September 14, 2024

Dateline Rio de Janeiro –

Ten hours of sleep in a decent bed did a lot to restore my equanimity. The back still hurts but it’s definitely on the mend and I feel like I can deal with whatever life throws at me. After a leisurely breakfast poolside with the usual upscale hotel breakfast buffet (they’re pretty much the same the world over – but every country seems to have a slight variation on scrambled eggs), I booked a massage with the hotel spa figuring that might help some with the back. It was relaxing and certainly didn’t hurt anything, but I can’t say that it was a major help either. I still hurt when I left, but perhaps I was hobbling just a little bit less. I felt well enough for a walk up the strand toward Ipanema (but didn’t feel like the several mile trek it would have been to get all the way there and back again. Both beaches are long crescents separated by a rocky headland).

Instead, I decided to head for the Botanical Gardens for a walk there among the various species of tropical trees and shrubs. I hoped to see some toucans in the wild, as I know they nest there, but no such luck. I did however run into a small tribe of brown capuchin monkeys making quite meals on agave and some sort of unidentifiable fruit that was growing among the bougainvillea. They could have cared less about the various humans snapping their pictures and tracking their movements. Buildings full of orchids and bromeliads, fountains and watercourses, buildings dating back to the late 1500s. The gardens themselves were established in 1808 by the then reigning King of Brazil so they’ve had over two hundred years to get them right. The gardens were tranquil The trip to and fro not so much. The Uber driver who took me out there seemed to be auditioning for a spot on the Mission Impossible stunt team. The taxi driver on the way back wasn’t so bad, he was just trying to recreate the car chase from Bullitt.

After returning, it was pool time. The hotel was turning into a bit of an armed camp this afternoon with a perimeter fence, extra security and a bunch of excited beach going public bouncing just outside the fence line under the malevolent stairs of the rent a cops. I could come and go as I pleased, being in possession of a room key but I was a little uncertain what was causing the consternation. No one batted an eye when I got out of my taxi. Maybe if I had The Accidental Plague Diaries translated into Portuguese or we had brought Politically Incorrect Cabaret a bit further south. The hotel staff were not forthcoming with information regarding what was going on.

I had noted at breakfast that a number of people connected with Rockin Rio were scattered about; the guys at the table next to mine seemed to be connected to some band called Imagine Dragons of which I know nothing. I did wonder if perhaps some huge international name had checked in but, as a number of huge floral arrangements were carried past as I laid in my chaise pool side, it became clear that it was some sort of Brazilian society wedding involving local celebrities of whom I have absolutely no knowledge, so I continued to nap and create Vitamin D and read a few more pages in my book.

At 6 pm, it was time for the official beginning of the tour – cocktails with a samba demonstration followed by dinner with a number of speeches from the tour director over what to expect these next two weeks. There are twenty five of us, mainly sixties and seventies and most have traveled with Tauck in the past and, like me, like their tours first class and with all of the tiresome details taken care of by others. No one I know from elsewhere in life but that will change. I was seated at dinner with a brother and sister in their seventies from Manchester (England, not New Hampshire or Kentucky) and a retired couple form the Quad Cities of Iowa. Everyone was very pleasant and the dinner was good, although the portions were rather small. It was made up for by the free flowing cabernet. Up early for organized activities in the morning so tis time to conclude and head for bed.