I figured out the other day that I have been in Brazil at least once in every month since July. That streak will continue thru December. I appear to be living a charmed life. Well… I haven’t decided if this turn in life is a positive or negative one at this point. Maybe a semi-charmed kind of life is more appropriate.
For this trip, I’ve managed to work out an extended vacation with my boss. I never thought I would be able to pull it off, but he agreed. I’ll actually be doing a little work while I am in town. It’s been hard for me to focus on my job since, let’s see…… around July 2nd of this year. I’ve never been too fond of this “work” thing anyway. This pretty much sums up my views on it.
Walking through my hometown airport again brings me a feeling of excitement and joy that I cannot describe. The act of “going there” is always the greatest feeling in the world for me. Since this will be my longest trip yet, it makes the excitement even greater.
Departing my hometown, I head west to catch a connecting flight. I am not flying my usual flight this time because I am using a FF award ticket.
Once on the ground in Texas, I head to my connecting flight to meet a friend. We didn’t plan it, but we have booked the same flight to Rio. Arriving at the gate, I join up with my traveling buddy. It is none other than Sweetmesquite. This is going to be reminiscent of my first trip when I flew down with Mr. Sandman.
We have a couple of hours to kill so we head to the President’s Lounge and have some drinks. Sweet’s always good for a compelling story. He is only supposed to be going for 10 days, but ever since he told me weeks ago, I have found that hard to believe.
Finally we head back to the gate and board. I made sure to get a window seat because I can sleep better leaning against the frame. I end up getting lucky because the seat next to me is empty so I raise the arm bar in between and stretch out.
After dinner I pop my first Ambien donated by Sweet. In 30 minutes I guess I will be a zombie. When I wake up I will be in Brazil watching the sunrise over the horizon with a smile on my face once again. That place is starting to feel like home.
Over Brazil
Arriving in Sao Paulo
Arriving in Sao Paulo, we wait for another plane to arrive and join us on to Rio. After about an hour, when we start to leave, the left engine starts, then stops. The pilot comes on and tells us we have to be towed back and have a mechanic look at it. It turns out it was something wrong with the fuel line, not the engine. People are lying all over the plane waiting. I over hear someone saying that today was a Federal Holiday in Brazil. It didn’t mean much to me then. After another hour we head out and arrive in Rio around 2:00, about an hour late.
Leaving GRU behind
At this point, Sweet and I part company outside the airport. He’s going to check-in to his hotel and I am going straight to 4X4. I arrive to find it closed……………………………………………………………………
Standing outside the taxi looking at the steel doors pulled down, I thought I was going to cry. It reminded me of when Clark Griswald got to Wally World and it was closed. I didn’t think these places closed for anything but Christmas. Well.... fuck me. I get back in my taxi and head to Copa.
Another bad thing about arriving today was that all of the taxis have their meters on the “2” setting. I ended up paying R$32 for a ride from GIG to 4X4 and then another $R16 from 4X4 to Copa. To put that in perspective, I have gotten from GIG to Rua Xavier da Silveira in Copa for $R24.
I had originally booked my apartment for a day later, but I had to come early because of FF seats on the airplane. Therefore, my first night, I am shacking up with a certain someone. I arrive at her apartment around 4:00 and she answers the door looking as cute as ever. There will be no termas for me this first day.
Later, we would go to dinner and return back to the apartment for the night. The only thing I can say is that you don’t know how great a thing air conditioning is until you don’t have it.
(Message edited by aldaron on December 07, 2003)