I just flew back to the US and boy are my arms tired.
I started my cumpledida/despedaños on Sunday with an asado, then kept it going with a trip to Chinatown, dance clubs, eating a lot, hanging with friends... Awesome. Today I celebrated my 24th as Gammie celebrated her 75th.
When I wake up tomorrow I'm definitely going to forget I'm here at first.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
good travel karma
So yesterday I was in Brazil. Today I'm in Argentina. On Friday I'll be in the US of A. Cray cray.
After the last entry, I used the money I got from my bus ticket refund to find and buy a discount airline ticket on LAN airlines. The flight was delayed a few hours, but they promoted me to first class for free. So in the course of a few hours I literally went from sleeping in a bus station to drinking champagne as my giant plane seat gave me an electronic back massage (*).
I got home last night to find the homeboys ordering empanadas. We talked about Brazilian girls, Brazilian parties, and Brazilian party girls until I fell asleep.
Today I got my things in order. Soon I will start my Chanukah-Birthday celebration, the most ambitious multiple-day, multiple-country birthday party I've attempted yet.
I want the red ultra mega mega man.
*asterisk - funk fusion band
After the last entry, I used the money I got from my bus ticket refund to find and buy a discount airline ticket on LAN airlines. The flight was delayed a few hours, but they promoted me to first class for free. So in the course of a few hours I literally went from sleeping in a bus station to drinking champagne as my giant plane seat gave me an electronic back massage (*).
I got home last night to find the homeboys ordering empanadas. We talked about Brazilian girls, Brazilian parties, and Brazilian party girls until I fell asleep.
Today I got my things in order. Soon I will start my Chanukah-Birthday celebration, the most ambitious multiple-day, multiple-country birthday party I've attempted yet.
I want the red ultra mega mega man.
*asterisk - funk fusion band
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Brazil, cont´d
I write this entry from the bus station in São Paulo, the biggest and nicest bus station in South America. Earlier I was set up to be on a bus somewhere between here and Buenos Aires right now, but I thought I forgot my camera and went back to my friend´s house, only to find, once there, that it was in the very bottom of my backpack all along.
Oh well. I can be bumbly, I´m on vacation.
Back to Buenos Aires, take-two. And soon thereafter, back to the USA! It´s been a while, North America.
A REVIEW OF THE LAST FEW DAYS IN RIO:
Sunny, sunny days. I climbed up Pão de Açucar and wandered around the gigantic Jardim Botanico, taking photos like it was my job. I also spent an entire day on the beach, flaunting my blindingly white skin for the first time since the Argentinean winter came. And in a speedo, no less. I also drank out of a coconut for the first time since Honduras.
I hear açai juice is the new pomegranate in the United States. Well, Brazilians have known about it since... ever. It´s amaazing. Same with the ubiquitous pão de queixo and my favorite fast food place, Habib´s (for those of you who´ve seen Don´t Mess With The Zohan,... this place is Muchentuchen! fo reals!).
Anyway, I´m going to pass the time for a while until I can catch the next bus and I´ll catch you on the flipside.
BRAZIL ROCKS!
Side note, since a few people have asked:
Now that I´ve been here I can make a few comparisons, for those of you keeping track of my Argentina-Brazil loyalties: Pelé is better than Maradona, Maradona rocks harder than Pelé, Argentine pizza is better, Brazil has better fruits and vegetables, Argentina has better pastries, Brazil has better spicy food, Brazil has crazier parties, Argentina parties later, Argentinean asados have better meat, Brazilian churrascos have better seasoning, Brazil has better beaches, Argentina has better literature, Brazil has better original music, the beer is about the same in both countries, and I like Fernet better than cachaça. I can think of exceptions for every one of these sweeping generalizations and I welcome comments.
Oh well. I can be bumbly, I´m on vacation.
Back to Buenos Aires, take-two. And soon thereafter, back to the USA! It´s been a while, North America.
A REVIEW OF THE LAST FEW DAYS IN RIO:
Sunny, sunny days. I climbed up Pão de Açucar and wandered around the gigantic Jardim Botanico, taking photos like it was my job. I also spent an entire day on the beach, flaunting my blindingly white skin for the first time since the Argentinean winter came. And in a speedo, no less. I also drank out of a coconut for the first time since Honduras.
I hear açai juice is the new pomegranate in the United States. Well, Brazilians have known about it since... ever. It´s amaazing. Same with the ubiquitous pão de queixo and my favorite fast food place, Habib´s (for those of you who´ve seen Don´t Mess With The Zohan,... this place is Muchentuchen! fo reals!).
Anyway, I´m going to pass the time for a while until I can catch the next bus and I´ll catch you on the flipside.
BRAZIL ROCKS!
Side note, since a few people have asked:
Now that I´ve been here I can make a few comparisons, for those of you keeping track of my Argentina-Brazil loyalties: Pelé is better than Maradona, Maradona rocks harder than Pelé, Argentine pizza is better, Brazil has better fruits and vegetables, Argentina has better pastries, Brazil has better spicy food, Brazil has crazier parties, Argentina parties later, Argentinean asados have better meat, Brazilian churrascos have better seasoning, Brazil has better beaches, Argentina has better literature, Brazil has better original music, the beer is about the same in both countries, and I like Fernet better than cachaça. I can think of exceptions for every one of these sweeping generalizations and I welcome comments.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
BRASIL SIL SIL!!!
You know it´s a good trip when I don´t have time for very many entries. Here´s a rundown of everything, before I run out the door for more adventures.
THE ITINERARY (so far)
Florianópolis
São Paulo
Rio de Janeiro (still here)
SOME STUFF I DID
Went to a gigantic party called Micarreta in Florianópolis where everyone wears the same t-shirt, and danced in the rain. Left Floripa the day before it flooded á la New Orleans. Shitchy! Saw little kids learning capo eira. Learned to dance forroa and aché (I´m misspelling this). Realized I´ve always known how to dance baile funky.
Met a French princess in São Paulo. Went to a churrasco where someone told me I look like James Bluntchy. Fuckers! Went to a São Paulo biker bar and made friends with everybody there. Saw but didn´t enter the Museum of Football (soccer). Ate all you can eat sushi. Twice. Learned that caipirinhas are deceptively strong. I now have an adoptive Brazilian mommy in São Paulo and I´ve realized that in my heart I´ve always been from the torçida of Palmeiras. Learned about the São Paulo skate scene firsthand. Played a pickup soccer game at a party, barefoot, and scored 3 goals (I was surprised too!). Learned, once again, that ciproflaxin is my friend. Learned to curse in Portuguese (porra!). Learned that Pelé is better than Maradona.
Climbed up to see the giant Jesus in Rio de Janeiro. Realized that it was more of a holy ghost than a Jesus because we were inside a cloud and the people working at the juice bar described to me what the view usually looks like when visibility is more than a few meters. Had a spicy delicious vegetarian Thanksgiving with Jen, Juli and awesome new friendles! Reunited with Mixmaster D from Buenos Aires. Danced samba and salsa in the same night.
It has been sunny a total of...about three days.
I have stayed in a hostel a total of... three days. The rest of the time, couch surfing and mooching like a campeão.
I love Brazil and I love Brazilians.
Beautiful, open, kind, hospitality like at momma´s house.
THE ITINERARY (so far)
Florianópolis
São Paulo
Rio de Janeiro (still here)
SOME STUFF I DID
Went to a gigantic party called Micarreta in Florianópolis where everyone wears the same t-shirt, and danced in the rain. Left Floripa the day before it flooded á la New Orleans. Shitchy! Saw little kids learning capo eira. Learned to dance forroa and aché (I´m misspelling this). Realized I´ve always known how to dance baile funky.
Met a French princess in São Paulo. Went to a churrasco where someone told me I look like James Bluntchy. Fuckers! Went to a São Paulo biker bar and made friends with everybody there. Saw but didn´t enter the Museum of Football (soccer). Ate all you can eat sushi. Twice. Learned that caipirinhas are deceptively strong. I now have an adoptive Brazilian mommy in São Paulo and I´ve realized that in my heart I´ve always been from the torçida of Palmeiras. Learned about the São Paulo skate scene firsthand. Played a pickup soccer game at a party, barefoot, and scored 3 goals (I was surprised too!). Learned, once again, that ciproflaxin is my friend. Learned to curse in Portuguese (porra!). Learned that Pelé is better than Maradona.
Climbed up to see the giant Jesus in Rio de Janeiro. Realized that it was more of a holy ghost than a Jesus because we were inside a cloud and the people working at the juice bar described to me what the view usually looks like when visibility is more than a few meters. Had a spicy delicious vegetarian Thanksgiving with Jen, Juli and awesome new friendles! Reunited with Mixmaster D from Buenos Aires. Danced samba and salsa in the same night.
It has been sunny a total of...about three days.
I have stayed in a hostel a total of... three days. The rest of the time, couch surfing and mooching like a campeão.
I love Brazil and I love Brazilians.
Beautiful, open, kind, hospitality like at momma´s house.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Brasil sil sil!!!
By this time tomorrow I will be on a bus deep inside the Brazilian border, moving toward Florianópolis, then São Paolo, then eventually Rio de Janeiro.
Eu vou ao Brasil! Estou muito feliz!
Eu vou ao Brasil! Estou muito feliz!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Halloween kvelling
Oh man!!! Easily the best Halloween party of my entire life!
My students and friends here are awesome! What an amazing party!
My students and friends here are awesome! What an amazing party!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Beautiful spring day
A humid spring day, not a cloud in the sky.
I teach two English class sections in the early afternoon. We read Langston Hughs and Walt Whitman and consider what "the truth" means to them, and to us. We watch a clip from "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".
I get a visit from K-Gore, lovely cordobesa Fulbright friend and we drank tereré and talked about what we want to be when we grow up. She's had a Fulbrighty revelation: American Studies professor! I want to be her student. I have some ideas, we'll see.
I find a flank steak the size of my head at the grocery store and eat it. Cost: 2.30 pesos argentinos ( about 70 cents US).
I study Portuguese and eat dulce de leche wit' a spoon.
Thank you, Mister Fulbright.
Cheers,
Charly
I teach two English class sections in the early afternoon. We read Langston Hughs and Walt Whitman and consider what "the truth" means to them, and to us. We watch a clip from "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".
I get a visit from K-Gore, lovely cordobesa Fulbright friend and we drank tereré and talked about what we want to be when we grow up. She's had a Fulbrighty revelation: American Studies professor! I want to be her student. I have some ideas, we'll see.
I find a flank steak the size of my head at the grocery store and eat it. Cost: 2.30 pesos argentinos ( about 70 cents US).
I study Portuguese and eat dulce de leche wit' a spoon.
Thank you, Mister Fulbright.
Cheers,
Charly
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