The Brazil Break (Edited)

EDIT: In a writing mood. So there.

See: Multiply Page for more picture-y details of the places and events.

So here I am again in Brazil after some 3X hours of boring alone-ness. Weirdly enough, no jet lag. I guess it just takes some getting used to, after all. Also, I found out that Brazil is the antipode of the Philippines. Go figure. As always, the drive from the Rio airport to house in Macae will be too long. We always eat at the Oasis Graal, a sort of rest stop in between. There's this big shell decor in the middle of the hall there, where you can listen to special holes. According to rest stop legend, the hole where the sound is the loudest holds your future. Or some of it. The holes are labeled (in Portuguese) love, happiness, hope and all that. Kind of corny actually. But when we got there the big shell was being renovated. Or removed. I don't know. I wanted to hear from one hole there. I ate heartily: eggs, sausages and bread because Air France's breakfasts are not breakfasts at all. We got to the house a few hours later. After a bath, I think I just slept the whole afternoon the moment that I got here. The next morning, my Mom and I took a bus ride to her gym. The bus ride was intense, really! It felt like the driver was in an F1 race. It was also cool in a way. Entrances are located at the back, and an operator also takes your bus fare and lets you pass the rotating metal door. When we got there, I took some pictures of the beach near where my Mom worked out. Yeah, she works out. The women in my family...I think they have some hidden contest of being the slimmest. Heh!

I spent a few days just being at home. Chad texted if I was unwinding and I replied that I was superunwinding. The weekend after my arrival, my Dad participated in his bi-annual golf tourney. We also strolled down Buzios. We just sat at the golf area's lobby where barbecued stuff was being served regularly. I read through a half of a book, played some DS, ate some barbecue. After the tourney, we stayed at this hotel: the Brava Club. Quite nice actually. After the golfing, mom and dad attended some party. Golf for the men, the party is the consolation for the women (I think.).

Directly after that, Dad and I went to Vitoria. (Also, two days of no cellphone. Sorry!) Check it out on a map. Macae to Vitoria is a four hour drive. I think I got my fill of the Brazilian countryside for a whole lifetime, and now I can understand why a cross-country trip is a big event. We stayed in Vitoria for two days. I stayed mostly at the hotel and my Dad did his work at auditing ships at some port near there. One lunch, I ordered Fettuccine and he ordered Jumbo Shrimp. I couldn't finish the HUGE pasta serving and Dad was disappointed because the shrimps were...well, shrimps. Small shrimps. We're still laughing about that order! The drive home, we talked a lot too. He also told me about driving signals and overtaking. Hehehe!

I promised myself I would go out more, I guess I really should be careful what I'm wishing for. Six more days and I'll be home again. I just hope the journey back will be a smooth one.