Report of 1 June '13
Hello from Indianapolis!
The radio is playing, the dryer upstairs is churning out the umpteenth load and we are back from Rio.
The trip was magnificent. We did not speak the language, the people were welcoming and warm, the views of swimsuit-clad folks on the back were sexy, and the racial harmony was lovely. The contrast was stark when we returned to the U.S. via Charlotte, NC (it could have been any U.S. city): the racial divide was immediately evident.
The best part of the trip was listening to our kids chatter and enjoy life. On Navin's b'day, we took a trip to his choice of place - Pao de Acucar, Sugarloaf Mountain. As we got off the cable car, Naren noticed in the line waiting to go down - most of the main cast of one of the boys' favorite movies, "The Hangover." That was a hoot! Ed Helms was spotted first and then we saw Bradley Cooper in a hat and sunglasses. As Scott and I said, we have been on this planet for 50 years without any Hollywood star sightings, and what happens on Navin's 20th b'day? They spot some A-listers. When we mentioned this, Navin said, "There were probably no jet planes in your twenties, were there?" :)
After that site, we walked down Ipanema beach, came to Copacabana and stopped at a beachside shop to have the national alcoholic drink, the Caipirinha. Sugarcane liquor, lime, delicious. All talked, especially the boys, some about their experience with people, college, alcohol, etc. Their candor was a treat. We have few secrets from the boys, and perhaps they are returning the favor.
As we wound up our evening, I asked the young, handome caipirinha stall employee to dance with me and he was startled, refusing almost instantly. There was good Brazilian music playing at the shop and I cannot just listen to music, I *have* to dance.
We also saw some local parks in Rio and the commercial center. In many public parks, there is exercise equipment that the senior citizens use regularly. At least in Rio, the folks were healthy-looking and we saw very few obese people. We made new friends - Claudia Ferreira and her son, Luc. (We met through other friends, Luciana and Greg.) They joined us for dinner and we talked and talked. I especially like meeting folks of other countries: we end up being so similar and, often, nicely different.
We went with Claudia to a favela (slum). This was built on a hillside and the houses were brightly colored and pretty. I specifically wanted to shop at a place where the money would benefit the less-privileged, and we stopped at a little store in the favela. We bought some food and I found later that the pastry made there, with corn and sugar, was very tasty. Markedly better than the store-bought treats. The coffee at that shop was also among the best I have had. The young man in charge of the shop undercharged us and I pointed it out; he said it was okay and told us we were always welcome back. I appreciated having Claudia's help with the translation. The favela was memorable.
The flight back was nice. US Airways' flight attendant, Lynette, engaged our boys in conversation and they liked that. On the flight to Indy, there was a 20-month old in front of us and she leaned over their row to interact with us the entire flight, and make squint-eyes at the boys. Both our sons like little kids and they were pretty enthralled with this attention.
I felt someone share a virus on the plane from Rio, and the virus is on me. So, Ricola and tea for today. I cooked madly yesterday, wanting home food, and the boys ate immense amounts. We felt like the Hungry, Hungry caterpillar - eating a green leaf after gorging on tasty Brazilian food.
Unw -
R
The radio is playing, the dryer upstairs is churning out the umpteenth load and we are back from Rio.
The trip was magnificent. We did not speak the language, the people were welcoming and warm, the views of swimsuit-clad folks on the back were sexy, and the racial harmony was lovely. The contrast was stark when we returned to the U.S. via Charlotte, NC (it could have been any U.S. city): the racial divide was immediately evident.
The best part of the trip was listening to our kids chatter and enjoy life. On Navin's b'day, we took a trip to his choice of place - Pao de Acucar, Sugarloaf Mountain. As we got off the cable car, Naren noticed in the line waiting to go down - most of the main cast of one of the boys' favorite movies, "The Hangover." That was a hoot! Ed Helms was spotted first and then we saw Bradley Cooper in a hat and sunglasses. As Scott and I said, we have been on this planet for 50 years without any Hollywood star sightings, and what happens on Navin's 20th b'day? They spot some A-listers. When we mentioned this, Navin said, "There were probably no jet planes in your twenties, were there?" :)
After that site, we walked down Ipanema beach, came to Copacabana and stopped at a beachside shop to have the national alcoholic drink, the Caipirinha. Sugarcane liquor, lime, delicious. All talked, especially the boys, some about their experience with people, college, alcohol, etc. Their candor was a treat. We have few secrets from the boys, and perhaps they are returning the favor.
As we wound up our evening, I asked the young, handome caipirinha stall employee to dance with me and he was startled, refusing almost instantly. There was good Brazilian music playing at the shop and I cannot just listen to music, I *have* to dance.
We also saw some local parks in Rio and the commercial center. In many public parks, there is exercise equipment that the senior citizens use regularly. At least in Rio, the folks were healthy-looking and we saw very few obese people. We made new friends - Claudia Ferreira and her son, Luc. (We met through other friends, Luciana and Greg.) They joined us for dinner and we talked and talked. I especially like meeting folks of other countries: we end up being so similar and, often, nicely different.
We went with Claudia to a favela (slum). This was built on a hillside and the houses were brightly colored and pretty. I specifically wanted to shop at a place where the money would benefit the less-privileged, and we stopped at a little store in the favela. We bought some food and I found later that the pastry made there, with corn and sugar, was very tasty. Markedly better than the store-bought treats. The coffee at that shop was also among the best I have had. The young man in charge of the shop undercharged us and I pointed it out; he said it was okay and told us we were always welcome back. I appreciated having Claudia's help with the translation. The favela was memorable.
The flight back was nice. US Airways' flight attendant, Lynette, engaged our boys in conversation and they liked that. On the flight to Indy, there was a 20-month old in front of us and she leaned over their row to interact with us the entire flight, and make squint-eyes at the boys. Both our sons like little kids and they were pretty enthralled with this attention.
I felt someone share a virus on the plane from Rio, and the virus is on me. So, Ricola and tea for today. I cooked madly yesterday, wanting home food, and the boys ate immense amounts. We felt like the Hungry, Hungry caterpillar - eating a green leaf after gorging on tasty Brazilian food.
Unw -
R
posted by Renu Weiss at
6:54 AM
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