I only have 15 minutes free and I´ve used half that already, so I have to mae this fast!

I´m in Rio now, its totally different than SP and I love it too. The bus ride over here was incredible. I woke up sometime during the middle of the 7 hour trip and we were winding through a narrow mountain road on this huge, double decker bus. Rounding each curve, the view opened up with rolling hills then mountains far in the distance. It was storming and you could see the wall of rain and lightning striking what had to be 10 miles away... huge, thick bolts, it was so beautiful. Arriving to a city by bus gives you a much different impression than arriving by plane. The city sort of creeps up on you as the area gets more developed, then BAM! You´re in the worst parts of the city you´ll see the entire trip! But here I am. I was under the impression that I was staying in Copa Cabana, according to a map I looked at before I left, but no, I´m in Catete. Better, actually. The streets are really busy with bars and restaurants and it feels much better than the reputation Copa has.

Today I had my first little hissy fit, but it didn´t develop into the kind I´m known to have (when I punch a wall or break an electronic thing). I was alone, I had left the English girls I had met at breakfast to do my own thing. I have no map, no book, and at that point, I had spent all the cash I had on me. My one saving grace has been the Banco Real - the only bank that I can withdraw money from. I left them at the Pao de Acucar, Sugarloaf, and figured I´d take out some cash, buy a map, and walk to somewhere I knew. I have 3 minutes to finish this. Rio´s nickname should be the city with no map. No one sells them! I went to a gas station. No. A big, touristy, coporate hotel, no. Went to Banco Real along the way and couldnt get cash.  Then I was pissed. What huge city  has no maps!!!!????? Then I stumbled upon a Citibank next to a newstand. 2 hits at the same corner. I was found again. So I bought a HUGE pineapple juice, sat down, and planned my trip.

My mohawk is gone and I miss it! Rio is awesome, now that I have a map. The city is less aesthetically stimulating than Sao Paulo but the people are wayyy more so, if you catch my drift. Time up!