Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 26oC, hottish and sunny.
Thursday, and I am still with a cold, and it seems to have stuck. Even so, up and out early for a light exercise session in the park. Back and washed by ten to seven and working with my first class at seven. Classes are direct until two pm, and then I have a break until seven. I will use this time to go to Copacabana to get a ticket bill printed for my new site and paid.
In the past, I have always preferred taking the bus instead of the Metro in Rio. The reason behind this is that Rio is an exceptionally beautiful city, and the Carioca Metro system is often noisy and not very reliable.
Thus, taking a bus to travel between one or two neighbourhoods is a better option, as long as it is a decent bus that is not falling apart or overcrowded. However, getting off a crowded bus can be a challenge.
Unfortunately, one major issue with bus transport in Rio is security. The risk of getting mugged on the bus is much higher than on the Metro. Taking a bus in Rio is notorious for heists and is often considered unsafe.
The distance from Botafogo to Copacabana is short, and you can reach there by bus in just 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the traffic. If the bus is air-conditioned and the air conditioning is working, the journey is much more comfortable.
When you arrive in Copacabana, you will notice a higher level of people, cars, and movement in the streets, which can be overwhelming for those who are not used to the hustle and bustle of the area. It can be challenging to walk in a straight line in the busy streets of Copacabana with so many people and obstacles bombarding you from all sides.
The bill for the ticket was printed, and then I went to the Caixa Loterica (federal bank agency) to pay. The same Loterica is on the ground floor of the building where I used to have my school in the past. Even though the school has been closed for about three years, there are still a lot of friendly faces and people who say hello and ask about the school. To them, I am Professor, never Richard nor gringo; always Professor, which I consider pretty endearing and affectionate on their part.
The queue was short in the Loterica, so I could pay it quickly. Now, one more domain is registered in my name, and this is where I think I have done something very good and maybe stupid.
The Loterica is on the ground floor at the back of the building, at the front of the main entrance of the building, facing Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana. There are two escalators to the second floor where I had my school. The idea was to go up and walk around, see some old friends, get up to date on what is happening in the building and then go home.
My optician is on the second floor, precisely in front of the escalator I took to go up. I have been Dona Vera’s client for over ten years, buying glasses for Yasmin and I many times from her.
Dona Vera is an old, bubbly lady who laughs, jokes and swears about almost everything and everyone, but at the end of the day, she can sell a fridge to an Eskimo living at the North Pole if she wants to.
One thing I do have a thing for is glasses; I just finished paying for a pair I bought from her recently. Due to our long-lasting business relationship, she lets me and others pay in instalments. She is an incredible saleswoman with incredible drive, a true modern-day warrior.
So, as I was going up the escalator, arriving at the second floor with Dona Vera’s shop in front of me, I was curious. Instead of turning and continuing walking around the corridor, which I should have done, I went to her shop window and looked.
Like a ninja, Dona Vera came out of her shop and into the corridor, telling me about her new releases, styles, and models.
She then swiftly showed me one I did not like so much, but one pair in the window caught my attention. I asked her to show them to me, and then suddenly, BAM!!! I bought them. I am not an impulse buyer by nature; nowadays, I do not do anything on impulse, not even sex, so for me to suddenly close a deal and buy something without any pre-meditation was a shock. Dona Vera, the ninja saleswoman, had swiftly struck again.
The glasses themselves are very beautiful. They are the right size and style and not expensive—probably one of the cheapest pairs I have ever bought with her in a long time. I put down a deposit, cursed her for being so good at her craft of selling, and left expecting to receive them the following week.
I’m not quite sure what the moral of this story is. Is it that sometimes we deserve to treat ourselves because life can be tough? Or is it that from time to time, it’s good to do something spontaneous and out of the ordinary, something that hasn’t been planned in advance?
Or maybe it’s simply that life is like the tide, with its ups and downs, and we have to ride its waves as best we can. The waves are different every day, and it’s important to accept both the good and the bad.
I honestly do not know; I only know that I felt very good for the rest of the day. I am looking forward to receiving my new glasses in a week. Whether I deserve them or not, I do not know, either!!!
In bed by 9.30 pm.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading my blog. Check out my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments.
Richard
