In April 19th, 2001, Porto Alegre/RS, Márcio Villanova, of Savarauto, participated in the change of tires done in the army truck of Josef and Katharina. Check Márcio's report!

The tires arrived in 18/04, Wednesday. We were deciding if the tires would be changed on Thursday or on Friday, because they wanted to continue the trip. We solved change them on Thursday.

We counted with the support of STP, as well as of Savar and Savarauto. I accompanied them to make the change of the tires, and everything was correct. We had lunch in Savar; the team was kind and they (Jupp and Katharina) were very satisfied.

They left in the 21/04, Saturday, Katharina's birthday. In the Petrol Station Podium, there was a farewell party. Some German ones were there and we sang happy birthday for her.

At first, she thought it was a farewell song, but later my wife Denise, that is English teacher, began to sing Happy Birthday, because she would not have understood. When Katharina understood, she got emotional.

When they were leaving, Jupp spoke in the microphone for everybody in the street, "Auf Wiedersehen" (good-bye), "muito obrigado"(Portuguese), it was fantastic.

We went accompanying the truck until the entrance of the highway, the curve that takes to Florianópolis, and more a friend of a German that works in Mercedes-Benz in São Paulo, it was recommended to them. In the curve, we stopped and we entered in the truck and we drank champagne to say good-bye. Same stopped in the highway, 15 people stopped to take photos, to talk and to say good trip!

We received an e-mail yesterday, because my wife has relatives in Rio, which speaks German and they are partners of the Clube Germania. She wrote on this, and for this reason they answered. Her cousin is married with a German, then they will make a reception and the truck can be in Gavea, in the club.

The employees also speak German. Before, they will stop in the factory of Mercedes in São Paulo, for they speak to this German one, Sr. Hartmann. They are in Florianópolis, since two weeks ago, they are very happy that there is not crime. Now, they will begin to travel to the beaches of the North.

Source: Márcio Villanova

Colaboração: Katharina Chatz e Josef Schmitz - Alemanha