Really is Wally's World

One of the first things I saw here in Goiania was a huge complex across the road from Carre-Four (Brazil's knock-off of Wal-Mart). And what was on this huge complex but a Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Just for kicks we decided to go to Sam's Club the other day--to see if our Sam's card would work. It did! We were allowed access and even bought a few things. This complex is huge and very upscale! You park underneath the shopping area. It has mall-like fast food joints as you enter from the parking lot. And Sam's has an Ikea-type escalator that escorts you up and down. The Sam's is laid out entirely like home.

We thought it was cool. However, Brazilians would like to get a message to Wal-Mart (if anyone has any way to get a message to them, please feel free). Brazilians say that if Wal-Mart wants to stay in business, they need to offer something different from Carre-Four, something like American products. Hey, I didn't say it, they did.

Brazil has had Blockbuster for years. And just yesterday I saw a Curves. I have no idea if it was the same type Curves we have, but the brand name looked the same.