Dotty -

We are at fault because we (my investment group) did not go about buying this property in the right way and we were naive in thinking we could trust people in Brazil like in the US. This investment was taking place in 2001. Now, we are 7 years later, so we are past this.... I'm simply posting now because I have some time and I recently found out about this Forum. The main problem is we entrusted a Brazilian man from Londrino (south of Brazil) that I met in Recife a few years before working as a receptionist at Atlanta Plaza Hotel in Boa Viagem. Mr. Takahara appeared like a trustworthy Brazilian man. The land owner name is Olga, an old lady but she’s now on the run.... I was not part of the internal paperwork process nor did I meet Olga so I don't know her full name or who she is. I was an outside investor, but did visit the property once in 2003.

I don't have time to get into details except to say that in Brazil, and most countries in central and south America -- you must be very careful whom you are dealing with and when buying anything, especially real estate -- Brazilians might be the slickest people in the world when it comes to scams and how to take from you. I love Brazil and the people but now I'm just a lot more skeptical. I learned the hard way, by getting screwed.

Bottom line: This plot of land next to Ma Noa water park in Maracajau has a lot of problems.