SiniStroS: November 2012

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Gladys Ingles and the 13 Black Cats

Gladys Ingles was a member of a barnstorming troupe in the 1920s. She was a “wing walker.” In this film, she shows her fearlessness in a classic barnstorming fashion to save an airplane that has lost one of its main wheels. Ingles is shown with a replacement wheel being strapped to her back and then off she goes as “Up She Goes,” a duet from the era, provides the soundtrack. In the video, Gladys transfers herself from the rescue plane to the one missing its main gear tire. She then expertly works herself down to the undercarriage, only a few feet from a spinning prop, and replaces the missing gear tire.

Paranapiacaba is actually in a neighboring county on the outskirts of the city, towards the coast. It is a historical village and railroad station nestled in the Atlantic rain forest at the top of the Serra do Mar range, the last stop before trains descend the Serra do Mar to the coast.

The district is southeast of greater São Paulo (latitude south 23° 46'; longitude east 46° 21'; altitude 796 m). The area is 4.81 km² (village) and 83.22 km² (district). The population is 2,131 in the village, 3,885 in the entire district. The wheather is in between subtropical and alpine, marked by morning fog, due to the high altitude.

The village usually has extreme weather conditions, usually very different from the weather on the Highlands. Winters tend to be relatively hot and sunny, while summers are usually defined by very wet days with blankets of dense fog. The wearing of mosquito repellent is advisable, especially in winter.To get to Paranapiacaba, take the urban train from Luz Station in downtown São Paulo to Rio Grande da Serra. The train leaves every 20 min. or so. From outside the train station in Rio Grande da Serra, next to the drug store, catch the bus to Paranapiacaba. Despite being a train station itself, no passenger trains actually go to Paranapiacaba, only freight trains on their way to and from the port in Santos.Most of the village was built by English men(Many of the materials came from Europe), the historical part of the village is in the typical English style with colourful houses made of wood. There is a scale replica of Big Ben on the main train platform, that was part of the original train station and the rail yards are somewhat of a train graveyard, with many rusting old wrecks that one can look through. There is also a railroad museum.

It is a very pleasing place both for railfans(It´s the only place in Brazil that still has electric locomotives moving freight, and it´s a main corridor) and nature lovers, providing easy access to the rain forest of the Serra do Mar.The surrounding rainforest is a State Park and offers many excellent hiking opportunities, including a 15km hike right down to the coast,through the Vale do Quilombo. The hiring of guides is a good idea, since the rainforest is dense and people have been known to get lost; you can do this through the Paranapiacaba Environmental Monitors' Association, (11) 4439-0155, or ask around in the village. Paranapiacaba is familiar enough with tourism and the locals are friendly and happy to help; though as with most of the area, English is not widely spoken.

During the holidays and weekends there is a Steam Locomotive that provides a ride in the yard. Look also for a plataform: during sunny days it is possible to see the Atlantic Ocean and the industrial installations of the coastal city of Cubatão.