Ola!

We are now in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. My initial thoughts about this country were not pleasant ones, and it began as early as applying for a visa. First, they make all applicants apply in person, and if you have a family member or friend apply for you, they charge you extra money. Next, they don’t allow married women to travel without her husband. Finally, they have strict instructions on your visa photo (with respect to what to wear, where to look, and lighting). They kindly provided a sample photo as an example:

So, I dutifully followed their instructions and had my photograph taken.

But now that I’m here, I’m actually loving this city. It’s a very beautiful and energetic place. From the long expanses of scenic coastline, to the friendliness of the locals (noticeably absent in Buenos Aires) and amazing cultural diversity and finally the hotness of the locals, this really might be the Cidade Maravilhosa (marvelous city).

The moment we arrived here, we went immediately to eat feijoada, a distinctly Brazilian stew composed of slowly-cooked black beans and a variety of meats that is traditionally served only on Saturdays, and is always served for two people. Also, it is usually enjoyed with a cold caipirinha (think of it as a Brazilian mojito).

We are staying in Ipanema, the cool kid’s neighborhood. It’s where the young and rich tend to live; unfortunately I’m neither, but I can play the part for a few days. I woke up early-ish this morning and went for a run. On Sundays, the street closest to the beach in Ipanema are closed for people to walk, run, bike, rollerblade, or walk their dog. This was my beautiful view.

Off to the beach for the rest of the day. So who are these men in speedos, and more importantly, why the heck am I taking a photo of them? This is the sport of futevolei and it is a very common sighting on the beach. It is essentially volleyball using only your feet, chest, and head. It looks incredibly difficult, and I can’t believe these people keep the ball in the air for as long as they do.

By the way, the people here are very serious about football/soccer… some people just walk around on the streets with a soccer ball. I’m not sure what they’ll do with it, but I’m already intimidated. Finally, as the afternoon winds down, I cool down with a refreshing agua de coco.

Peoples, this may be the last post from me … forever. A girl we met here invited us tonight to a party in a favella. Favellas are the shanty towns here, essentially slums that are run by drug lords. She claims it is for some journalistic piece she’s doing for back home in Boston. In the interest of doing what the locals do, we’re gonna go to it. A friend from back home predicted I’d get decapitated on this trip. Who knows, he might end up being right.