Upon arrival, I quickly realized that Sao Paulo is a huge city. For a taxi from the bus station to the hostel in one of the outlying neighborhoods was $25, and was about 15 kilometers away. I met an Aussie guy named Travis and we decided to walk around the city a little. We went to a building where you can ride an elevator to the top and see the whole city from 36 stories high. I didn´t realize just how big Sao Paulo was until I got up there and in every direction as far as the eye can see it´s all city. Imagine if Cumming to Fayetteville and Lawrenceville to Douglasville was all skyscrapers and that is Sao Paulo. It´s almost impossible to drive from one end of the city to the other during the day the traffic is so bad and the distance so far. It truly is almost its own small country. After the tower Travis called a friend, Carol, who lives in Sao Paulo to meet up and she invited us for lunch with her sister at a very sophisticated cafe. I got salmon salad and we all ate very nice meals and then Carol picked up the check! Her younger sister showed us around the city for a few hours and I got some goods pictures. That night we met up with her coworkers for happy hour because she was leaving the company and they were celebrating, then we went to a couple of popular bars where all the young hip people hang out. It reminded me alot of Virginia Highlands, but I didn´t bring my camera so I didn´t gt pics. Last night we met up again and had a few drinks then she showed us her apartment which she shares with her sis and we hit up a club called Energy. It was $20 per person to get in (40 reis) and she paid for all of us and our drinks.
When I first met Carol and her sis Carmilla, Carol was dressed in a suit, so I knew she was some type of business person. Sao Paulo is very sophisticated compared to other pats of Brasil, it´s the financial center and most people come here to make money. She told me she was a lawyer and so I thought she was fairly well off. Then, as we talked she told me she makes 12,000 reis per year ($6,000 dollars) and I almost passed out. Brazil is so expensive I could barely survive here on $40K a year, and I wonder how she lives on $6K! It makes me so sad that her rent is mroe than she makes and so her and her sister have to split rent with their dad in order to make ends meet, and she considers herself middle to upper class. I just kept thinking over and over, it´s very good that she doesn´t know how much wealth there is in America. The nicest clubs in Sao Paulo are around $20 cover charge and the inside looks like a college bar (which they consider very classy). When I explained that our clubs are 20,000 square feet with plasma screens, designer furniture and lighting, and multiple bars she didn´t understand. It´s just so different. I had a blast last night with Carol and Travis at Energy listening to House music and dancing and when we left the club the sun was already up.
It´s very overwhelming now that I´ve finally realized the situation that exists in these countries. So many people are highly educated and make less than a highschool graduate in America. I want to repay her to thank her for showing me around for 2 days and it´s very humbling to know that our country is truly the land of opportunity and that I am blessed to be able to afford my extremely cushy lifestyle. Being around a country of people who struggle daily to make enough money to buy food motivates me to increase my wealth and share the wealth I have already. After talking with Carol´s friends, I wished for the first time I was rich so I could give money to all of them.
I am catching an 11 hour bus to Florianopolis, but I can´t stay too long because then I´m off to Iguazu then rushing to Rio to meet Brad and Mike.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
First Week In Review
I thought I would summarize the first week in Brasil. It´s Carnaval, the world´s largest party, so I haven´t had a ton of time to create a blog. From the emails I´ve sent so far...
------------------------------------------------
Day 1: Tuesday 2/13
Woke up and ate breakfast at the hostel, ham, cheese, bread, pineapple and watermelon. Then i went to the grocery store and bought yogurt and milk. Later im going to the atm to get out cash to buy whey protein powder so i can make shakes. tomorrow i have the derserted island trip with the hostel which is included in the package that i paid oodles for. should be awesome, we just go out there and hang and take pics and stuff.
rio is so awesome, its really nice and sophisticated but still really brasilian. the people are nice and theres everything here that i need and its great being at the beach where the wind blows all the time. its hot but not crazy i sweat but kinda like in GA, just a little bit and when you go inside its cool. the best is sitting under a tree in the shade with a 10 mph wind. soooo soothing. i ate grilled chicken today and it was great, just chicken. no fries, no sauce, just chicken. i feel a million times better. i dont think im going to drink very much this trip cause my body is so sensitive now and i feel energy, but not when i drink so ill just hang out with everyone and enjoy the people. petty much everyone i met yesterday got kicked out of the hostel because all the carnival new people are coming in today. i think they said 61 new people moving in today and 61 people moving out. i havent taken any photos cause i dont have pockets and i dont want to carry around a camera all the time. but i will have pockets tonight and i want to spend a day walking around with my camera to take pics.
its really weird being the tallest guy in the whole hostel, and probably the biggest too. euro kids are pretty small and skinny but they are all cute like kids.
Just got back from going out, its 4AM and i did it huge. Had a blast hanging out with 2 americans and 2 irish. drank at the hostel then at a local bar, then at a hotel bar outside near the beach. walked home and got to bed.
------------------------------------------------
Day 2: Wednesday 2/14
Tonight i slept till 11 then went to a club called Casa Matrix in a shady part of town with some folks and met up with some other folks. The bar was a house that someone turned into a club. It had an $8 cover charge and instead of paying the bartender for drinks, you write it down on a sheet then give the sheet to a cashier who stmaps your ticket so you can leave the bar. The club had two floors, one reggae and one techno. We went to both and two British girlsnamed Amy and Lauren taught me this game that´s silly but fun. You tell a person something you really like about them, then they tell you something back. Guys can do it to guys and girls to girls it´s not just a guy/girl thing. But the comment has to be true. Its a fun game cause it makes everyone happy and they get to know what´s good about themselves instead of hearing all the negative things. Its really expensive here, like america. I spent over $30 total.
No one even remembered it was Valentines day here cause everyone is single. But i made sure that i reminded everyone that i had a gf so it was important to me.
I´ve gotten lost in the city 2 times already which is a little scary, but i dont feel unsafe at all here.
I went on a deserted beach tour today which was a 4 hour bus ride and a 90 minutes walk through the jungle where it was super steep and i should have worn hiking boots but instead wore sandals which made it interesting.
The beach was kinda like every other beach but the hike was refreshing.
I have never been so hot in my entire life, imagine GA in August with 100% humidity and no air-conditioning anywhere. Thats RIO. It suddenly got blistering hot today and i cant cool off. I´m very close to making a bag of ice to carry around on my neck like UGA. I think i have slept 6 hours total since i arrive, im in a 24-person dorm with no AC and its like a sauna in there. I literally lay in a pool of sweat and occasionally doze off. I might resort to crashing at another hostel during the day that has AC cause my buddy Tony is staying there.
Ive been hanging with aussies and kiwis alot telling them about my trip with Haley to their countries and it looks like we will have lots of people to stay with and show us around.
I hung out with a British guy today who was with me in Buenos Aires named Mark, small world...
------------------------------------------------
Day 3: Thursday 2/15
Today was one of the best nights of my life. The cruise was awesome everyone partied and had a great time and i got lots of pics, then i took a nap in the chill room, then we went to a street party. and when i say street party, i mean the biggest thing ive ever seen. mobs and mobs of people samba dancing and drinking and generally being happy brazilians. they have meat on a stick, steak or chicken, and these open charcoal grills where they BBQ. then they have sauces and you just carry it around and munch on it while you drink beer on the street with 2 million of your best friends samba dancing. Its the best meat ive ever had, i ate so much i thought i was sick, then i ate more. I could live down here i love it so much. I need to learn portugeuse too. Prob do that today actually. i speak spanish well enough to get everything done but i would like to learn it just for kicks. Bought Valium at the pharmacy today its $1 for 2 pills which isnt bad or good really. Watched the sun rise then got a few hours sleep then today hit the beach again, carnaval is def in full swing.
I´m posting pics today, here is the link.
http://uga.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2178228&l=674d6&id=4917504
It feels like the day goes by in a blur without me doing anything other than eating, taking a shower and going to the beach then its time for bed. I met a bunch of americans today. One guy was hilarious, Tyler wearing the speedo on the boat. It´s nice to share traveling stories with americans who can understand the differences from our country and apreciate them.
-------------------------------------------------
Day 6: Sunday 2/19
Me, Tony, and Mark went to a small street party on Copacabana and then drnk a few beers on the beach as the sun set.
-------------------------------------------------
Day 7: Monday 2/20
Went to the beach all day and bought an umbrella. I was kind of weary when I first got here of the sun but after 3 days with block on, I´m still white as a ghost. The crap hit the fan today and I decided to go with no block on. Me, Tony, Jen, Fiona rented an umbrella and 3 chairs but we all sat in the sun and I got a little pink. It actually feels good to get some sun. While on the beach I smelled the wonderful scent of BBQ meat. I ran over to the guy and told him with hand motions I wanted some. 10 Minutes later he brought me a plate full of chicken, steak, sausage, liver/kidneys, and garlic bread. Then a few minutes later he brought me more. Then more. Until I told him not to bring any more! Everyone got a little then me and Tony hung out on the beach by ourselves just shooting the breeze.
Went to the Sambodrome for the carnaval parade tonight. It was an absolute disaster. We took a really long time to rally the troops and our group got seperated on the walk to the stadium. Eventually we found each other in our section, but our section was the cheap seats and pretty far away from the action. Since we got there after midnight and it started at 9PM, the stadium was packed. There were people on people and everyone was dancing and screaming. We tried to negotiate our way up to an empty spot but there were no empty spots. We tried to sqeeze in but the locals were very angry that we came so late and pushed them out of their seats. Finally we settled in a tiny open space and the locals were very adament about their distaste of us gringos. If looks could kill we´d all be dead, and after an hour of semi-watching the parade we all decided to leave before things got out of hand.
Hit up the street party near the stadium, taught the foreigners how to shotgun, then hit up Lapa street party for some food and beers, then went to the beach to watch the sun come up. Me and Mark went for a 6AM it was refreshing watching the sunrise on an empty beach at 5AM in Copacabana.
http://uga.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2179695&l=e8f4a&id=4917504
------------------------------------------------
Day 9: 2/22
Did nothing all day. Slept till 3, read for a few hours, watched 2 movies, ate BBQ. Tomorrow we leave early for Ilha Grande with Amy, Lauren, Freddy Krueger, Tony, and I. Just catch the bus tomorrow then see what happens. Hopefully there will be a hostel open.
------------------------------------------------
Day 1: Tuesday 2/13
Woke up and ate breakfast at the hostel, ham, cheese, bread, pineapple and watermelon. Then i went to the grocery store and bought yogurt and milk. Later im going to the atm to get out cash to buy whey protein powder so i can make shakes. tomorrow i have the derserted island trip with the hostel which is included in the package that i paid oodles for. should be awesome, we just go out there and hang and take pics and stuff.
rio is so awesome, its really nice and sophisticated but still really brasilian. the people are nice and theres everything here that i need and its great being at the beach where the wind blows all the time. its hot but not crazy i sweat but kinda like in GA, just a little bit and when you go inside its cool. the best is sitting under a tree in the shade with a 10 mph wind. soooo soothing. i ate grilled chicken today and it was great, just chicken. no fries, no sauce, just chicken. i feel a million times better. i dont think im going to drink very much this trip cause my body is so sensitive now and i feel energy, but not when i drink so ill just hang out with everyone and enjoy the people. petty much everyone i met yesterday got kicked out of the hostel because all the carnival new people are coming in today. i think they said 61 new people moving in today and 61 people moving out. i havent taken any photos cause i dont have pockets and i dont want to carry around a camera all the time. but i will have pockets tonight and i want to spend a day walking around with my camera to take pics.
its really weird being the tallest guy in the whole hostel, and probably the biggest too. euro kids are pretty small and skinny but they are all cute like kids.
Just got back from going out, its 4AM and i did it huge. Had a blast hanging out with 2 americans and 2 irish. drank at the hostel then at a local bar, then at a hotel bar outside near the beach. walked home and got to bed.
------------------------------------------------
Day 2: Wednesday 2/14
Tonight i slept till 11 then went to a club called Casa Matrix in a shady part of town with some folks and met up with some other folks. The bar was a house that someone turned into a club. It had an $8 cover charge and instead of paying the bartender for drinks, you write it down on a sheet then give the sheet to a cashier who stmaps your ticket so you can leave the bar. The club had two floors, one reggae and one techno. We went to both and two British girlsnamed Amy and Lauren taught me this game that´s silly but fun. You tell a person something you really like about them, then they tell you something back. Guys can do it to guys and girls to girls it´s not just a guy/girl thing. But the comment has to be true. Its a fun game cause it makes everyone happy and they get to know what´s good about themselves instead of hearing all the negative things. Its really expensive here, like america. I spent over $30 total.
No one even remembered it was Valentines day here cause everyone is single. But i made sure that i reminded everyone that i had a gf so it was important to me.
I´ve gotten lost in the city 2 times already which is a little scary, but i dont feel unsafe at all here.
I went on a deserted beach tour today which was a 4 hour bus ride and a 90 minutes walk through the jungle where it was super steep and i should have worn hiking boots but instead wore sandals which made it interesting.
The beach was kinda like every other beach but the hike was refreshing.
I have never been so hot in my entire life, imagine GA in August with 100% humidity and no air-conditioning anywhere. Thats RIO. It suddenly got blistering hot today and i cant cool off. I´m very close to making a bag of ice to carry around on my neck like UGA. I think i have slept 6 hours total since i arrive, im in a 24-person dorm with no AC and its like a sauna in there. I literally lay in a pool of sweat and occasionally doze off. I might resort to crashing at another hostel during the day that has AC cause my buddy Tony is staying there.
Ive been hanging with aussies and kiwis alot telling them about my trip with Haley to their countries and it looks like we will have lots of people to stay with and show us around.
I hung out with a British guy today who was with me in Buenos Aires named Mark, small world...
------------------------------------------------
Day 3: Thursday 2/15
Today was one of the best nights of my life. The cruise was awesome everyone partied and had a great time and i got lots of pics, then i took a nap in the chill room, then we went to a street party. and when i say street party, i mean the biggest thing ive ever seen. mobs and mobs of people samba dancing and drinking and generally being happy brazilians. they have meat on a stick, steak or chicken, and these open charcoal grills where they BBQ. then they have sauces and you just carry it around and munch on it while you drink beer on the street with 2 million of your best friends samba dancing. Its the best meat ive ever had, i ate so much i thought i was sick, then i ate more. I could live down here i love it so much. I need to learn portugeuse too. Prob do that today actually. i speak spanish well enough to get everything done but i would like to learn it just for kicks. Bought Valium at the pharmacy today its $1 for 2 pills which isnt bad or good really. Watched the sun rise then got a few hours sleep then today hit the beach again, carnaval is def in full swing.
I´m posting pics today, here is the link.
http://uga.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2178228&l=674d6&id=4917504
It feels like the day goes by in a blur without me doing anything other than eating, taking a shower and going to the beach then its time for bed. I met a bunch of americans today. One guy was hilarious, Tyler wearing the speedo on the boat. It´s nice to share traveling stories with americans who can understand the differences from our country and apreciate them.
-------------------------------------------------
Day 6: Sunday 2/19
Me, Tony, and Mark went to a small street party on Copacabana and then drnk a few beers on the beach as the sun set.
-------------------------------------------------
Day 7: Monday 2/20
Went to the beach all day and bought an umbrella. I was kind of weary when I first got here of the sun but after 3 days with block on, I´m still white as a ghost. The crap hit the fan today and I decided to go with no block on. Me, Tony, Jen, Fiona rented an umbrella and 3 chairs but we all sat in the sun and I got a little pink. It actually feels good to get some sun. While on the beach I smelled the wonderful scent of BBQ meat. I ran over to the guy and told him with hand motions I wanted some. 10 Minutes later he brought me a plate full of chicken, steak, sausage, liver/kidneys, and garlic bread. Then a few minutes later he brought me more. Then more. Until I told him not to bring any more! Everyone got a little then me and Tony hung out on the beach by ourselves just shooting the breeze.
There was a huge beach party at Ipanema and being the crazy party animal I am, I made sure the group went. There were tents every 100 yards with music playing and people gathered around dancing. I had a great time on the beach dancing and hanging out with no shoes on. Got home around 6AM.
------------------------------------------------
Went to the Sambodrome for the carnaval parade tonight. It was an absolute disaster. We took a really long time to rally the troops and our group got seperated on the walk to the stadium. Eventually we found each other in our section, but our section was the cheap seats and pretty far away from the action. Since we got there after midnight and it started at 9PM, the stadium was packed. There were people on people and everyone was dancing and screaming. We tried to negotiate our way up to an empty spot but there were no empty spots. We tried to sqeeze in but the locals were very angry that we came so late and pushed them out of their seats. Finally we settled in a tiny open space and the locals were very adament about their distaste of us gringos. If looks could kill we´d all be dead, and after an hour of semi-watching the parade we all decided to leave before things got out of hand.
Hit up the street party near the stadium, taught the foreigners how to shotgun, then hit up Lapa street party for some food and beers, then went to the beach to watch the sun come up. Me and Mark went for a 6AM it was refreshing watching the sunrise on an empty beach at 5AM in Copacabana.
http://uga.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2179695&l=e8f4a&id=4917504
------------------------------------------------
Day 9: 2/22
Did nothing all day. Slept till 3, read for a few hours, watched 2 movies, ate BBQ. Tomorrow we leave early for Ilha Grande with Amy, Lauren, Freddy Krueger, Tony, and I. Just catch the bus tomorrow then see what happens. Hopefully there will be a hostel open.
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