Family-arity: A Gift

By the time Tuesday rolled around, the wedding travelers had spent 7 days together.  With all kinds of mutual experiences under our belts, the Beatty/Bingham family had absorbed a few new members.  Familiarity breeds . . .

. . . teasing . . .

. . . laughing . . .

. . . and relaxing rocks in the rede.

Anna and Jo loved meeting each other.

Doug made a happy face in his Batata Baroa Soup.

Anna and Troy, friends from Los Angeles,
had two more days to visit
before heading home to Sweden.

When Iris showed up in her purple sweater,
Cecilia had to get hers too!

Tuesday was departure day for Jo and John, so as the Gringo Delegation rambled into the apartment, the Mondays parked their luggage against the dining room wall and began their last day in Brasil ("for this trip," they said).  The Gringo Delegation wanted to go one last time to Beira Mar.  The cafe serves Afternoon Tea with a wonderful buffet of sweets and savories every day.  This gray, drizzly, cool fall day seemed perfect for such a treat.  We walked the familiar block and lined up tables in a large corner for Jo and John's farewell get-together.

(l, front to back) the Gringa, Helio, Joao, Troy, Will
(r, front to back) John, Jo, Doug, Anna, Iris
at Beira Mar for a High Tea send-off for Jo and John

Nara smiled blurry proof that Daniel did sleep sometimes!

Dora and Nara had made their way to Beira Mar to find farewell gifts for the Mondays and me.  We just happened to arrive at the same time, and were grateful for a few more minutes together over our plates of sweets and sandwiches.

When I arrived in Brasil in January, I had heard the story of Dora's friendship with Nara.  Nara's husband was Dora's husband's professor in medical school; they met as young married couples more than 38 years ago.  The couples moved from Brasil to Colorado so that the teacher and his brilliant collegue could undertake medical research there.  It was there in Denver that Cecilia was born, with Nara in attendance. 

Dora and Nara are as close as sisters--so close that Cecilia and her siblings refer to Nara as Tia Narinha.  I was excited for the best friends to meet my best friend Jo.  Jo and Nara are both librarians.  Combined, the four of us treasure approximately 85 years of close friendship.  Dora told me, "Jo is your Nara.  Nara is my Jo."

Jo and me, Dora and Nara

Farewell Hugs
Until we're all back in Houston . . .

When Jo and John Monday arrived at Cecilia and Will's apartment 6 days before, I was sick enough not to be hugging anyone.  Can I tell you how hard it was to refrain from embracing?!  We kept looking at each other and keeping our distance, but reaching out for little pats.  Jo came to sit in my room when I would retreat to calm my cough.  We had months of First-Time Grandmother stories to share--her twin grandboys were born just a month before Daniel.  John said it seemed so strange to be seeing both Sugar Loaf and me in the same place.  I agreed.  It was odd for me to hear such familiar voices in this new place.

How grateful I am for the week we shared in Brasil!  John wanted to hold Daniel from the get-go, and enjoyed lots of time with his new little buddy.  Jo hugged and talked to Daniel just the way she cuddled Daniel's daddy and uncle over 30 years before.  Jo and John stole the hearts of Dora, Alice, Olga and Carlos. And the feeling was mutual.

On Saturday, at the wedding reception, Jo had given me a gift.  She said she and her cousin Dale had found it some time ago.  She wanted me to open it right there under the giant mango tree in Olga and Carlos' back yard in Itaipu.  A bright cloth sack held a necklace with three bronze charms:  a small round disc embossed with the shape of a tree; a rectangle that framed the word STRENGTH; and a large round disc with words written in French.  Ne comptez pas les jours, C'est le jour qui compte.  It was a phrase that resonated with my heart.  "Don't count the days.  This is the day that counts."

Jo's gift became my instructions for the final days of my visit.
"Don't count the days.  This is the day that counts."

 

A Perfectly Wonderful Monday

Wow!  Hard to believe the Gringa's great adventure is nearly over.  At least the Brasil part.

PLAN A:  SUGAR LOAF

After our day to chill on Sunday, we had plans to spend Monday sightseeing--a bus, taxi, uphill train ride to Sugar Loaf for amazing views and cable car rides.  Down the mountain and home by taxi-ferry-bus.  Fred and Michelle were moving to The Copacabana Palace in Rio for the rest of their stay; Steve and Luey were catching a plane later that night.  We had the plans--they were taped to the "Brasilian White Board."

When everyone arrived at the apartment, we could see that Sugar Loaf was shrouded in gray.  This mountain often snagged passing clouds (emphasis on passing), so the delegation decided to go with the plan.  After all, showers come and go, right?  So Will called a taxi for Cecilia, Daniel, the stroller, diaper bag, car seat, and luggage for 4 wedding travellers.  Steve and Luey would leave their bags at Fred and Michelle's hotel until time to head to GIG.

The Gringo Delegation gathered outside Cecilia and Will's apartment
for our Monday in Rio.

Will and Fred got the cab loaded while our Rio cabby looked on.

Cecilia, Daniel, Michelle, and Jo got the back seat,
while Fred sat up front and all the cargo filled the back.

Once the cab was on its way to Rio, remaining members of the Gringo Delegation walked to the bus stop and waited just a short time for the bus.  This was a luxury ride--

Will and Helio talked.

Troy, Anna, Steve, and Luey all had tickets to ride.

PLAN A DISSOLVES LIKE SUGAR IN THE RAIN

The closer we got to Rio, the messier the weather became.

Sugar Loaf was over there somewhere.

Once we stepped off the bus, some of us were sorry that we didn't have our umbrellas.  What were we thinking?!  It was pouring and we had blocks to walk to the hotel.  What to our wandering eyes should appear but a man with a bundle of bright blue tourist umbrellas.  Just steps from the bus, in the downpour, Will negotiated a group rate; and before you could say guarda chuva, we were all popping open our very own rain protection.  The near-fluorescent design made us stick out as gringo tourists who would be easy marks for street criminals--if they were foolish enough to be out in that weather.

The Gringos Umbrella Parade

Rio umbrellas or British flag shorts--
we were all tourists!

We passed a delivery entrance for the Copacabana Palace as we made our way to the beachfront resort hotel.  Will commented about the box truck whose contents were crates of crawfish.  I suppose any rich Louisiana oil men who were in Rio for a meeting with Petrobras could order anything they wanted! 

The Umbrella Parade rounded the corner
and walked to the entrance of Michelle and Fred's new hotel,
 The Copacabana Palace.

The Copacabana Palace faces the beach.

In the lobby, an English-speaking desk clerk directed our drenched Delegation down a hall to the restaurant where Cecilia, Daniel, Michelle, and Fred were already seated.  And dry as Daniel's freshly diapered bottom.

This hall led to the pool and restaurant.

Troy and Luey waited under cover.

Al Fresco diners enjoyed lunch by the puddles and pool.

LUNCH OPTIONS

Michelle and Fred were waiting for their room and having lunch--a beautiful buffet.  Most everyone decided there would be a less expensive alternative somewhere out there, and they took off to explore other gastronomic possibilities just as the sky opened up for sure.  But the Gringa invited Cecilia and Will to stay put and enjoy the buffet while watching the rain fall on Copacabana Beach.

Will enjoyed a juice--pineapple and mint.

Michelle was pleased with the lunch buffet
at the Copacabana Palace.

I was embarrassed to take my camera to the buffet table,
but I did get a shot of my desserts.

Cecilia's good friend Thales joined us for lunch.
He was actually a very good Baby Whisperer!

A smartly uniformed hotel employee approached Fred at our table.  "Excuse me, Mr. Sauer.  Your room is ready now.  May I take your luggage up while you dine?"  Fred gave the nod and permission.  A short time later, the same man appeared with the key to Michelle and Fred's room, apologizing for interrupting their lunch.  Now, who would be offended if hotel staff transported your luggage to your room and brought you the key?  Not this Gringa.  Of course, I'm pretty sure I'll never be staying there, but I'm certain that I wouldn't cop an attitude over gracious help.

Will found out that there was a great Italian cafe right around the corner.
Helio, Troy, Anna, Luey, and Steve gave rave reviews.

Daniel gets a a fresh diaper on a granite change table!

HERDING CATS

After our lunch, the Delegation spent about a nano-second deciding that Sugar Loaf was out of the question.  What took somewhat longer was determinig what to do in place of Plan A.  This was where it got a little like herding cats.

The Gringo Delegation invaded the lobby to wait for cabs.

Doug proved that it was still too wet for a walking tour.

The fresh flower arrangement in the lobby was taller than I.

Helio weighed the benefit of volunteering
to be our tour guide.

With both rain jacket and umbrella,
John was ready for whatever the afternoon held.

Iris and Thales waited for Plan B.

We had fun!

10 of the 16 Gringo Delegation
The weather didn't dampen our spirits.

PLAN B:  RIO SUL

While Luey and Steve opted to leave from the hotel and go straight to the airport, the other 14 wedding travelers caught cabs to Rio Sul--a huge shopping mall--where we could browse away Monday afternoon in dry comfort.

Rio Sul in the Rain

Though we broke up into 2 groups for crowd control and ease of shopping, we all met minutes later at a heavenly chocolate shop and coffee bar on the second level of the mall.  Kopenhagen!

Hot Cocoa at Kopenhagen

The promise of coffee made Doug smile.

The Gringa took a shot:
(l-r) Thales, Helio, Cecilia, me, (behind server) Anna's hair, Troy's baseball cap, Iris, Doug

Will and Daniel waited outside Kopenhagen
since it was crowded.

Pretty irresistable little Brasilian, right?!

After our chocolate and caffeine-pumped shopping experience, all delegates dutifully reported back to the entrance of Rio Sul at the designated time.  While Thales, Michelle and Fred waited for cabs back to their hotels, Will and Cecilia took Daniel by taxi and left for the apartment.  Yellow Rio cabs were lined up for blocks on this drizzling Monday.

SIX UMBRELLAS AND A BLACK RAINCOAT

Some of us, however, hadn't had enough of walking in the rain all over the state of Rio de Janeiro.  Helio had volunteered to escort us by free bus to a subway station to catch the ferry back across Guanabara Bay so that we could get a bus in Niteroi to take us to the apartment.

Helio, our tour guide, explained that it might be 15 minutes before
the free bus arrived to take us to the subway station.

At the Subway Station, Helio checked the map,
while his 7 charges looked and listened.

We all studied the subway map.

Then we took off walking underground.

How about the interesting colored, lighted panels?

The subway tunnel looked just like a scene from Batman.
Intentionally designed to resemble Gotham City underground,
the caverns held modern art too.  See the nude on the right?!

Helio explained that during rush hour there were cars designated for women only.  Just then, our train stopped; and Helio said that Jo, Iris, Anna, and I should get on.  He would be in the next car back with John, Doug, and Troy.  Okay, at which stop do we get off?

Our all-female car on the Rio subway
was actually pretty nice.

Some of the locals were probably glad
when these gringas got off!  At this point in our day, we were pretty punchy.

We exited the subway, found our male companions, and began the trek to the ferry terminal.  We were no longer trying to dodge puddles.  BTW--Gene Kelly would have been proud of our "Singin in the Rain" state of mind.

Our poor dear Helio--trusty tour guide that he was--recognized that he had a group of people who did not know where they were or where they were going.  Not only that, but they didn't speak the language either.  I heard him counting constantly:  um, dois, tres, quatro, cinco, seis, seite.  He was making certain that no gringo was left behind in Rio after dark in the rain.  Later he told me he was counting six umbrellas and a black raincoat.  At one point Iris took off her jacket, and Helio wouldn't continue until he found the proper count.  Good guy.

We made our way to the ferry terminal in Rio.

On the ferry, Helio continued to count to seven.

After the ferry ride across Guanabara Bay from Rio to Niteroi, we walked a short, soggy distance to the bus terminal for the final leg of our Monday adventure.

Traffic was at a standstill in Niteroi
on this rainy night before the Labor Day holiday.

With the traffic practically parked on Niteroi's streets, someone in the group suggested that we could walk to the apartment faster than the bus could take us there.  I smiled.  Although it was a true observation, I resisted the urge to smack him about the head and shoulders with my bright blue tourist umbrella. 

Why ruin a perfectly wonderful Monday?!!