Tails of Brasil--The Night B4 Christmas

[Guest Gringo]

The friends I am staying with want to take me to their parental home in a place called "Bangu" about a two hour ride north of Rio. There, they assured me, I would find the real Brasil----not the tourists of Copacabana. As we wait for the bus, small children light fireworks all around us. This is a common practice in Rio. They have not seen the film of fingers being blown off like a watermelon that we have in America. Children as young as 5 or 6 have access to these small fireworks and they enjoy throwing them near where people are standing--like waiting for a bus. When they explode, surprising the unsuspecting people, they scream with laughter!! They think it’s cute. I wonder if a new revolution has begun! But they laugh with such joy at their prank. I might also mention that they are also kind of altered. A child may purchase a beer easily. Some of them also sniff glue. So with the combination, they often have quite a little buzz going for them.

The bus to Bangu finally arrives. It is crowded with people hurrying to get home to their families before midnight. I am lucky. I get a seat after standing, pressed too close to someone I don’t really know, for only a few minutes. Then the magic of Brasil happens for me again. A young man sitting in front of me is wearing a shirt with 3 buttons. Do you remember those shirts? Two buttons on the collar points and one more behind the neck. I'm sure he is dressed in high fashion for Christmas Eve, but for me, it’s a trip back to the past. When was the last time you saw such a shirt?

The bus grinds to another stop for more passengers. Vendors immediately rush up to the sides of the bus selling sodas and beers. The trick is to quickly pass one real out the window as they hand up the drink. Both drinking and smoking are permitted on the bus. Such a democratic country. We round another corner much too fast and I hear someone's radio playing "Poison Ivy." Traffic lights exist, but they are an ignored suggestion at best.

Ednildo's family receives me warmly with only minutes to spare before Christmas arrives. Many family and friends are talking happily. The tree is lovely with presents stacked high beside it. There is a lot of food I am unfamiliar with---more adventure for my tasting. The music is wway too loud and several people are dancing. The popular dance right now is called "pagode." Its kind of an extreme form of what we would call "shake your booty." With no hesitation or reservation, the dancers squat as if to take a dump, put their hands on their knees, smile coquettishly and shake their asses for all their worth! It’s really quite erotic. I am a visitor----I smile politely.

A very large woman arrives with a beautiful smile. She has forced her considerable body into some kind of spandex outfit wway too small for her. But she looks good with her big smile. She is wearing the smallest shoes I have ever seen. They are transparent, kind of like Cinderella’s I guess, and all I can see is the clear spike heel. Theresa jumps right onto the dance floor, squats into the position of pagode and shakes it suggestively!! The crowd is impressed and applauds with delight at her talents. Her face is dripping with sweat, but her joy and enthusiasm are WONDERFUL. We had a couple of dances together, but I am no match for her skills. I tell her that I am old and do not dance well. She says the streets are old, but I am not! I'll go along with her approach for now. Small children on the street throw their fireworks onto the dance floor as the dancers tiptoe around the explosives. The music is wway too loud and the dancing continues until around 3am. Ednildo was right. There were no tourists like there are in Copacabana. Did I find the real Brasil? Maybe another piece of a beautiful mosaic. I take a few aspirin before passing out on the sofa. Feliz natal e próspero ano novo para tudo.

[Guest bam]

what an adventure ! and a sweet story for christmas

thank you it brightened my day

[Guest Gringo]

glad 2 brighten your christmas BAM. i was afraid maybe i had spooked the board on this one. although 70-some viewings, u r the 1st 2 offer any feedback. thanks. merry christmas.;-)

[Guest Ernani]

Hey, Gringo ! I know you have experienced adventures hotter than this one you´re stating in this post. How about telling us your weird histories you´ve gone through in Rio ? Or you don´t want readers to know your secrets ( and secret points ) in Rio ?

[trilingual]

>what an adventure ! and a sweet story for christmas

 

Ditto, Gringo! You've been welcomed to the heart of Brazil! When you make it past the tourist veneer, and start getting included in your friends' lives like this, you really learn why Brazil is so special. Brazilians may not be rich in material things, but in "calor humano" (human warmth), generosity of spirit and their unrestrained enjoyment of life, they're wealthy beyond measure. As you've just seen, Brazilians are profligate with this "wealth," sharing it with anyone who appreciates them and their country, and reciprocates in kind, as I'm sure you do. It's a powerful experience, indeed, and it's what'll keep me going back to Brazil until they finally have to scatter my ashes off the top of Corcovado. . .

[CT Dick]

What a wonderful story. Lucky you.

 

My Brazilian friend's family live in LeBlon so I got into a Brazilian home but withouth the "soul" you experienced.

 

Dick

[Guest Gringo]

thank u Dick. these unexpected slice-of-life side adventures always amaze & delight me.

[+ Axiom2001]

I just returned to this site and board this evening after being away for some eleven or twelve days. I, too, thank you for your wonderful saga. Parts of your experience (the inclusiveness of a visitor) reminded me when I was in a small village in the Phillippines some years ago. Although a visitor, the people included me warmly and made me welcome.

[+ Lucky]

Well, I was wondering where my post complimenting you on this slice-of-life post went, but I see it is under your New Year's post. I thought maybe my slice of life line had turned to toast!