11 more hours
WHERE MUSIC AND PASSION ARE ALWAYS IN FASHION
I arrived in Rio at Noon which gave me about 11 more hours to kill in Brasil. Where to? Copacabana, of course. I had hoped to meet up with couchsurfers Antonio or Cecilia, but that did not work out. I never did get my cell phone working there. As it turned out, it was a nice day to just kick back on your backpack on the beach. I would say the air temperature was about mid 70s and there was a slightly warm breeze. The sand was as white and soft as ever. Waves were decent enough for there to be some surfers to watch.
I wasn't too far from the lifeguard and massuese who were having a debate as to where I was from. Finally, the lifeguard came over and said something like "I am the lifeguard" in Portuguese. No really, I could not tell from the speedo and red tank top with a cross on it. Nor by the proud way you stand with your hands on your hips. "What is your name?" "Where are you from?" Remembering that I was back in Rio, I was scared to hear what question number three was going to be. This time it was "Are you Chilean?" By this time, massuese came over to hear the answer to see if he won the debate. He seemed disappointed. "How long are you in Rio for?" "You have a nice smile." The next question was "Do you have MSN?" Oh no! Do I have to get that now?! I just got Facebook and am overwhelmed by it. Luckily, some couple got caught in a rip current and my lifeguard was off to be a hero.
It wasn't long before the persistent fake tattoo salesman moved in. No. I don't want a tattoo. "Maybe later?" No. "Maybe tomorrow?" No hoy. No manana. No proximo semana, mes, o ano. Nunca. Would you like a boyfriend? "No. I just want to kick back on the beach and watch that guy over there do yoga in his speedo." Caio Caio.
I did get a few hours of relaxation in before having to get back to the airport. A little warning about transportation costs here. A few days ago I had paid the desk at the airport to have a taxi take me to the bus station. That cost 55 reais. Taking the opposite route earlier in the day today, I paid 35 reais. How did that happen? I went to one booth and they told me 49. I went to the next one and they told me 35. Shop around! Then from the airport to Copacabana (twice the distance) I took the Real bus which took 1.5 hours, but only cost 6 reais. I waited an hour for the Real bus to come back by the beach at the end of the day then gave up. Jumped in a taxi and it cost me 45 reais. The Real bus ended up following behind us the whole way. Oh well. You know me and my love of taxi drivers. Had a nice PortuSpangLish conversation during the drive. Dude was so excited to get a 5 reais tip from me that he kissed my hand. Tipping does not happen regularly here.
Got my backpack out of storage and proceeded to spend the rest of my reai coinage that can't be exchanged on a guarana beverage, water, and chocolate. By the way, GIG (Rio's international airport) wins the award for having the creepiest flight announcer voice. I am sure that those of you who have been through there know what I am talking about. The voice probably still haunts you.
