literally smell the Guanabara bay through the heavy fog. However, if you take a car ride north, further into the mountains, all signs of the sea will disappear. Rio de Janeiro, on the other hand, has no such escape. Visitors to The Marvelous City, as Rio is often called, are regularly drawn to its endless beaches, which during the summer team with human creativity. There are all sorts of street venders walking the talcum powder sands offering everything from ice cream to beer. One will be able to easily take part in volleyball matches, Capoeira dancing and in general laid back conversation on all subjects. Cariocas, as the citizens of this city are called, pride themselves in being easy going and open. Petropolitans, on the other hand, do not make friends in such a short time, and are often referred to as cold and tense. When questioned about this difference most Brazilians explain that cities with large European populations tend to be serious, especially, they say, when the climate is cold and grey. An example of this is in the south of the country which was settled mostly by Germans, Italians and Poles, and which together with the endless rain, tend to exude an unfriendly attitude as well. It s useless to say then, that most Brazilians shun the south of their country in favor of the sunny Northeastern coast. So it is that Petropolis sees eye to eye with other cold climate Southern cities despite sharing a taste for the tropics together with the hot region of the country in which it is situated. But Cariocas often speak romantically about their Imperial City, since it belongs to them, grouping it together with it s two sister cities, Teresopolis and Nova Friburgo, as The Cidades Serranas', or 'Mountain Cities' of Rio de Janeiro State are called. Most of these metropolitan beach dwellers have never visited their mountain region though and believe solidly that they would die of hypothermia were they
ever to venture up into the serra. Consequently, it is usually only those Cariocas who feel a draw towards what they consider to be representative of their European roots, that are actually willing to take the risk of getting stuck in fog, spending a cold night in some piney cabin, and stretching the patience of the mountain city s residents when they attempt to lay typical Rio de Janeiro charm on the Petroplitans. But then, what would this little city be without the Cariocas? One thing is certain, were Petropolis alone in the world, it would not pass as anything more than a regular old industrial dead end surrounded by trees. This is not to say that it has no mind blowing landscapes, nor rich architecture. It also has nothing to do with the beauty of it s residents, nor the exuberant vegetation and colorful birds of it s Atlantic Rain Forest. No, it s rather that Petropolis owes it s existence entirely to Rio de Janeiro, for without Rio it would never have had such a favorable location in which to offer all of those traits which Rio cannot possibly provide. Basically these three mountain cities were made to be everything which Rio was not. Up here we can feel like we ve taken a journey down to the southern states, or north into the dry high plain interior of Minas Gerais, with its baroque churches, or maybe even abroad to some forgotten part of Switzerland. When tourists get off the plane at one of Rio s two major airports, they are confronted with a reality which is at once third world and first, making Rio something of an unfinished land. The city is bustling and dirty. The sun is usually blazing hot, and the residents are always racing around from place to place in hopes of stretching out the hours of their day. Visitors often question what time the Cariocas have to hit the beach, but the truth is that this city has outgrown it s beaches and beach mentality. Consequently, we would need to divide the metropolis into four parts: North, South, West and Central. Both the South and West Zones still follow the traditional concept of living in reach of the sea, but the other two parts never even remember that they are a section of a famous beach city. The North Zone is built mostly of houses, slums and high-rise projects, while the center consists of bay side buildings and the old port. I use to have the habit of comparing each of these parts with a world city I d been to. The north reminded me of greater Los Angeles because of it s flatness, openness, lawns and smog, and its total dissection by passing freeways. The Central Zone seemed associated with downtown San Francisco due to it s geographical style of cramming endless skyscrapers between the mountains and the bay, together with its long bridge and constant ferry boats which connect Rio to the city of Niteroi on the opposite side of the water. Then
we would have the Hong Kong-like South Zone where the buildings climb high up into the mountains as well as wall off the beach front, forcing all the residents to bump into each other through the crowded streets. At last we would arrive at the modern West Zone which Brazilians themselves have nicknamed Miami Beach. This part of the city is built on a wide and flat expanse of land stretching kilometers inland and prides itself on its modernity. All of these beaches have tall buildings accompanying them and a slender set of lagoons just behind. Beyond this western coastal strip we mostly find houses. Petropolis also has a North and South Zone, but in this mountain city everything is smaller and almost not worth dividing up in such a way because in fact Petropolis is made up of its very own districts; five in total. The first is the historical part where the majority of the German residents and imperial structures are still found. This is the foggy, drizzly and damp side of town where moss grows on railings, and cobblestone streets never dry off. It is also the most elevated part which contains the beautiful ocean views. The Second District was built mostly by Italian immigrants and is partly historical in itself. This is considered to be the most dramatic side of town since the mountains here push 7,000 feet up into the sky and the rivers spill down cascading waterfalls. Obviously this section of the city would have inherited the name of Cascatinha or little falls. Then we go further down the steep mountain valleys into the third district where one may see the land begin to empty out some. From here on Petropolis becomes a sunny interior place where vegetable cultivation and horse ranches become the norm. This district is classed together with the fourth and fifth as being the healthiest climates in the country because the air humidity goes down while the temperature goes up. So it is that as we cross the Forth district, making our way north into the fifth, we reach the place where the wealthy citizens of Rio now invest in weekend getaways and retiree villages. This is the land of the Itaipava Beer I spoke so highly of in Serendipity s Matterhorn. The oldest brewery in Brazil may be the Bohemia of the First District of the city, but Itaipava is the new part of the city, brewery and all, which now competes against all that is traditional and old about the first district. As you might have guessed, the population of Itaipava is considered more friendly and open then Petropolis . Hmm... Isn t that what Brazilians say, that rain, cold and Europeans togethermake- a serious group, while heat and a more typical Brazilian population produce fun in the sun and smiles? Perhaps they are right, however, we mustn t forget that the population of the Fourth and Fifth districts add up to only a fraction of the other three so that nobody is having to step on anybody s toes