This picture is actually of Jon and
Bruce.Rio De Janeiro
Page 1 - The Sunshine
Day 1- Sunday, March 5, 2000
So we arrived into Rio after quite a bit of traveling. We left early Saturday morning, Greyhound to New York, flight to Miami, then flight to Rio where we landed Sunday morning. We went straight to our accommodations - which just happened to be a Baptist church that we contacted via email who had replied to our inquiry and allowed us to stay there for the week! They were located about five blocks from the Sambodromo, where all the parading took place! So after dropping our things off, we went straight to Copacabana beach with some of the people at the church: Flavia, Rogerio, and Tish. Merriment was had by all.
This picture is actually of Jon and
Bruce.
So after the beach, and nightfall, we had a bit to eat,
the magical happened. We suddenly became the object of desire of every good looking
woman in Rio. It is a problem we frequently have, but here, it was a bit out of
control. We joined in a street party, paraded around, were covered in shaving cream,
beer, and sweat, and still the women couldn't resist us. Hey, if you don't believe
me, ask Mike and Alex - even prostitutes were hitting on them!
I know, if you are a woman, you are probably saying, jeez what cocky
jerks, but there are two explanations: 1. You know us, and know what we are
really like, or 2. You are merely denying your attraction to us deep down inside.
It is OK to do this, most women have to in order to resist us. :-)
"Come to papa! I'm gonna
getcha!" Yes, sadly enough men were reduced to chasing after women wearing
nothing but whipped cream and boxers screaming, "Lick me, lick me!" Ah,
Carnaval, where even Alex can join in the fun.
After the street party, the guys went back to the Church, but Alex and I, still ready to party, went to the Sambodromo for a rockin' time. There was one small problem. It turns out that the communication was not very good, and although the pastor of the church knew we were merely staying there, he was away, and those at the church thought we had arrived to help out with this "Reaction to Carnaval." It just so happened that they were evangelizing outside the Sambodromo because they felt it was a bad place to go. Apparently Carnaval has pagan roots; people dance, drink, party, and just go plain wild, all of which are things that the church did not support. You can imagine their confusion when we asked, "Great, how do we get tickets?!" They were a bit befuddled…
Day 2 - Monday
The day began with Alex and my return to the airport to greet Micah, as he arrived a day late from Buenos Aires!
Hi Micah!
See, if you are a woman, I can see you
right there in your seat, you just can't resist men in headdresses. If you are a
man, well... I see myself digging a hole, I say nothing.
Later in the day, we went back to Copacabana beach... "Vamos a la playa para tomar sol!"
The water was great, the body surfing a
blast, the bathing suits (those who wore them) were small (Mira las chickas).
Da boyz hangin' in da water.
Da boyz hangin' in da hood.
Da view looking south from
Lemes/Copacabana beach.
Da view looking north from
Lemes/Copacabana beach.
The second night, we managed to find
our way to a concert and dancing where once they played one salsa song, the whole crowd
circled up around us. Too bad they only played one salsa song. The rest of the
time, there was no circle around us... we still have yet to understand samba.
We headed back to the Sambodromo the second night with Micah, Alex, myself, and Mike. Jon and Bruce decided to call it an early night. Boy did they miss out. It was rockin' and absolutely insane.
That night at the Sambodromo, we went
"backstage," saw the mayhem, the colors, y las mujeres!!!.
I'm moving to Chile.
Ah, that is the life.
Skol. A teenage institution since about
five minutes ago.
"Hey, where did everybody go...
wait up! I wanna party with you too!"
I pledge allegiance to the flag of
Beija-Flor de Nilópolis. And to the escola de samba for which it stands...
