Whenever I find myself on the beach in Rio (every day) I feel as though I am a preferred guest as a five-star hotel or a high-roller at a Vegas casino (at least what I imagine it's like): there are people who setup my chair and umbrella, people to make sure I have things to eat and drink (beer
Why Grocery Shopping In Brazil Is Soul Crushing
If there is one thing you can expect to encounter in Brazil it is lines. Now these may be the kinds of lines you are used to, or maybe they aren't, but the lines I am addressing here are particular to supermarkets. So, you are out of food, toilet paper, cerveja, chokito, nudie mags, whatever and
Learning The Metric System In Brazil
In Brazil I have discovered that when I step onto a scale I appear to be very light, but when I go to the gym I appear to be very weak; that a five degree temperature difference is a big deal and going 100 on the freeway isn't; that keys don't always unlock doors and that measuring drinks in
Rock In Rio
Rio de Janeiro hosted the first ever (and aptly named) Rock in Rio music festival in 1985. Following the ten-day long Queen, George Benson, Rod Steward, Yes, AC/DC filled flagship event, 1991 and 2001 saw two more installments of the festival in Rio. However, following its success in Brazil, Rock
How To Make “Mini-Pizzas” (by Guilio)
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Chinese Proverb During my time in Florianópolis I met a man named Guilio at the Submarino Hostel (awesome place). Whilst sitting alone in the common room on my first night visiting (correct, I
Brazilian Elevator Confusion
Getting home late at night (or early in the morning) can be challenging for many reasons (crocodiles, muggers, ropes courses, etc.), but Brazil adds another level of difficulty to the problem. In every (or at least most) apartment building there are two elevators: the "social" elevator and what
Photo Gallery: Billabong Pro Rio
The best surfers in the world gathered in Rio de Janeiro this past weekend for the Billabong Pro Rio. Competitions took place over ten days at the beaches of Barra da Tijuca (women's competition) and Arpoador (men's competition). Brazilian Adriano de Souza took the title in the men's
The Evil Brazilian Bureaucracy Machine
I can think of nothing more enjoyable than being shuffled around from person to person, department to department, place to place, in an endless search for viable responses to my questions or concerns. In Brazil you may have to purify your water before drinking it and hang dry your clothes after
A Visit to Pedra da Gávea
Behold. The top of Rio de Janeiro. Pedra da Gávea. Taller than Cristo Redentor (Giant Stone Jesus) and Pão de Açúcar, it offers arguably the best views in all of Rio. However, getting to the top is no easy task, and the hike requires endurance, a bit of climbing and a spot of chest hair (easily