Ahhhh...the Beaches. I look forward to chilling with no agenda, no rush, and no reason to do anything but lounge. With that in mind, I wake up late, eat a late breakfast, and lazily put on some water-tolerant gear to take in the beaches in Rio.
Ipanema and it's Boys:: I was unaware of this before traveling to Brazil, but Rio has a healthy, active gay community - and it definitely has its markers. Now, Brazilians are pretty uninhibited, and very friendly, so as we walk and I ogle (a little), I'm struck by the beauty of the location, and how beautiful....wait, let me stress this...
BEAUTIFUL (bodies below the jump)
...it was to admire Ipanema's boys. We also pass a travel agency that sells t-shirts, stating "I am the Boy from Ipanema" I almost want to meet one...lol. But these boys are not for me, so my companions and I decide to take a leisurely stroll, take in the sites, but move on to heterosexual waters.
walking in Sunshine: and in 75 degree weather, Ipanema and Copacabana are about a 25 minute walk apart, so we hoof it from one beach to the next. On the way, we past stands selling coconut milk, beer, caiprinhas and empanadas, and lovely, lovely, LOVELY people. This was so different from Argentina, in that the people are open (instead of reserved), laid back, friendly and diverse. We'd noticed on previous occasions that the beaches are never really empty - even at 7AM, there are grandmothers running in the sand, rowers making laps, ad hoc volleyball games, soccer practice, and of course...the booties (more later).
We also pass through a residential area, where school children were about to take recess - on the beach. More street markets selling fresh sweet sop, papaya and mango. Newstands selling beautiful posters of Corcovado, shops selling the latest fashions and jewelry. Still geared for tourists, but it was good to get away from the malls, and shopping centers we'd been frequenting all week.
Copacabana:: ...and peace...sand...wind...sea...
I can't begin to tell you how serene and peaceful it was to just sit and drink in the sun. My companions went to explore, but all I wanted to do was sit & look at the water. And I did. ALL DAY.
A few things though: the vendors are really aggressive, and there are tons of vendors. From huge fresh shrimp, pre-skewered and ready for grilling, to every imaginable trinket/souvenir you can find. Jewelry made from raffia & beads, or agate, or other stones, leather jewelry, bikini's, cover-ups, towels, key chains, hats, sunglasses, visors, chairs....fruit, candy, cotton candy....anything you can possibly want, someone will come by trying to sell it.
Gaulo, the boy-toy:: Which is how I met my Brazilian boy-toy, Gaulo. Gaulo was selling necklaces made from black quartz, which were really pretty, and stopped to see if I wanted one. My poor Portuguese and his non-existent English only got us to the point of "No, Obrigado" (no, thank you), but he still hung around and tried to get us to meet in the Portuguese-Spanish middle. He found me "bonito" (beautiful), wanted to know if I was in Brazil "solo" (single) and if he could come by my "dormitorio" (hotel room) later on that evening. Dayum Gaulo - I guess you're not shy, eh? Despite Gaulo being perfectly sun-kissed, and having both skin, eyes and hair the color of tigers-eye: I had to decline. Gaulo was old enough to be my dad, and I wasn't sure if his offer required a "honorario/taxa" (fee).
Don't sleep, the sex trade is really serious in South America. We saw plenty of kids, in both Downtown Rio, Buenos Aires and in the favelas, both begging/tricking people for money, as well as offering themselves. Young boys, 8-10 yrs old. So, I was more than a little wary of whether Gaulo's affection was real/free, or came at a price. Either way, I enjoyed the attention, and Gaulo made sure to kiss me on both cheeks, before he left.
And no, he did not give me a necklace - damnit.
later....:: my colleagues catch up after Gaulo leaves, and we walk about to Ipanema, and pick up a few souvenirs along the way. I'm most fond of this wrap that was left over from the recent Pan American Games 2007 held in Brazil, so I made myself a shrug, and used it to keep myself warm.
Am I fly ova here, or what? lol
All told, this was the perfect way to end a pretty much excellent vacation - even if it wasn't truly a vacation...lol. We grab empadas on the way back, and head to the hotel to get ready for our night flight back to Atlanta.
more Nekkidness?Oh wait - did I promise more nekkidness? Well, here's the thing....Brazilians are not shy, but I felt like a real perv taking pictures of semi-naked sunbathers. Let me say this, the people are beautiful, but they aren't all supermodels waiting for Pharrel and Snoop to sing about them. I saw everything from bold grandfathers, to bikini-clad grandmothers - some of whom have all the right "stuff" sitting up as high and perky as is exercise-diet-and-surgically possible, feel me? It's nothing to them to wear a thong while they're out swimming with their kids and grandkids, and frankly - it was pretty refreshing.
Next up: why I should've spent ALL my money, and transitioning back (or why I'm still looking cross-eyed at my neighbors).
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