Bem-Vindo ao Rio!

The Latin America jinx continues.

Our 9:40 pm flight becomes 10:10, which becomes 11 pm, all because an earlier storm delays the flight crew. The plans is ready and waiting, but the crew is nowhere to be found.

We board, but don't take off until about 1:30 in the morning.

Justin is titillated that we are served "dinner" at 2:30 in the morning. Me, not so much.

Everything else is far less problematic... easy flight to Sao Paulo, equally easy 1 hour flight to Rio. A Brazilian girl I met earlier this year hooked me up with a woman who rented her an apartment. Sight unseen, we promised to pay 90 reals (about $50) a night for a studio apartment. Faith pays off. You walk into a small room with a twin bed, cable TV and a fridge. A little further is a larger bedroom with a double bed, sofa, dresser, more cable TV (and internet- yay!) A little further is a fully stocked kitchen with lots of appliances and a washing machine.

There's no great view, or anything fancy, and we're next door to a primary school, which in Brazil evidently means that kids learn to scream at the top of their friggin' lungs ALL DAY LONG. Our next-door neighbor is hell-bent on memorializing Michael Jackson to the best of his ability, playing his songs and butchering the lyrics. But it's a great place, 2 blocks from Copacabana beach, next to more shopping, restaurants, and supermarkets then in my own neighborhood at home.

We've spent the last two days just trying to get the feel of the neighborhood, walking around during the day, getting a late meal and some drinks. The neighborhood is bustling, and although Justin claims that it's very touristy, there are many more Brazilians than anyone else from what I can tell. I hear little to no English. I wish my portuguese were more up to par. I understand what I read completely, I can manage to make myself understood, but I have practically no idea what anyone is saying to me.

All I want is some crazy amazonian fruit, which is evidently not in season here, because all I see at the markets are bananas, apples, pineapples, and oranges, and papaya. All Justin wants is some dark beer- Brazilians seem to prefer the extra-light crispy variety.

So we go to Bodeco Belmont, a block or so away. It's packed full of people, of all ages. We sit outside, and Justin speaks his first words of Portuguese to someone other than me... "cerveja oscuro." Success... dark beer. Justin wins.

The beer is served in small-ish glasses. Justin holds the glass up to drink, and the glass EXPLODES in his hand. No damage done, but the waiter calls him "superman" all night.

Justin convinces me that wearing a thong bathing suit is entirely appropriate and I convince him that he would look fantastic in a skimpy trunk. Justin wins, I lose. Again.

It's "winter" here- which means that although it's about 70- 80 degrees during the day, it gets dark at about 6:00 pm. It's a strange adjustment. We're waking up at 10 am, having a large lunch at 3, and then at 6 pm it feels like the day is over because it's so dark outside. Justin's got his violao, I've got my knitting, so we'll manage before some more caipirinhas and cervejas are in order.