The Brazilian like everyone else is unique in many ways. Who is a Brazilian? Is he/she black, white, a mix of the two...honestly no one can tell. Everyone is Brazilian... its in the attitude. While there are no signs of racism, talking to people gives me the feeling that some subtextural racism does exist. The black guy is more likely to be a theif than a white guy for instance. Having said that, white friends tell me their parents would not think twice if she were to marry a black man!
The Brazilian is friendly, had a beat , and will go out of their way to help. On more than one occasion, people left their stalls or shops and walked us to our destination, other would pick up phones to find out locations that we asked them to guide us to. Very very humbling! for all that , they are a shy people. Most won't attempt English even if they can speak the language enough to communicate in fear apprently of losing face..
Our luck with people continues. Thiago took a day off to show us parts of the city he felt we should experience. Eating local food, climbing up to the top of a favella where he spent a few years when he was in University, and then walking past the spot where Micheal Jackson shot ''They don't really care about us' to another fantastic aerial view of Rio.
Today we finally picked up our Chilean visas and then called on our french friends from Tiredentes. Axel works as a guide in Rio. Amandine and he met us for lunch and he is the expert on how to live cheap in one of the world most expensive cities. They walked us through the crazy markets of Centro. Much like India but a little different. Yannick found an I Touch case for Rs 400/-. And I my Kindle chaarger cable!!!
Buffet lunches are rife in Brazil, except that instead of being all you can eat, its a pay for what you eat concept. The food is charged by the Kilo ( quilo in portuguese). You pick your plate, fill it up, weigh it and pay for what the weight you have on your plate. A quilo can be anywhere from R$ 11 ( Rs 300) to R$ 35. The real is pronounced Heyal. In portuguese the R is almost an H. No alcohol sadly. Oh yeah Brazilian beer is the wolrds worst!
Over the weekend we went to Renata's family holiday home about 180 kms from Rio. A beach town called Cabo Frio or Cold Cape. The water was beautiful and Yannick spent every waking hour in the ocean. Next door to Cabo Frio is Buzios, an upmarket, french Reviera style town. Beautiful but unaffordable. We had a token ice cream but stopped at that. Apparently Brigette Bardot discovered this little town.
Back home and packing to leave Rio, a city we have all fallen in love with. Its edgy, tough, beautiful, naturally blessed, silicone enhanced and everything you can dream of. A city of two side like many. The south zone, pretty, organised, beatiful bodies who seem to spend most of their time working out and the North zone, much more real, darker, crowded, still beautiful.
Tomorrow we take the 4 am bus to Mangaratiba, then the ferry to Ilha Grande or Big Island. Excited except for the fear of the Brazilian love for air conditioning! The buses are frozen to 14 while the outside temp is 30. No idea why but this is how they do it in Brazil.
The Brazilian is friendly, had a beat , and will go out of their way to help. On more than one occasion, people left their stalls or shops and walked us to our destination, other would pick up phones to find out locations that we asked them to guide us to. Very very humbling! for all that , they are a shy people. Most won't attempt English even if they can speak the language enough to communicate in fear apprently of losing face..
Our luck with people continues. Thiago took a day off to show us parts of the city he felt we should experience. Eating local food, climbing up to the top of a favella where he spent a few years when he was in University, and then walking past the spot where Micheal Jackson shot ''They don't really care about us' to another fantastic aerial view of Rio.
Today we finally picked up our Chilean visas and then called on our french friends from Tiredentes. Axel works as a guide in Rio. Amandine and he met us for lunch and he is the expert on how to live cheap in one of the world most expensive cities. They walked us through the crazy markets of Centro. Much like India but a little different. Yannick found an I Touch case for Rs 400/-. And I my Kindle chaarger cable!!!
Buffet lunches are rife in Brazil, except that instead of being all you can eat, its a pay for what you eat concept. The food is charged by the Kilo ( quilo in portuguese). You pick your plate, fill it up, weigh it and pay for what the weight you have on your plate. A quilo can be anywhere from R$ 11 ( Rs 300) to R$ 35. The real is pronounced Heyal. In portuguese the R is almost an H. No alcohol sadly. Oh yeah Brazilian beer is the wolrds worst!
Over the weekend we went to Renata's family holiday home about 180 kms from Rio. A beach town called Cabo Frio or Cold Cape. The water was beautiful and Yannick spent every waking hour in the ocean. Next door to Cabo Frio is Buzios, an upmarket, french Reviera style town. Beautiful but unaffordable. We had a token ice cream but stopped at that. Apparently Brigette Bardot discovered this little town.
Back home and packing to leave Rio, a city we have all fallen in love with. Its edgy, tough, beautiful, naturally blessed, silicone enhanced and everything you can dream of. A city of two side like many. The south zone, pretty, organised, beatiful bodies who seem to spend most of their time working out and the North zone, much more real, darker, crowded, still beautiful.
Tomorrow we take the 4 am bus to Mangaratiba, then the ferry to Ilha Grande or Big Island. Excited except for the fear of the Brazilian love for air conditioning! The buses are frozen to 14 while the outside temp is 30. No idea why but this is how they do it in Brazil.
As always, we love reading of your adventures. Just a few weeks in, this already sounds like the trip of a lifetime. Now I'm wondering where you will be for Anu's birthday!! I'm sure her present will be a giant box of spandex. Love to you all!
ReplyDeleteWill be interested in the reaction to that nightmarish massacre at the school today. I think you're no longer in Rio? Hope you're safe and having fun. xo
ReplyDeleteHey Jen, No we're in Sao Paulo now and haven't had internet for the past couple days so don't know nothing about the massacre...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a terrible tragedy. Haven't spoken to our friends in Rio yet but we will tomorrow. Really hope this never ever happens again. We're in shock. Rio has never felt as peaceful and safe as it is right now so this is especially horrible.
ReplyDeleteHappy happy happy birfday, Anu! Love you muchly and many!!
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