Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 26oC, warm, sunny and slightly overcast.
It was overcast and cool in the morning, but there was no rain. However, there was a lot of rain in the afternoon and at night.
It is interesting how the weather can strongly influence us, especially in a city like Rio. Rio is a tropical city, so the norm is sunny and hot weather. I can remember times when it would not rain in Rio for up to two months. The grass and lawns in the public parks and squares would turn brown from the prolonged period of sun and heat without any rain.
Rio is a tropical city, whereas Sao Paulo is not. In the summer months, there used to be frequent tropical rain showers, as if someone had opened the taps and the water came flooding down, only to be suddenly turned off again after half an hour. When I first arrived in Brazil, these showers were quite common but are not as frequent nowadays. The weather has changed.
However, sometimes in the summer, with intense heat in the morning, Cariocas know that in the afternoon, there will be rain, specifically a very heavy shower. These tropical showers are less common than they were, but they still happen, just not as often.
The beaches in Rio are crowded during the summer months, and going to the beach can be dangerous. I am getting old, and now I do not have the same enthusiasm, energy, and patience to go to the beach. The beach is like a club; you will meet diverse groups and social classes depending on which beach you go to and which part.
The LGBQT will stay on the beach in front of Rua Farme de Amoedo in Ipanema. The wealthy are usually found in front of the Country Club in Ipanema. The lower middle class or the poor are typically near the beach near the metro stations in the southern zone of Rio.
During the summer, many people from the north zone of Rio flock to the South zone, arriving at the metro stations and then heading to the beach. It is important to be cautious when visiting the beaches in Rio during the summer. This eclectic club can sometimes be unsafe and quite dangerous.
As I get older, I have less patience for going to the beach, especially when the sun is blazing hot. It is impossible to walk on the sand barefoot during midday. You must wear flip-flops or trainers to reach your desired spot on the crowded beach, weaving through umbrellas and people seeking shelter from the sun. Getting to the sea feels like navigating through a labyrinth of obstacles.
During the summer months, the beaches are still visited by people, but only a tiny fraction compared to the summer season. Very few people go to the beach when it rains, and even fewer people go for a walk along the beach or on the street. The weather heavily influences or even determines our actions. Sometimes, we joke that having a rainy weekend is good because it is an excuse to do nothing.
If it is a sunny and hot day, one almost feels obligated to go out and do something. I think it is similar to England, where you feel obliged to do something if it is sunny. The only difference is that it is a rarity there—a sunny day in England may be few and far between. In Rio, it is more common to have a sunny day with hot weather than a cloudy or rainy one.
When the sun shines, it opens endless possibilities to be outdoors and meet people. This is what gives Rio its happy-go-lucky style. The city is home to approximately six million people and experiences more sun and heat than cold and rain. The residents are naturally happy, and with good weather every day, there is no excuse not to be. Personally, I do not mind either the sun or the heat. Even overcast and rain are fine. The city is beautiful in all conditions; it is just a matter of knowing how to make the most of it.
Rio is an extraordinary city. I have been privileged to live here for so long, but it has changed like everything else. Nothing stays the same, and we must be careful to hold on to something from the past, insisting on something that does not exist anymore. That has gone for good. Through change and evolution, everything has moved on.
I love Rio. I have spent more than half of my life in Rio, Brazil. Part of it is my own choice, and the other part is due to obligations. Life always throws us a curveball that we do not expect, and what we thought would or would not happen happens. In some ways, I am grateful to have spent the last 35 years in Rio; in other ways, I am disappointed many times. I often compare what I have now to what I could have had if I had stayed in England.
If I had not lived in another country for so long, I would not have gained my life experience. Even though it is not my home country, it has been like a school to me. Many people do not have the same experiences I do. I am not saying that it is the only important thing in life, but it has given me something intangible and non-materialistic that I am proud of. I understand that, in some ways, I have helped my daughters see life and be prepared for it differently than if their fathers were from Rio de Janeiro or Brazil.
If I had stayed in England, I might have had a better material situation, but material possessions are not everything to me. I have never been very materialistic. I appreciate good quality things but do not think material validation is essential. I do not need to be a slave to fashion or worry about what is important in material terms. This has never been a priority for me.
In some ways, I see this as a fault, a flaw. Maybe I should be more materialistic, but I am not. When I visited my brother in England, it was clear that his definition of success was based on his ability to acquire material possessions: a house full of gadgets, a kitchen full of appliances, and everyone with a new car. I have never had that. Perhaps it is embarrassing or shameful.
Maybe in the future, it is something I would like to change. However, I know that my brother does not have the life experience that I have. So, we are back to the old story of compromise. Everything in life is a compromise, including life itself.
A morning of exercise, a late lunch and some computer work. Overall, a good day.
In bed by 11.00 pm.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
