Santos, Brazil, not the way I planned it.

On the way to Santos

Last Tuesday I decided to go to Santos for a few days to enjoy the beach there. And what a beautiful place it was.

I was supposed to arrive at 5pm, however, the truck drivers were having a demonstration and they blocked all the highways and bridges going into the port and the city. So, after seating in the bus for an extra 3 hours, I arrived in Santos at 8pm.

After checking in at the hostel I walked the three blocks to the beach and walked along the promenade, I had dinner at one of the many stands along the beach and then some more walking.

Promenade

The beach is 7 kilometers = 4.5 miles long, very wide and calm (a little brown) waters. It is enclosed by a large promenade, with gardens, monuments, fountains, bike and walking paths. There were many people jogging, bicycling, walking or just seating at one of the many benches along the gardens.

After walking for 3 hours I went back to the hostel. The next day I visited the town, walked some more on the promenade and due to rain I ended up at a mall.

Promenade at night

Beach at night

Finally the next day I went to the beach, first thing a nice swim and then to lay on the sand to get dry. And there I was, laying peacefully, enjoying the quiet of the place, relaxing, almost in a deep state of meditation, when, I felt a hand on my neck. As I open my eyes, I saw a man’s face over mine and at that moment he yanked my chain and run of on his bicycle.

I jumped to my feet and started screaming: thief, thief, on the bicycle, thief!!!

I picked my clothes and I started running behind him still screaming at the top of my lungs. He was on a bike and I was running on the sand, so of course I did not catch him.

A few minutes later I saw two policemen riding on their 4 wheelers and I flag them down and I filed a report. And that is that. 

                Until you are not in a situation you don’t know how you are going to react, I never thought that I would scream and run behind a robber like I did, but I did. I was not afraid or scare, I was mad that I have been robbed.

View from across the Aquarium

I have used that chain for over 20 years on four continents and I never had a problem, and now…. Oh well…it is just a chain, it can be replace.

I was not going to let this incident ruin my vacation, so the next day, I went for another walk on the promenade, and I was going to take a ferry trip around the island and the bahia, however, there were a group of school children taking the trip and I did not want to spend two hours in a boat full of elementary school children. So I went to the aquarium instead, after that a nice dinner of shrimp, and I walked back to the hostel.

Now I have to buy a new chain.

50 Shades of Grey

I don’t really understand the fascination with 50 shades of Grey. I read the novels because I heard so much about it being such a good book that I have to read it.

Well into the first chapter I was disappointed because the book was poorly written; besides the story line was unbelievable and repetitive. I kept on reading because I was hoping I will see what people were so fascinated about it, and that fact still eludes me.

I don’t like romance novels, they are too mushy, and this book reminds me of a romance novel with some S&M throw in.

What I really did not like was the fact that it portrayed Grey as a sick individual that Anastacia was able to cure due to her love toward him.

The book romanticizes the notion that trough love and patience a woman can change a man. The way I see it, it opens the door for more women to continue in an abusive relationship because at the end they might be able to change their man. And we all know that no men or women changes unless they want to change.

The narrative in the book is repetitive and in my opinion it was not erotic, it was just lame.

So, as I said before, I don’t understand the fascination with the book and now the film which I will not see because I prefer spend my money in something worthwhile.

Carnival in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Carnival has arrived!!!!

The carnival in Rio de Janeiro is very nice; however it is very expensive and full of tourist because when we think carnival in Brazil, we automatically think of Rio, so that is where everybody goes. However all Brazil celebrates carnival and the festivities in Sao Paulo are full of Brazilians, so in my opinion, it is a lot nicer to celebrate with the locals than with a bunch or tourist.

 

With that said, two Saturday ago started the carnival festivities, so of course I was there, and what fun it was.

They had a block party at the Luz Park, Sao Paulo, which consisted of many carnival groups parading while dancing to the samba music they played.

                The festivities started at 10 am and ended at 9 pm, and all through that time it was samba music and dance. I went with a group from the hostel at 3pm and of course we stayed till the end.

If you know me you know that I was there dancing the whole time, and if you don’t know me, I love to dance!

These block parties do not consist of Escolas do Samba, these are big neighborhood groups, but nonetheless they were great.  Their customs are nice however they are not as elaborated as the Escolas do samba.

Sunday was a Carnival party at another neighborhood, this one started at 6 pm and lasted way into the night. It was another great dancing night and a lot of fun.

Monday it rained, so we stayed at the hostel drinking Caipirinha which is Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça (hard liquor made from the sugar cane), sugar and fruit, most commonly lime or strawberries. We used lime and they were so good!!!

Tomorrow will see, carnival or Caipirinhas??? What a dilemma…

And the parties continue every night, Yeah!!!!

Yesterday I eat dog food

 

While my mother is hospitalized I have been living in her house while I fix it so I can sell it and I have been taking care of her dog.

The dog’s name is Oso = Bear, and it is very fitting as he looks just like a small black bear. The dog is great, only barks when somebody comes into the property and he is very cuddly and sweet.

Now, my mother used to cook for him every day, of course, when I got here I started giving him dry food and he eat it all, however after a few hours he vomited every time. I changed brands and still he vomited, so I started cooking for him.

Usually I cook rice with some kind of meat, zucchini, squash, carrots and peas and I add some dry food and he has no problems.

Yesterday I cooked him some polenta because I figure he must be tired of rice.

As I prepared the corn mush I added some tomato sauce with chicken that I had leftovers from the previous day.

I took a look at his food, and it looked so good and smelled so nice that we shared his dinner and it was delicious.