I arrived in Rio de Janeiro aboard American airlines flight 905. My First bag was waiting with Joice when I finally arrived through the federal police procedure. We waited for 20 minutes until they asked about the bag. So they pulled out my second bag and made me sift through the electronics I had packed explaining their significance. IN the end they only wanted to know I wouldn’t be selling high-end audio products to the Brazilian Public. I told them I wasn’t intending to do so and we were on our way!
We finally made it through and met Joice who was waiting patiently. He gave Joice a hug that lasted no less than two minutes. Then I got a firm but satisfactory handshake from “Painho” as Joice calls her Dad which literally means little Dad. We caught a bus from the airport to his apartment in the charming Botafogo neighborhood. From his apartment you can see two of the most famous Rio Carioca views, Pão de Açucar and Corcovado with Cristo Redentor Atop its sleep slopes. We showered up and got lunch a t a churrascaria down the street. I atechicken hearts that tasted like chewy over cooked- SURPRISE- chicken. Then we decided to do the tourist Rio thing that was fun.
We took a bus through the curvy welcoming streets of Rio that dropped us at the tourist depot for the bus line. We got out and haggled with a few tour guides and finally settled up for a tour of R$30 per person. We piled in a van with a nice but sweaty Brazilian family of 9. We were taken to two vistas the last being at the feet of Jesus. The view was incredible but pretty much like any other picture you’ve seen. Rio is a massive city from atop the platform with miles of beaches millions of people hundreds of favelas and thousands of Transvestites. After we descended the mountain via our van we hopped on a bus to walk to the Lagoa de Carioca, which is equally scenic, but with a pungent stench.
We went back to the apartment showered up again and went out to get some dinner. The day was strange because it was Christmas Day. Many people were out of town, most of the store and restaurants were closed and in Brazil that means with a steel grate over the entrance.
We went to Bob’s fast food. We walked into the restaurant and were immediately accosted by a worker who pointed customers to the proper register according to their method of payment. It was one of the most stressful fast-food experiences of recent recollection. After a disappointing dinner provided by Bob we came back to the apartment for the night. Joaci made some watermelon juice that pretty much tasted like you’d expect.
All in all it was a beautiful but hot and humid day. 30-33 Degrees C. (whatever that means) Joice told me to be thankful it wasn’t really hot. I still sweat like a pig just walking around. I guess I’ll get used to it.
Rio touristically is like Salvador. It though Salvador had better character, architecture and the people are great. Then again I only did the tourist shit and it wasn’t an accurate depiction of the city on Christmas. Anyways Joice was great and I consider this two weeks reintroduction to Brazil. My Portuguese is working but needs a jumpstart. Its not easy meeting your girlfriend’s family while trying to become proficient at a new language. Joice’s dad is nice and it’s better meeting one family member at a time than the entire clan in one fell swoop.
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