Beginnings in Brazil

Bermuda - Atlanta. Atlanta - Brazil. Total trip, including layover, 15 hours. 

After a rip off taxi ride fare I was driving through a traffic filled city!  Neck definitely hurting after twisting and turning in my seat every which way trying to take as much in as possible. 

After a drive through the favellas, I was outside on a hill with the city before me. 50 steps up and I was completely out of breath. It was totally worth it. Beautiful room upgraded to a private bathroom because someone made a mistake and booked me into an unavailable room. I'll take it!!

As soon as I got here I met Sam from DC. We were on the same flight and ended up paying individual taxis to the same hostel (he paid 10 reals less than me...damn). We decided that since we were both completely knew to the city we would go together to find an ATM (he hadn't taken out any money). And so begins the adventure. 6 ATMs and 6 rejections later, having passed Rua Mahatma Gandhi (hey Indians are recognized here too!!) we reached the American embassy. After circling 4 times we found the entrance from which we were pointed in the direction of an HSBC.  Never have I been so happy to be a part of HSBC. 

First meal in Brazil was from a small buffet style diner where you pile your plate high and pay per kilo. Total cost: 9 real. Delicious piles of meat and salads, peas and rice and some more rice oh and rice. 

After lunch a shower and a nap was in order and then continued on to Parque da Ruins (a newly ruined building with the only good point of having climbed the huge hill being the view). Lots of getting lost on my first day. Thankfully I was not alone. 

Sam is a radio reporter from Washington. We had an impromptu radio lesson with an experimental interview with Ben, the psychology majored photographer. Was an interesting lesson for the day. 

Oh and incidentally I have been told by the in house chef (through a translator) that I look Brazilian. Man, my Indian heritage is really making life easy. Who would have known! However she was quick to say that not until I learn some Portuguese can we be friends. Fair enough!