Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 30oC, hot, Sunny and a little overcast.
It’s just a normal first couple of days at the beginning of the New Year. I’m giving classes and receiving money that I neither feel, see, or smell.
And I will have to leave my bubble of cold refrigerated air in my bedroom, where my home office is, to go out in the street in the blazing sun and heat to give a class to Dona Vera. But she deserves it!
As for not seeing, feeling, or smelling, most part of the money is because many of the pupils pay my fees directly into one or the other of two accounts.
One account is for my second ex-wife’s child support for Yasmin. However, the truth is that it is to pay the rent for Yasmin and Nalva to live in the south zone of Rio. For those who don’t know Rio well, the south zone is considered by most people the best part of Rio de Janeiro.
The best or most exclusive neighbourhoods in Rio are probably Leblon, Ipanema, Gavea and Jardim Botanico. A little lower down the scale, we can consider Copacabana, Leme, Botafogo and probably one of my favourites: Flamengo.
Yasmin and Nalva live in Botafogo, which is quite good, with everything conveniently nearby, including the rest of the south zone to one side and the city centre to the other. On her salary, it would be impossible for her to live there; I pay because it is for Yasmin and in respect for her mother, Nalva.
Sometimes, I think that I will probably be paying for her to live above her means for the rest of my life. I honestly don’t know if she appreciates the sacrifice that I have made over the years to guarantee the minimum for them, but it is life, and I don’t really mind.
I live in Copacabana, next to Botafogo. So, a lot of my income goes towards paying for my flat in Copacabana. Obviously, it is rented, and I have been living there for the last 2 years. Returning to live in Copacabana has been a pleasant surprise for me.
I had lived in Copacabana 25 years ago before I moved to Flamengo because of the dogs. Flamengo has a huge public park; in fact, there are several parks nestled within each other in Flamengo. During the 20 years that I lived there, I loved it.
Flamengo became a reference point for me, and I never thought I would go back to live in Copacabana. However, when I was offered to rent this current flat, I was apprehensive about moving back, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
I live in a reasonably sized one-bedroom flat with a maid’s room that has an ensuite toilet and shower. I have adapted the maid’s room for Yasmin, so when she stays with me, she has her own bedroom and space.
The flat is on the 10th floor at the back of the building with no buildings directly in front of the main living room window. As it is high up, there is a very nice view of other buildings that are quite far away and a partial view of Copacabana beach and the sea.
Every morning, sunlight floods into the living room, so I push a large plant that I have next to the TV into the middle of the living room so that it can get some sun.
The apartment is simple yet clean, organized, and quite cosy. I may have to move out in the next few months due to various reasons. Nevertheless, I am grateful to have lived there for the past two years; it has been a ride! I will always cherish the memories of this little, nice, quaint, and cosy apartment that was my home for a little over two years.
I finished my day early, with my last class ending at 7 pm, and then I took a shower before getting in bed by 9 pm. This new healthy routine that I have been adopting is empowering me more and more each day in every aspect of my life.
Thanks again.
Thanks for reading my blog. Check out my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments.
Richard
