Chapter 11 - Last Day


We head to Ipanema for lunch and eat at out favorite quickie place once again. It is a beautiful day outside and very hot. After walking around the sidewalks of Ipanema for a while, we grab a taxi and head back to Copa.

Driving along Atlantica Avenue, the one thing we notice is a mysterious red substance churning in the waves as they top over onto the beach. It was disgusting. I’m not sure what it was, but there were actually a few people in the water. I don’t know what or how they pollute that water, but they sure as hell do. Maybe it’s the dumpings from all the ships coming into the harbor. Whatever this was, it was sick. Stay away from Copacabana Beach at all cost. Go to Barra de Tijucca or even a little further south to get away from the people.

My girl wants to go to the airport with me again, but I don’t want another tearful good-bye standing outside an airport. I say no firmly…… about 10 – 15 times…. before she finally gives up.

I actually went to 4X4, first picking up Sweetmesquite and HW69 along the way down Atlantica Avenue. It was funny because when I got in the taxi at Alcazar, the guy thought he was taking me to the airport, but as soon as the door closed, I turned around and said Quatro por Quatro. He just started laughing. The only reason I am telling this here is that I spoke to my girl a couple of days later and told her I went there to relax with my friends before my flight and that I didn’t do any girls… which I didn’t. Once I promised on the Biblio she believed me.

We drop-off HW to do some work for a friend and Sweet and I head to 4X4. I have about 3 ½ hours to kill. Mr. Miyagi shows up and Sweet heads to 65 to do one of his favoritas. Soon HW shows up and Sweet once again. I had been looking for a particular girl the whole time, but I saw her once and before I could talk to her, she disappeared. I also saw my former 4X4 favorita. She came over first and asked why I didn’t say hello when I came in. I told her I waived. The truth was I wasn’t interested in sessioning with her again. I also told her whether she knew it or not, she had a boyfriend. She seemed perplexed, and asked who, but I let it go. She gave me a few sentences in Portuguese and stormed away.

It’s finally time for me to go and I head back to get dressed. HW helps me with my things downstairs and off I go to the airport. Leaving Rio alone always sucks.

We make a stop in Sao Paulo and have to get off the plane with all of our carry-ons, and then re-board.

The flight back to Houston was one of the more miserable experiences of my life. I had called before I ever left on my trip to make sure I didn’t have a bad seat going and coming. I thought I had that all taken care of. However, they stuck me in a seat on this 767-400 with a wall behind it. Basically you lose a couple of inches of incline on your seat. Also, I realized that my sleeping medication was in my checked bag once I got on the plane. On top of that, I have somebody sitting next to me that I would find out later must have had iron kidneys, or piss and shit in a bag one. This fucker didn’t get up the entire flight. I got up once after dinner to go to the bathroom but that was it.

Anyway, I tossed and turned all night. I thought I would never get off that plane. Once in Houston, I wait and board another plane home. Once at my airport, I discover that they have lost my checked bag. It wasn’t that big of a deal. There was nothing really important in it. I’d rather lose it coming back than going down. They end up delivering it to my house the next morning.

All in all, in was another great trip. Time flies when you are in Rio. I’m sure I will be back sooner rather than later though.