Day 1 – flight, taxi delight, beach (lite)

Wow. I’ve been in Rio nearly 12 hours. My life has already slowed to a fulfilled crawl – just what the doctor ordered.

Firstly, I don’t understand why people have a problem with budget flight options, in the main. The food service on the plane was friendly and rapid, as had been the boarding – I arrived at Heathrow T1 not long before the gate opened and walked straight on. We left on time , too, and my baggage arrived at the other end eventually. I don’t mean to be a pariah, but I’m a large man and I had no problems with the TAM Economy seats. Even when the one in front was reclined fully, neither my knees or shins were even close. Yeah, if you slouch badly you could possibly end up quite uncomfortable, but my Alexander Technique puts paid to that. So the seats are fine, but I soon realised I had a seat advantage over most of the Economy punters: I had four of them – an entire central row to myself. That’s more room than business class by a long way – I stretched out to full length after watching a movie and checking our location. Three pillows and two blankets later and I was fast asleep.

Even at 0630 the heat was dramatic. I walked out of Arrivals, looking for my name on a card – saw El Misti Hostel and a girl called Lucy’s name instead. Hedged my bets and went with that taxi driver, crushed in with Lucy and a couple of seasoned Aussie backpackers who had been on the road for five months already. By then I was very hot: I had on jeans and a brown, long-sleeved shirt. Never again!

The taxi seemed to be headed for the other El Misti House in Copacabana but he diverted for me and walked me to the door. Everyone has been wonderful so far – got chatting to some lads then to a Dutch-Iranian girl (Sima) who also had no plans for the morning. I have now “done” the beach with her, and dispensed my first plaster for her poor heel. Flamengo is a stunning beach, and not too busy during the week. Amazed at the ages of people exercising, and sobered by the old age of some of the street sellers – for the poor there is no retirement here. This hostelling malarky seems to be a case of taking recommendations, marrying places to names, linking directions to descriptions and taking almost nothing with you when you explore. Doing more talking than listening makes a big difference, too. The hostel seems secure, with lockers big enough for my bags under the beds. Many people seem to take a reassuringly casual approach to security of their personal property here.

I reckon I have three clear hours each afternoon to clear up e-mail, write for the blog, manage the guys back at home. I think I can spend a few hours a day programming, too, but I need to find somewhere quiet enough.

As the focus of the blog is meant to be how to travel as a technology consultant, I will turn the focus on that direction. I have specific work goals which I intend to complete whilst I’m away, just give me a chance to settle in!

Things I have ticked off today:
– endured and survived Rio traffic. Pedestrians in the dual carriageway, people running across four-lane carriageways (yes, it’s like a motorway with no barriers)
– beach walk (Flamengo)
– eaten Brazilian fast food
– drunk Acai slushy – great, and supposedly very healthful.
– suncream, SPF 50
– mended the hostel Wi-Fi – hardly brisk, but usable.
– drunk bottled water, but a small swig of tap water, too. I’ll have a little every day and try to build up immunity.

Things I have learned today:
– pick your seat at check-in, as late as possible. Make sure to get as many empty seats next to you as possible. I did this by accident. It’s more important than the location of the seat.
– Pack even less – I don’t think jeans are a good choice, but then again, I might need them on the glacier in Argentina, so we’ll see.
– Brazilian Google is faster than .co.uk Google. Figures: I’m halfway round the world, but it does bear mentioning.

Things that came to mind:
– I should track down the most local Rotary club – maybe someone will lend me a desk in their office?
– If they let me pay for Tripit Pro, I’ll get a Regus Gold Card which would let me use their business lounges.

Now I’m going to respond to some Kohera e-mail enquiries. I think I might do that in the morning from now on, as being three hours behind means that if I work in the afternoon, it is after close of business in the UK. I’ll work it out. Although I would normally do some work on weeknight evenings, the party atmostphere in Rio will probably prevent that – I mean, an entire nation on JV time! It’s just not real.

Over and out.