The Bottled Water Generation

Yesterday was a hot (91 F) day in Rio as we traveled up to Sugar Loaf Mountain. That may not seem hot, especially to my friends on the left coast, but in the humidity and strong sun of the tropics, it's pretty bad. All four of us got dehydrated to a certain degree. But Heidi and I fared much better than her parents. OK, her parents are older, but I don't think that was the reason. No, we're more lame for our age.

We fared better because we drank more water. A LOT more. We each drank at least a liter. Heidi's parents, on the other hand, kept saying they had water and pointing it out, when we offered some, but we NEVER saw them drink any. Perhaps they drank some, but if you're getting dehydrated you need to be constantly drinking water. You should never be seen without a bottle of water in your hand, ready to take the next drink.

My mother openly admits that she can't drink much water. Heidi's parents certainly drink more, but they're not used to it.

They're all not used to drinking a lot of water, because they belong to the Tap Water Generation. This was pre-bottled water, and pre-diet soda (except for maybe Tab, which was disgusting). You couldn't drink much soda because it was loaded with calories, and you didn't drink much tap water because it was...well...tap water. So they never got used to drinking a lot of water, or a lot of anything for that matter.

Heidi and I, when we grew up, weren't used to drinking a lot of water either, but we were young enough when diet soda and later bottled water came on the scene that we were OK with both of these. But our parents? Diet soda is awful. Water? Bottle Water? You *pay* for water???!!! To them, who grew up poor, paying for water is a decadence that is really hard to succumb to without feeling guilty. They do Brita at home, and they will pay for bottled water, but it appears to me they feel dirty doing so, and they certainly aren't used to guzzling it.

But Heidi and I, we're of the Bottled Water Generation. We see the dollar value in paying extra for good-tasting water (Heidi likes the taste of tap water, but she also likes the convenience of pre-bottled water, and she agrees bottled water does taste better sometimes). And we certainly understand the value in drinking lots and lots of water, especially when it's hot and/or we exert ourselves. And you really should be willing to drink it warm. Up to your body temperature, I would say. That's pretty damn warm.

But don't get me started on the vitamin water, energy drinks, and such. We're not in THAT generation. I'm sure they've figured out something we haven't. But right now I'm in the phase of not understand any of those things.

Rio and Back to Bloggin

It seems I only blog when I'm on vacation. Perhaps it's because I have so little time otherwise, or perhaps nothing interesting happens to me otherwise. Or I just *think* I have so little time otherwise, or I just *think* interesting things happen to me while on vacation.

When I showed up at the Hotel Atlantico Copacabana in Rio, the night guy was all screwed up, and first thought me and my father-in-law were on one reservation together in two twin beds in the same room. Then when I pointed out the mistake, he gave us separate rooms (with our wives), which was fine except I got the room with the two twin beds. The prospect of spending two weeks on vacation on two twin beds did not thrill me, so I went downstairs to fix the situation.

The night guy then proceeded to be rude to me and point out that I had only made a reservation for the room with the two twin beds, that there were no more rooms with double beds, and that I should be happy we have rooms at all. Even though my paperwork showed I had two rooms with a double bed.

My room was smaller and clearly inferior, but he even refused to give me a credit for getting a lesser room. He never offered, and he almost laughed when I asked.

Well, the day crew took care of me, although I was not allowed to speak to the manager directly. He was there, but he "didn't speak English." How does a manager of a hotel anywhere not speak English?

Well, something always has to go wrong on a trip, doesn't it? This wasn't so bad. In the end, I got upgraded to a suite for no extra charge. Of course, I'd rather have some closet space than a sauna...A sauna? In Rio? I'll just go outside! :)

So every city has its quirks, although you'd never expect the inability to get facial tissues. Napkins, we got, but not kleenex.

The people here are really friendly, and most of them don't speak English, but they're very tolerant of those who don't speak Portuguese. They really go out of their way to try to understand you. You know, I really like the people of South America. Except Argentinians. :) I'm kidding, it's just a think with Brazillians vs. Argentinians.

Of course it's easy to be nice when you live in the tropics and sub-tropics, but even the people down way south in Ushuaia (where it never ever gets into the 60's F or higher) are friendly.

I had a great time at the Bar Vinicius (though I'm sure about the others) in Ipanema. The 'e' is pronounced 'eh' or 'ay' nasalized, and certainly not 'ee'. They're a little defensive about that around here.

The restaurant Gula Gula in Ipanema was not very good.

More later.