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Rio de Janeiro: An enigma.
We have often heard divers
who dive for the first time describe the world within the ocean as "another
world." We lived there for awhile in Rio. That's what we would use to describe
it. It is another world. ...and not the Third World, as users of 'catch
phrases' might describe it. Catch phrases are out when we want to describe
Brazil. If you want to experience life on another planet that moves to
a different rhythm, go to Brazil. You don't necessarily have to go as an
expat, just go. |
We had a friend from Greece
who worked in a Greek restaurant in the United States. It was a good restaurant
and he was an interesting and pleasant friend and we spent many hours drinking
Greek beer and talking about the world. I spoke often to him about Brazil
and about Rio. One day he decided to go there for a vacation. When he returned
I, of course, wanted to hear about his trip.
He'd been robbed. Someone
in Rio had lifted his wallet while he was on the beach. He'd met a girl
and fallen in love. He twisted his ankle playing volley ball. He'd gotten
a first degree sunburn. He was in a taxi cab that got in a wreck on the
way to the airport and he missed his return flight. It took him three days
to straighten everything out, he had to wire the U.S. for more money ...and
he was moving to Rio.
Ah, Rio. |
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