i HEART Brazil

No, seriously, i am a big big fan of that country - Braziiiiiwwww. That's kind of how they pronounce it there, and I heard lots of that while watching the Olympics from teh Brazilian tele (side note, sad not watching Olympics from your own country, bc they're not quite as thrilled about how the US is doing as i am. sad day). Anyway, I nearly cried while flying out of rio yesterday, which by the way is one of the most beautiful flights you can take ever! And basically that's why i've been ignoring my blog - 8 days in Rio will keep you busy...or not busy really, but you know, laying on the beach in my mind is better than spending any time in an internet cafe, esp at like $4/hr! Soo expensive inBrazil. And ya, the weather was close to 90 the last few days I was there. soo nice for a change!

Back to Sao Paulo though before I get carried away on Rio (which goes down as one of my fave cities for sure). Saturday I woke up and kindly was escorted to teh cute town of Embu, just outside the main central part of the city; apparently Embu existed before Sao Paulo did! Mr. Dupont drove me out there and we walked around the colorful town looking at all the handycrafts of baskets, stone jewelry, little painted chickens, shoes, and native Brazilian instruments. I also toured a super old church, very quaint. It was his first time inside there too! It was a gorgeous day, and he had me try some sugar cane juice to quench my thirst - one with lime, one without. I was a bit scared looking at the contraption that created teh juice, but it proved worth it. Super good, though reallly sweet. But a fave. After some nice browsing there, including a little shop where an 80 year old lady hand paints a bunch of china (which I sadly couldn't buy bc it would be broken in an instant), Daniel and I returned back to the casa to enjoy a fabulosa lunch prepared by Carolina, again stuffing me with quiche, chicken milanesa and lots of veggies and fruit. Oh and i think we even had wine again, go figure. Patrick joined us as well. Saturday afternoon Carolina gave me the grand city tour all via car. We went into the centro, which she said would take hours if it was during the week in traffic, and drove thru los Jardines (the nice houses), the Japanese area, the ARab area and market, the Teatro Municipal and the cathedral, plus the founding spot of Sao Paulo where an old monastery is. I got out there to check out the church, and got a little scared by some hooligan kids who were staring me down.

On that note, Carolina pretty much gave me the basics on how to protect yourself in Sao Paulo - first of all by defensive driving, which all family members passed with flying colors. Also, never take out your car keys while standing just outside your car. Always get them before, then peel out asap so no one can getcha. She kept telling me though that i was kind of s.o.l. as far as being discreet in the city since I am both a) ginormously tall and b) blonde. Oh well, whatareyagonnado? Also, don't stop at red lights at night - dad, reminds me of that joke you always told about the guy who did same and said, "my brother might be coming" hAHA! No, but honestly, it's legal in Brazil to not have to stop at them at night. Makes you feel real safe, eh? Always keep your eyes open when stopped anywhere, walk in the middle of the street vs the sides, if possible, and keep your windows up in sketchy areas.

So Saturday night we all met up at this posh hotel for a drink. The place had AMAZING views of the city, and a great cocktail menu, so Carolina and i took advantage of that after we did a presto chango in the bathroom there (i was so low profile carrying my laundry sack full of a change of clothes for the both of us ;). The boys met us there and after a drink we headed to a dinner spot in another posh area, on the main shopping street. Place was called Garcon and we had this typical fish stew stuff with palm oil. The name begets me right now...it was quite good actually, though super filling. Of course had dessert, coffee, and caipirinhas to make it a complete brazilian meal. Patrick had a night out with his friends planned afterward, which he so kindly invited me to join, so we drove over to a nearby restaurant where I proceeded to smile and look around a lot while everyone spoke Portuguese. No actually some people did speak English and they and Patrick went out of there way to make me feel welcome :) We stayed there a little longer than I'd like, but managed to narrow our next stop to either a club or a house party. Since Saturday isn't the clubbing night in Brazil (thursday and friday are),we settled on teh house party where we somehow managed to get on the guest list. Now, i thought Southern Cali girls were beautiful but wow, this party had some of the most beautiful women i've ever seen - only difference was that they were brunette versus blonde! All dressed to the nines, including the men, which i was happyt o see. great style and lots of money flying around that place, not to mention open caiparinhi bar (big huge jars of fruit, you choose which ones you want to mix in to the vodka or sake or cachasa combo to make the best caipi ever!!) Also had people serving snacks during the night, which i sadly declined bc i had just eaten a huuge meal. But it was a great party, a true inside look into the Sao Paulo life, and a chance to meet some hip Brazilians. One girl, Julia, was so sweet and she lived in La Jolla for 10 months years ago. small world! i dragged Patrick out of there at 330am and we made our way home.

Sunday was a nice day where the Duponts invited me to their country club located on a manmade lake outside the city. Patrick and I joined his parents for lunch - a buffet with lots of meat, salad, typical brazilian stuff. The 'rents played golf while Patrick and I toured around the club - equestrian club, tennis club, golf club and lots of other stuff. We visited the papagayos (parrots) and mccaws, but the rain started up again so we retreated to teh clubhouse for reading and hot chocolate. One of my highlights was actually taking a run (the first in ages) with Patrick in the rain. It started raining just after we started, and my glasses were fogging up, but it was such a pretty view running around, and running in the rain is just plain magical! yet about 25 minutes into it i nearly threw up after running up a long hill. Wow, great to be so in shape ;) Anyway, nice day.

Are you bored yet? I'm not! Reliving it is great :) Sunday night was a dinner party at the Duponts, and the most extravagent pizza dinner i've ever been a part of. They had a young woman over, Alison, and an older couple, all sao paulo residents but English by birth. We had a fabulous meal with cheese appetizers, delivery pizza in the middle of the table, plus veggies, great wine and more desserts than i could count. Favorite being "brigaderos"- kind of like see's candies or bon bons. Coconut one is fabulous! Also this white cheese/soft fruit jelly combo. And how could i forget the Chilimoya fruit! Yums. Can you tell i have enjoyed eating on my trip? ;) So ya, everyone except Patrick and I had to work the next day and the dinner didn't end til like midnight. Yikes! They are used to it...

I originally planned to leave Monday but Carolina made sure I stayed another day adn with their fantastic hospitality, how could i say no! Monday she drove me into the city again and we went to the Mercado Central to look at all the booths full of fruit, fish, nuts, meat, juice, and anything else you would think to ingest. AFter that we walked around the bustling city street market, and that was exciting! I was keeping my hand over my bag as best as possible too. You have to stay alert out there! I didn't buy anything, again using no room in my bag as a valid excuse. But it was fun! We stopped in at a very hole in teh wall, typical Brazilian food place right in the midst of the action, adn she ordered me a yummy plate of pork, fried banana, rice and beans. Ohh yum. She got fried fish with french fries, also typical. We walked around a bit more, hit a nice mall on the way back (although I was exhausted and ready to pass out!), had a juice to recharge, then made it home for dinner. We ate a lovely meal of chicken stew at home before heading back out to the British Embassy to meet friends from the night before, plus strangers, Patrick and his friends, at SCOTTISH DANCING NIGHT! I first thought I was going to a show to watch the dancing but little did I know I would be actively a part of it! They would teach a dance then expect you to follow suit in yoru own little groups. it was soo fun. Of course I was a natural, as I have Scottish Bowie blood running thru my veins ;) dad, i would die to see you try and do this! Maybe you already have? Daniel was quite a Fred Estaire...afterward Patrick, Alison, and P's two friends and I grabbed a beer then called it a night. i almost thought P and I were going to get mugged walking back to the car but thankfully we made it out okay.

Next morning I was off to the bus station, driven by Sweet Caroline's driver from their work . What a treat! I managed to get the last seat on the bus, and left a beautiful sunny day behind to arrive into rainy Paraty where a storm had made it''s way. Boooooooo.

Okay, Paraty, Ilha Grande and more of Rio left for another night...buen noiche!