Mr.Statistiiik's trip 2

Hi Dadarno 4000,

Executive Summary

After 2.5 wonderful months with the parents - decided to round out my year off with 6 months in South America.  Timed trip to get Carnaval in Brazil which was HUGE.  Plan is 2 more months in Brazil, then Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and hopefully Cuba.  Back to Australia via Europe / Asia. 

I promise to stop writing these updates (and start working) in the second half of the year.
 

Brazil and Carnaval
 

Brazil is AMAZING.  It is difficult to describe the mind blowing experence of the last 4 weeks.  The experience has been a combination of :

• the country (big, colourful, musical, friendly, dangerous)
• staying with Eduardo (a brazilian friend) and his family (unbelievable hospitality and fun) at a wonderful house on the beach
• Carnaval in Salvador (Bahia) - the biggest street party in the world
• trying to communicate in Portuguese (why do they have masculine and feminine words ?)
• really good cold beer, rum and caipiroskas
• kissing beautiful girls

which all interacted to create a truly great experience.

Brazil is huge (8.4m sq km - about the size of Australia) and diverse (190m people).  Since I have

only been here approx 1 month (and mostly partying) I will skip the National Geographic style write up now (but you know its coming). 
 

Staying with Eduardo and his family at a house he rented on the beach was a great experience.  There was Eduardo, Mom, Pop and cousin Quito (visiting from Brasilia), Jerome Nyssen (also visiting

from Oz) and two friends who stayed for a few days, and Kristina the maid.  Frequent visit from other cousins, friends, and endless great traditional brazilian food.  The hospitality was overwhelming.  Sometimes they would wake us for breakfast (after a big night partying at Carnaval and arriving home

at sunrise) so they could clear the table to serve a huge lunch.

Brazilians are crazy (mostly in the niciest possible way).  They love food, beer, music, dancing and kissing.  I expect they are at their craziest during Carnaval.  Basically - the whole country (and South America ?) seems to party for either 3,4,5 or 6 days - depending on where you are. If you want to make a Brazilian happy - just ask Bom Carnaval ? (Good Canival ?). It will always bring a smile.

I (of course) choose the longest (6 day) Carnaval in Salvador - which is the best.  Now I know Rio has the reputation - but if you ask a Brazilain (besides somebody from Rio) - I expect they would say Salvador. 

Basically - the streets are packed with people partying - following these mobile concerts (imagine the sound equipment for a big concert all on a 18 wheeler truck - and the singer / band, lights etc.. all on top).  You can buy a ticket (well actually a t-shirt) for a particular band for a particular day (they are approx 60 bands a day) which allows you inside the rope for that band (there can be up to a few thousand people inside these huge ropes - held by approx 200-500 bouncers).  The whole thing is

then followed by a facilities (beer and toilets) truck. 

Alternatively - you can just run around dancing amongst the different bands - which is what we did mostly (called pipoca or popcorn for the way you bounce around).  Every 10m there is somebody selling cold beer.  It can be pretty dangerous - especially as for many of the thieves tourists are an

easy target.  However - the event is very well policed - and Eduardo (who is The Master of Carnaval) had us well trained. Boardshorts with difficult to open zip pockets, runners, no watch and approx $30

in your shoe in case of emergencies.  It was a bit disconcerting though when he said to make sure we take a photocopy of our id (so they can identify the body).

It is the largest street party in the world, 1.5m people a day over 3 street circuits (total 25km) - Guinness Book of Records 2005.  It is HUGE and an amazing experience.  They also like the Irish here (probably because they love U2 and Bono made 2 surprise guest appearances at Salvador´s Carnaval

this year). 

Communicating in Portuguese has been a challenge. I am learning quickly (4 years of latin in school have been very useful - and I never expected to be able to say that).  However, it´s still pretty much 

a 24 hour game of charades.  

I have never seen people so obsessed with cold beer.  They love it.  They serve it ice cold (and if it isn´t cold they will throw it away). It is never too early (or inappropriate) to drink beer - it seems.

And the girls are beautiful.  And they love to kiss.  And...... whoops - I can see the end of the email..better finish here.

Hope you all had a wonderful St Statistiiik' s Day

Mr.Statistiiik