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.