Don’t blame it on Rio!!

Raf knows a twisty rich route into the city and offers to escort me to Santa Teresa where I’m staying. I’m happy to let him take the lead and unburden myself with the logistics of riding in the densely populated city. A lush mountain road discards us at the coast in short order and we prepare to fight the urban traffic.

We arrive at my accommodations in efficient time and say our goodbyes. I note a number of occasions where I would’ve most likely made a wrong turn in the congested avenues of the city so I thank Raf again for saving me the time and headache of riding here on my own.

After a year and a half on the road my clothes and gear are looking the worse for wear but I feel comfortable walking among the Bohemianesque residents and patrons of the hill top barrio. Art fairs, food, and Samba music, just what I need to recharge the batteries.

My iPod is loaded with the music of Joao & Astrud Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gal Costa, Elis Regina, Luiz Bonfa, and Maria Toledo, whose music shaped much of my perception of life in Rio. I wander the streets of Rio enveloped in their complex jazz arrangements, samba rhythms, and airy vocals.

I discovered Acai in southern Brasil and waste no time incorporating the berry into my diet. Yum!!

One of the tasks I need to accomplish while I’m in Rio is to get my driver’s license translated in the event I get pulled over while in Brasil. Which is very likely considering my riding style. Raf knows a guy in Copacabana who can take care of me and I figure I can visit Ipanema, the neighborhood from the iconic song, The girl from Ipanema, while I’m there.

I’m reinvigorated after much needed down time in Rio but soon it’s time to break out the maps and start planning the next leg of my journey into Minas Gerais. I will miss Santa Teresa.

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