Rio Day 2, off to the Old Market

Rio Day 2

The day was beautiful. A little warm. This is mid winter. I kind of remember what's it's like in January and February. 

My room was on street to the right.

They tell me it can reach 40 degrees Celsius (that's about a 104 F). That's Austin's weather today. And gets very humid here. Glad I'm here in winter.

Outside my room

I noticed there is a nice view of Corcovado and the Christ statue from the street in front of the building where my room is located.

View from just outside my room of Christ the Redeemer stature on top Corcovado mountain.

Rio's subway

Took my first Rio subway ride. Nice, but already worn at the edges.

Entrance to subway at Sequeiro Campos stop in Copacabana.

 Not quite as bad as NYC though. Give it time! 

 

Trip Downtown 

Went downtown to buy three cell phones for each of us. It would be impossible to function without them now. The Brazilians are really hooked. Especially on the newer smart phones now.

Great view of Avenida Presidente Vargas with old capitol in background.

Rio's Centro

Got off in the Center of Rio, right on Avenida Presidente Vargas. This is where the samba schools used to parade during carnival. I not sure, but I think that changed. Two energy packed (I was in my 20's) carnivals is enough for one lifetime.

Rio's Old Main Market Area
Went to Rio's old market section. Great old buildings and stalls. Sells everything, especially cheap phones. Really gives you the feeling of old colonial era (Brazil became a republic in only 1888).

I bought three real simple phones like we used 10 years ago. Sunday is the big match with España. If Brazil wins I'm sure all hell will brake loose.

Came back to room, rested a bit and then went out at dusk back to the beach and walked all the way to our rented apartment. 
Walked the beach at dusk

Great Kiosks on the beach, looking forward to spending enjoyable evenings with my two lovely companions.

Passed the Copacabana Palace, where  I stayed with my Mother and brother in 1958. 

The Grand Dame of Copacabana Hotels.

That is when I first fell in love with Rio. I remember playing in the pool and bothering all the other guest running around the foot bath that ran all around the pool. Harry and Yvonne, from my mother's side of family visited us on the pool deck.

This Hotel put Rio on the list of great vacation destinations. I remember staying there before AC was widely available. 

The beach was full after dark and there are a lot of great kiosks to hang out at and listen to live music. I'm sure the girls will love it. Turned off the beach to walk down Avenida Ruberio Bararta, to the building where we will be staying. The area is really very classy with a lot of high end hotels, I didn't go up stairs, but made friends with the evening doorman.  I told him we'll be seeing quite a bit of each other. Walked back to my room, past a subway station quite close to our new place, very convenient, I was tired by the time I got to my place, Look forward to walking a lot. Went out for sweets after a while. Streets seem still safe with many unaccompanied females on the street. Came back to work on this next blog post early in the morning.

Sunday, June 30,2013

Spent the day alone getting at least one phone working and called Gabby using an internet assisted program. Amazing it cost 20 cents for 10 minutes. You can only imagine how I used to call my mother from El Salvador in 1970, using a "ham radio patch" from a friend's radio set. Really amazing, both technologies. Now Gabby and Carmencita will be able to call the States daily and speak for 50 minutes for only one dollar.

The Game that may have changed Brazilian History.

I went to eat at a cafe and watch the World Cup Finals, Brazil vs España. Brazil thankfully won 3-0.

We watched demonstrators hurling fire bombs at police around stadium. If Brazil had lost, all hell might have broken loose. At least this way every Brazilian will take pride in the victory despite the enormous expense in hosting the games. Although the Brazilian mentality arguably has changed forever, no longer are they complacent about their own individual destinies. Even though, many Brazilians had hoped Brazil would loose. Tomorrow there is a general strike throughout Brazil. This is an exciting times to be in Brazil.

The cafe also had a great old framed vintage movie poster of the Marx Brothers classic "Copacabana" with Carmen Miranda.

I've always felt a connection with her. My Uncle Max (my mother's brother, who became my mentor after my father died), was a famous and successful commercial artist both before and after the WWII, he used her as her as an inspiration to create the "Chicita Banana" trademark. I grew up with that image. Here is a video clip of her in a timeless Brazilian tune, "O que é que a baiana tem". Enjoy!