A young boy urinates on a concrete wall. Later I see him sleeping in the same spot. Perhaps in Rio de Janeiro children need to mark their territory.
I wait for the light to turn red before crossing the street. It is safer this way. At least I know that any car coming my way will not stop if they have a green. If they have a red, well it’s a gamble. Maybe they will slow down, maybe stop, but most likely they will keep on going.
Across the street is a 24 hour fruit juice bar. It is 5.00am and I need an energy boost. The music on the beach and in the streets has not missed a beat. My friend Pablo, a well traveled Rio local and English speaker, suggests that I try´Acai,´ a gritty forest berry-tasting fruit with a deep purple color ground up with crushed ice.
´Obrigado,´ I thank the girl. I place my change in my sock to avoid being pick-pocketed again. Yesterday I lost $15. I sat on a bench shaking the sand out of my shoes after a late night tai chi session on the beach. It happened very quickly. Two girls approached me, bumped me from both sides. Rambled away in Portuguese, one gave me a friendly push, and my money was gone. I instantly realized and demanded my money back. They called me crazy and walked away. Along with my partial donation to the Rio police who they may have been working for.
One thing I love about this place, is that you can not under-dress. The more I try to look like a homeless bum, the less I get harassed by beggars, vendors, and scam artists.
I don’t wear my watch. It is just something to get stolen. Besides, time is just a suggestion of when something may or may not happen, or may or may not be open.
Brazilians are very friendly and happy people. Maybe it is because they have Carnival, the world’s biggest party, with thousands of people in the streets. Some of the costumes are brilliant works of arts. Some kid sprays me with foam, another throws a handful of confetti, some of which lands in my drink. A man in a mask is trying to convince me that I need to buy a green mask with purple feathers from him. ´Nao, obrigado.´ The sun is coming up and it is time to go to sleep.
A happy belated Purim.
BT
