Sweet. That's the tour done.Originally Posted by MFKS
page 5 of this thread10th of June
Now for their second bit of my post.
Sweet. That's the tour done.page 5 of this thread
Now for their second bit of my post.
[For Militia
Proudly sponsored by Tooheys New FOR THE LOVE OF KALE
Got up Tuesday 1st July 2014 at 5:20am.
Up early as I am off to Sao Paulo for the Argentina v Switzerland clash had packed the gear last night so after shower I was in a taxi and on my way. Had a 9am flight to Sao Paulo from the airport I had lost my tablet case in and some money a few weeks ago.
Once the taxi arrived at the airport I checked in and then went to the lost and found. No luck.
Oh well on the bright side I get to see Lionel Messi play in the WC today so little to be downhearted about
Plane was a little late with take-off and we landed about 10:30am. Went and tried checking in for my return flight but was unable to for some reason.
Wanted to do it now as with the game finishing approx. 3pm /3:40pm the 6pm flight was cutting it fine with Sao Paulo traffic and the carnage getting out and away from the ground
Queued for the bus to the stadium. By 11am we were on our way. Took to 12pm to actually get to the ground. With the security checkpoints barricades etc. making kick off was cutting it close. Go out and hurried where I could the last 400metres are up a hill and I charged up it like the Energizer Bunny. Got in went to the toilet and grabbed a drink.
Made my seat 15 mins before kick-off. What a ****ing seat to.
Behind the goal 2 rows back on the 6 yard line. Best seat I got at the WC. I knew it was alright before I came from the stadium guides you could see the bay location. I got even luckier as my seat was as close to the goal rather than the corner flag as possible.
Teams came out and the atmosphere was insane.
Argies everywhere Few Swiss but Brazilians everywhere giving it to the Argies. Scuffles everywhere. Argies singing. Brazilian’s booing trying to drown it out. Brazilians singing five time champion Diego’s a homero (homosexual)etc.
Were singing one song that confused the **** out of me to start with. Argie had narrowly put out for a corner as opposed to own goal. Brazilians started chanting what I thought was suicide, suicide suicide. This chant was regular through the game and I kept thinking it was suicide. Sooner or later it dawned on me they don’t speak English and were actually chanting for the Swiss. It was actually Suica the Brazilian pronunciation of Swiss
The pair of them having singing contests trying to outdo one another. Hate to actually see how the non segregation would work at a WC if they got to play one another and one was sending the other home
Thought the Swiss were valiant in defeat. Lacked quality up front but the Swiss coach’s tactics to quell Di Maria Higuain Lavezzi Messi etc worked a treat. They weren’t far away from pulling it off when they coughed it up on half way Messi burst forward and could have shot but sucked the defence in before laying it off to Di Maria.
Where I was you could see it was actually in even before it beat the keeper.
The angle was such that it was coming right at us and the keeper was not gonna save it.
The place went off the Argies going nuts more so in relief they weren’t facing the lottery of spot kicks.
One last twist in the tale as the Swiss hit the post from a header and then it ricocheted back into the path of the Swiss player and ricocheted off him again agonisingly wide of the post.
Was quite impressed with Di Maria the later the game got his desperation level increased and made the extra efforts to win it for his team. Didn’t think he had the ticker for it.
Messi on the other hand was anonymous a lot as the game hung in the balance. Didn’t think he led by example enough
Anyway fulltime sounded and I was out of there like a scalded cat.
Was actually running where I could and got back to the bus station 3:40pm in record time. Was on it quickly and back at the airport by 4:30pm. Bit of insanity getting to and from the ground today.
Checked in and flight came and went and was back in Rio before you knew it.
Jumped a taxi back to Copacabana and got ripped off blind. R$125 for the fare. Bloke spoke English and was a bit of character to put it bluntly so I was chatting away and jumped in an never noticed the metre wasn’t put on.
By the time we got to hotel he pulls out the list of set prices and you know you have been had an the character aspect is all part of the scam. As the taxi’s here lock you in your basically at the whim of the driver to open the door. Paid the bill lesson learned.
Threw gear in hotel. Headed out to find an ATM. 4 rejections before success. Visa accepted everywhere my arse.
Filled the wallet up with Reals and headed out to a restaurant. Went into a joint where it was price per kilo. IE you fill our plate up with whatever and put it on a set of scales it is weighed and that is then factored into the restaurants per kilo set price.
Done that and as I was sitting down to eat realised they had a Churriasco aspect and I had just filled a plate full of shit I would struggle to eat from the buffet.
Walked home and hit the hay at 11pm absolutely ****ed after 2 big days
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Got up Wednesday 2nd July 2014 at 8:30am.
After two huge days and no football on have the day to explore Rio. Only two problems I have to urgently get some laundry done and I also have to change hotels.
Good news on that front is I am back off the tour and on my own again. Copious amounts of porn on the Wifi and also the ability to drop my pants and inspect any pimples on my arse as I see fit.
Sorted the gear out. Separated the laundry and went searching for a Laundromat. There are heaps about you walk past them all day yet when you need one you walk for miles to find one. Add in when I did find one when I did ask about pick up she pulled the calendar out and pointed to one weeks time.
Not that good when I will be in Santiago Chile at the time.
Found another one who told me it would be ready by 3pm today. Glad at such efficient service but would have preferred picking it up the next day. The 3pm pick up did sort of cause an issue with picking up luggage changing hotels taxi etc. Just one more drama
R $52 for eight days of washing, can’t complain at the price
Headed back to hotel to check out. They charged me for 1days internet useage in the room despite it being that poor I couldn’t update a FB status and I gave up and went downstairs
Left the gear there and jumped the Metro 3 stops to the end of the line to Ipanema. Had been in the area after dark but not during daylight. Strolled the main street two blocks from the beach till I came to the end of Ipanema where it becomes Leblon.
At this point detoured inland a few blocks and walked around the Lagoa for a bit. It is a giant lake with an inlet from the ocean. From the waterfront the view is spectacular you can see Christo up on the hill.
After a bit came to the Flamengo Fc complex. Ironically it ain’t in Flamengo itself. Bit like how Waratah Golf Club is in Argenton. Wandered into the shop BR$230 for a replica shirt I will pass.
Headed into Leblon. Nothing special. Nice neighbourhood but not sure why the real estate is so deer. Might be because there is little shops and no riff raff about and a latte latte type crowd.
Wandered down to the beach and started to head back to Ipanema. On the way stopped at one of the many kiosks on the waterfront. Here I got a coconut drink. Literally a straw shoved into the coconut. Bizarre watching people walking along with these coconuts everywhere.
Also sat down for a platter of BBQ fried prawns and looked out over the beach.
Chicks with their butt cheeks hanging out, blokes playing football or footvolley skin everywhere.
Afterlunch continued the stroll and found a shop on the beach called Barraco do Joel. Obviously my work spreading the word on the Griffo is having the desired effect when the locals are embracing the Griff
At the end of Ipanema they had some rocks on the end of the beach. Not like the type Asian fisherman die at regularly but a raised rocky crop well away from the water and with trails and what not. Headed up and checked it out.
Place was loaded with cactus everywhere. Like an idiot thought I would test the cactus out to see how sharp it was. It worked even drew blood from the finger.
Coming back managed to pick up a beanie Angry Birds style for my nephew from a bloke selling them on the beach front. What was bizarre is why you would be selling beanies on a beach in the middle of winter when 95% of days in Rio are 30C+
Not really a location on the planet where you need winter gear
Grabbed the metro back got the laundry grabbed the gear and jumped a taxi to my new hotel. Was moving to the Centro business district. Reason being is hotel was $200Aud a night and not the $400Aud a night those in Copacabana were going for.
Only a 5-10 min walk to Metro to get back to Copacabana region. Area around the hotel fine during day time after dark whilst the office workers are there departing for home it is fine though very dangerous once the office workers go home.
Place at night is full of homeless vagrants riff raff and people from Woy Woy etc
After checking in to hotel checking WiFi works headed straight back to Copacabana.
Went to a Churriasco for dinner. Was bizarre hammering through cut after cut of meat and realising I was still hungry but was absolutely sick of the taste of meat. At this stage it was a relief to hit the salad bar.
Leaving there got ripped by them. Charged me for a fruit cocktail I never had. Started arguing the point and the No Ingles ploy came into effect.
Paid the bill of $R9 extra $4.50Aud.
**** all really but the principle is the people here at times are trying to rip you off. For what is a highly Catholic country some need to re read a passage in their book called the 10 Commandments.
Despite the food being good I won’t be back.
Dumb ****s just cost themselves a paying customer tomorrow night for their greed.
Headed down to Copacabana Beach and found a little bar. Had a few beers watching the chaos unfold down there before heading back to the hotel and tucking into bed about 1am
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Got up Thursday 3rd July 2014 at 8:00am.
Headed down grabbed breakfast muesli fruit salad and more fruit. Back upstairs for shower and hit the road. First up on a mission.
Going to see the one thing in Rio I hadn’t yet. Maracana.
Grabbed the metro which takes you straight there.
Got out and walked around the thing. Despite the WC security measures in place still able to get some good shots of the exterior of the joint.
After this jumped back on metro for Copacabana. Spend a few hours browsing the shops for gifts. At present I am limited to one suitcase of 23kg up until leaving Brazil next week and then after that 2 suitcases of 23kg. My plan is to buy a suitcase when I get to Sao Paulo and then buy souvenirs in SP Buenos Aires Santiago where I can fill the thing.
At present I am stuck looking for items Brazil specific items I can buy later or small light things not taking up much space.
Managed to pick up a Neymar no 10 Brazil shirt for my 22 month old nephew who loves kicking the ball about.
Picked up a sarong for my mother
Picked up a couple of t shirts for myself but what was the bargain was picking up a pair of genuine Adidas shorts in blue with the red trim still with the tags on them for $R20 from a street stall.
At that price they either fell off the back of the truck or old mate had shoplifted them that morning. No way in the world are they that price.
Speaking of crime not certain exactly what had transpired but a large crowd had gathered outside a pharmacy.
All of a sudden the cops arrived sirens blazing.
Couple mins later some bloke comes out in cuffs led by the cops and is thrown in the back of the divvy van to cheers and taunts from the crowd. **** knows what he done though
After completing the shopping by purchasing a towel for $R9 and headed down the beach. Cheaper buying one and leaving it on the beach than renting one. Being that it was 35C spent the arvo down their sipping on caprinihias on the beach and taking dips in the ocean.
By 5pm as the sting went from the day headed to Botafoga to get the metro to the hotel. Reason for this is it was 6 of 1 half a dozen of the other I needed a piss and knew where the toilet could be found.
Only problem was I had no idea where the Metro was so I spent 40mins walking some dinghy streets with NFI until I found it.
Jumped on board and headed back to hotel making it back by 6:30pm
Got in to WiFi zone at hotel to find I has pile of are you alright messages. Turns out a bridge overpass had collapsed in Belo Horizante and the parents were panicking cause they had misread the itinerary as I go tomorrow.
Called in on Skype and sorted that out.
Headed down to the hotel restaurant for dinner. Ordered the Filet Mignon and ****ed my order up. Got the faroda not the feijoda I was after.
Instead of black beans like I thought I was ordering I got a plate of bread crumb like seasoning for rice. As the stuff is as dry as **** and I had no rice was hard to find uses for it.
My fault no one else
After dinner repacked my luggage and had a big find
For some reason I had hidden US$200 in my poncho cover. **** knows why.
It was assumed lost when I left my tablet cover in Rio airport so now I had only lost the tablet cover about $60Aud about $60Aud of Uruguayan and Argy money.
Gonna get a shit load of Argy money in Florida St with that in a few days time
After this logged on and looked into resolving my littering fine situation. Turns out I am up for $R157 and I have to pay it at the bank.
Only problem is you need a print out of the full document found online. Not much good for a tourist with a tablet or phone but no ****ing printer.
What compounded the ****ing thing is it came in some obscure file format and was unable to be saved by my limited PC skills and equipment. Right click would be really handy on a tablet
After sending it through to my hotel who were unable to print the file format and much ****ing around on my part trying to get it as a PDF with no success ended up calling the brother in law in Australia who I emailed it to he looked into it found a solution and emailed it back.
From here I was able to email it to the hotel who printed it off.
3 hours wasted. Rather ridiculous a government organisation who targets tourists and not locals has ä website that is in Portuguese only won’t translate and is running some ****ed up file format and code no **** on the planet uses.
Basically encourages you to not pay the thing. If you don’t pay it and get out of the country what’s the worse they can do. Refuse another visa entry if you wish to come back??
Anyway I will head to the bank and have a go at paying it. If it don’t work they will only stop me from leaving the country for so long before they deport me anyway
After enough aggravation and ****ing around hit the hay at 1:30am
Going back to Argentina in a couple of days
Any of you lot want some Argentina flags to fap off over Flores???
For Militia
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Got up Friday 4th July 2014 at 8:30am. Showered and heeded down for breakfast. Plate of muesli and yoghurt watermelon and these bread balls the size of a golf ball with various flavoured custard fillings. Probably in the top 5 things I have ever eaten
Could have sat there all day eating the things but made my way back upstairs grabbed the luggage and checked out. Gear stored at the hotel as later tonight I was departing Rio most likely for the final time.
After all the shit last night sorting my fine out the ****ing banks are closed for a public holiday so I can’t pay the fine anyway.
Basically it is getting frustrating that I won’t pay it and if I make it out of the country without sorting it I just never come back.
Head off to the Maracana for the France v Germany QF. Arrive at 10:30am well early for a 1pm ko
Wanted to spend the day there walking around for an hour taking it all in. Turns out that pool I wanted a swim in is a no goer SD. The place is part of the lockdown zone and about 20blokes with automatic rifles are waiting there.
Being that it was 35C took some block out. Security confiscated it. FMD. No liquids also includes items that prevent the occurrence of sun cancer apparently.
Mind you I wasn’t complaining the most. The pricks were confiscating cigarette lighters. What was even funnier was that FIFA have a designated smoking area outside the ground inside the perimeter yet only those who smuggled lighters in were smoking.
Was rather humorous watching one bloke light a cigarette and that one light lit another hundred others.
Pregame gave my Aussie flag to one of the locals I chatted to for 15 mins and a few other things I had brought to give away to others. Basically clogging up my luggage I didn’t need and the people receiving them were stoked getting a gift
Headed in and knew I didn’t have the greatest view before I arrived. Was up high behind the corner flag down the end France attacked in the first half.
Was actually 2rows from the back and had scored an aisle seat so was forever up for other people to get drinks toilet etc all game and this was compounded by others walking down the staircase blocking the view.
Was surprised the ground wasn’t higher up. For an 80k ground I reckon up the back of the Joel Griffiths stand at Newsy is higher up.
That being said being an oval shape meant the view although fine at our end we were almost 200m from the goal Germany scored in.
As for the game thought France were better and a little unlucky to go home. Germany scrambled well and denied France countless times just as it looked like the Frogs were about to cut them apart.
Anyway eat a dick Frogs. No one likes you
Wasn’t that impressed by the German crowd expected a bit more from them.
Once again the Brazillians gave it to the German about being 5x champs etc. People here are great and hospitable but when it comes to football they just lose class by carrying on like a 12year old Man Utd fan
Anyway cracking day and great to visit a cathedral of world football.
Leaving the ground was fun. Sardines on the walkway as the police stopped the crowd to prevent overcrowding at the Metro station. Then sardines on the Metro.
Got off and walked around Centro getting lost somehow with no people about it was easy to get side tracked. Did see some interesting places though before finding my way back to the hotel just before kick off for the Brazil game.
Being the hotel wasn’t set up for viewing the game grabbed the luggage and headed to airport which was a 600m walk.
Missed the first 5 mins but was able to watch it with 1000 other people. HT came and went and checked in for my 9:30pm flight.
Mainly to fill the break in the game and get rid of the luggage. When I did so was told if I wanted could leave in 30 mins and not 3.5 hours time.
Jumped at the chance and was strapped into a plane within 10 mins. Struck it lucky and even had 3 seats to myself. After a 45 min flight where the captain kept us updated on the Brazil Colombia match every 5 mins we landed in Belo Horizante and grabbed an airport bus $R21 to the city which is 40km away.
Fortunately no overpasses collapsed into town.
Being it was pushing 9pm and had NFI where I was let alone where the hotel was pulled out the phone and found out the hotel was 550m away. Set off on foot.
Belo Horizante is a rather hilly place luckily for me it was down what can be said as close to a vertical inclined street you will ever see. Holding the suitcase was fun as gravity kicked in. Thank **** I won’t walk up it. I will get a taxi to the top if need be
Found the hotel and checked in. Only staying in Belo as I got a hotel for $50Aud a night for 2nights and is about 1/8 the prices in Rio. Even plane fares included it is still a way better deal.
Headed down the local shops an got Subway. BMT. Mostly the same as home but had something like rocket and the sauces were different. Got the BMT with a parmesan sauce.
Ordering the thing though took 15 mins due to the amount of questions asked in making a sub and my level of Portuguese. Got there I the end. Headed back to hotel and hit the hay at 11:30pm
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Got up Saturday 5th July 2014 at 5:40am. Showered grabbed the gear and headed out the door.
Today would be my 12th and final game of the World Cup. Had a 9:00am flight out of Belo for Brasilia for the Argentina v Belgium clash.
Got the taxi out the front of hotel and was on my way R$120 to airport. Can’t complain as it is easy a 30-40km trip.
Strapped in and we were on our way. An hour later we were landing in Brasilia.
Got off to the most glorious site in the world. The Budweiser Girls were in town so that means FREE BEER
Grabbed a couple to start the day.
Headed outside **** Me. Arriving the same time for the France Nigeria match Monday and todays match what a contrast. Easy to pick up a taxi or bus Monday. Not today. People everywhere.
After sussing the bus and taxi situation out went the taxi option
Spent my time in the queue talking to a Belgian bloke who had his kids running around trying to hock a spare ticket. He had a ticket on half way 5rows back.
Had paid $US800 for 4 of the things but his wife couldn’t get to Brazil. Being that it is illegal to sell over cost price $US330in Brazil that is why he had the kids running around.
Turns out he actually got the tickets off an online site like EBay. The name on the ticket matches the name of a FIFA official who got them for free and has then hocked them for profit
Cabbie for some reason was hell bent on dropping me as close as he could despite the traffic. Eventually got him to stop. $R50 damage
Made the trek of about 2km to the ground walked in and reunited myself with my dear friend Beer. Had a chat to a couple of Belgium and some Poms before taking my seat.
As for the game cracking goal by Higuain with the first time volley on the turn to win it. Belgium had the better of the game Argies defended grimly. Belgium just didn’t have the class players to break the Argies down.
Atmosphere was fantastic once again numerous scuffles involving the Aries and Brazilians.
It really is bizarre. Small pocket of fans for Belgium. Pile of foreigners with no affiliation either way. 30k of Argies **** knows how they got so many tickets and 20k of Brazilians.
Usually a football game has 2sides to cheer for but for every big name team Brazillians believe can win the Copa Mundial there are 3sides being cheered for.
It is actually rather embarrassing the way the locals carry on. The hospitality and warmth they display is first class. As soon as they get to a football game they lose the plot.
Knowing full well they were buying tickets to a game involving teams other than Brazil sure turn up cheer the team you want to win but the day is for the fans of the competing nations not about them
Be the equivalent of 5k of Jets fans turning up to Gypos V Smurfs game and singing about Griffo and Jets all day. Wrong place wrong time and lame
Anyway full time came and went. About 500m from the ground there are some markets had a browse but didn’t buy.
Had some good stuff but timber which would only be confiscated upon arrival in Australia. Already have one timber product I am planning on getting through hidden in the luggage.
Being that for some reason I had booked a flight at 10pm and it was 3:30pm decided to go check out some of the Martian monuments. Went for a 5km stroll past a heap of them before turning around and arriving back at the bus station.
For some reason the buses had disappeared and private illegal taxis were bowling up. Gave it a miss as didn’t feel comfortable safe etc
Headed up to the shopping centre and grabbed a taxi. On the way to the rank met an Argy bloke who wanted to split a fare. He negotiated a fixed price of R$40 so R$20each
At this point noticed the lack of Portuguese Spanish has probably cost me a bit with the inability to negotiate.
Had a good chat in Broken Spanish Broken English Broken Portuguese with him to the airport.
At the airport I gave him my tour jumper
Wasn’t the worse jumper quality but as the tour group had made the jumper in a colour that represents the Gypos and it didn’t have enough Australia about it and it had far too much about the tour group with their name all over the place it wasn’t setting foot in Newsy
No luck getting an earlier flight tonight. Settled into watch the Dutch V Costa Rica game got the lasr 20mins plus extra time and pens.
One of the things with the WC you go to a game in the flesh you miss other games on TV and throw in travel plus there is so much to see and do gee do you miss some football.
Anyway Dutch triumph is good for Aussie football as it reinforces that the Dutch way we are going down can work for us in time
Was regretting giving the jumper away as the temp had dropped.
After the game headed into the terminal and had another serve of the Spaghetti Marinara I had the other day here.
Finally the call came to board. Must say Brasilia is a fantastic city at night by air. Due to the structured symmetry about it the lights look amazing.
Settled in and had a 45min nap only to be disturbed by the bloke sitting next to me waking me up to tell me we had landed and to get up.
Staggered out grabbed the bus into town and made it back to the hotel by 1am
geez. im getting confused with all these airports and restaurants.
Seems you're doing a stack of walking as well, are you beefing up or turning into a stick figure?
Not making much difference.
Food is fantastic here. I am trying to make the effort to do a fair bit of walking. Getting a bus or metro are fine if you have some distance to do but getting out on foot lts you see many things you miss.
The food situation in Brazil is gonna see a nation of norm's as the economy grows and more and more move into the middle class.
Am now back in Argentina and it is glaring how hard it is now to find junk food. It is here but takes a bit of tracking down. In Brazil it was hard to find somewhere without it
brazil is shitfight, lucky you're out
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Got up Sunday 6th July 2014 at 7:40am. Showered and headed down for breakfast
Breakfast was a farce basically paid $R22 for cereal and toast. What a con.
Headed back upstairs grabbed the gear and checked out. Grabbed ä taxi and 45mins later and $R135 out of the wallet and I was at Belo Horizante airport again bound for Sao Paulo.
I originally had planned to leave Brazil yesterday but a change of heart to see the M60 QF in Brasilia made me stay a bit longer. The only flexibility with my flight booking without getting creamed fiscally was to push my flight out of Brazil back 2 days.
Problem was I had to spend a night in Sao Paulo to fill in time. Worse still it was a Sunday. Sunday’s in Brazil are like the rare public holidays in Australia where nothing is open. Hard to find shit open to keep occupied
Was able to get a Novotel Hotel for $Aud 95 for the night so couldn’t complain too much on that front
No sleep today on the plane as I developed some kind of coughing fit. Think I am getting the flu again.
Land in Sao Paulo and wait about 30mins for luggage??? WTF Were they doing???
Finally get the gear and book a taxi $R 118.Initially thought I was getting ripped but could see why it was a long way to the hotel.
Check in and head up to the room. Nice place. Hotel does its business from business stays in Sao Paulo but weekends are dead so have dirt cheap rates below the normal
Decide to go for a walk to Avenue Paulista the nominal main drag of a town with 30 million inhabitants.
On the way not much open but stumbled past what I would suggest was a brothel on the way.
Spotted some bird on a balcony who was definitely topless before she ducked down with her head at the waist height of a bloke who also had no clothes on. Maybe she was tying his shoelaces?? Bit bizarre that it was done on the balcony 3 floors up and not in the room.
Another thing to note was how many homeless were about.
I shit you not on at least 7 occasions I had to change course to avoid tripping over someone sleeping in the street on the footpath in the middle of the arvo. Now you see the homeless in Australia but not to the extent as to here in South America.
After 40mins of trekking made it to the Avenue Paulista.
Here there were a lot of arts crafts and various odd bod stalls everywhere.
Did have the pleasure of watching a Brazillian Elvis perform. Bloke was singing one of Elvis hits poorly and then proceeded to jump on a bus stopped at lights and serenaded the bus. Bloke was not talented but left him a pile of shrapnel and some notes as he was putting on a performance anyway
After walking the avenue for an hour or two and seeing enough hippie Rastafarian wannabe dole bludger to fill Nyngan a thousand times over (seriously the dreadlocked bums were everywhere with their beads twisted wire and what other useless shit they were trying to hock) plus it getting on nightfall with my worsening cold made my way back to the hotel
Decided to go to the hotel restaurant and when I arrived it appeared it didn’t open for nearly an hour decided to make other plans.
Headed back up the road and checked a few places out. First dozen were well over priced. Now I ain’t tight but paying $R 80 for lasagne or spaghetti bolognaise is over the top.
For that price the plate better be wedged between the pussy lips of some stunner.
Ended up at a Churriasco.
Wandered in and the bird was dribbling on in Portuguese to me about the place. Nearly every word was going straight over my head. Ended up having to get a translator for me. Found a customer who spoke Ingles for me.
This lady then tried explaining the intricacies of the churriasco in that meat would be bought around and I could help myself to the salad bar.
I explained I had been to a churriasco before and the only reason I had the odd look on my face was because I was waiting to be shown to my table which the waitress had failed to do and that was the only reason we were having issues
Sat down and plowed in. Tonight they were bringing out chunks of roast meat you would only buy that big if you had to feed 50 people. Had more than enough meat before hitting the salad bar once done damage R$28
Headed back to hotel for some porn and internet research time. Turned out could have got the bus from the airport to about 600m from my hotel for R$32. Ahh well
Repacked the bags as tomorrow I was leaving Brazil and needed to hide the timber products from customs
Headed to bed at 11:30pm
I disapprove of your non-compliance with border laws. I hope the next diary entry reveals a change of heart.
May you forever be added per 2/3 cups of couscous to 2.5 cups of water!
The timber products are items to use at football matches to disturb the ambience.
Not rare pieces of protected timber to sit on a night stand.
It will be worth the effort to get them home.
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Got up Monday 7th July 2014 at 7:40am. Showered and heeded down for breakfast
Breakfast was pretty average for a reputable organisation
Headed back upstairs grabbed the gear and checked out leaving the gear to collect later. Set off on foot and located the bus location for later today.
Continued on foot for a few hours with NFI where I was. Just kept ducking in and out of shops. Highlight of the day though was hitting the hardware district of Sao Paulo. No Bunnings here. Just a street about 1km long with every shop selling drills.
Seen enough drills to last a lifetime.
Did also duck into a flea market arcade where for at least 10mins I was trapped inside. The place was a maze of tightly squeezed together stalls all more or less selling similar shit and all manned by Asians. I kept walking around trying to find the exit and had NFI until I got lucky and seen daylight
Eventually stumbled onto a Banco do Brazil. Went in spent 45mins queuing before being served and paid my fine. Least be able to get back to Brazil one day.
Kept walking in the general direction I thought my hotel was in. Sao Paulo is a crazy place and 500m down the road you could get lost. Eventually spotted what I though was my hotel from the window shutters. Only problem was how to get to it. 30 mins of hiking and I was right.
Being it was about midday decided not to head too far as I needed to head to the airport soon. Headed down to one of the cambios and traded $BR235 for a $US100 which would come in handy in Argentina
Strolled around the shops near the hotel before heading in and grabbing my gear at 1:30pm and making the trek of 600 metres to the airport bus stop. Paid $BR 32 for the trip and waited about 15mins for the bus
Grabbed the bus at 2pm to the airport. Going a bit early for a 6:30pm flight but Sao Paulo’s traffic is notorious so better to be there early than late. Ended up getting there just after 3pm.
Just my luck got off at Terminal 1 and had to walk to Terminal 3 at the other end. After nearly a kilometre hiking through the airport I found my airline Turkish Airlines at the furthest counter away imaginable.
Had picked Turkish Air as they fly Turkey to Buenos Aires with a stopover in Sao Paulo. The leg from SP to BsAs was actually priced 50% lower than any other airline. Checked in and got rid of the gear.
Headed down and went to Carls Junior home of the slut burger. Anyone not familiar with this place they get highly attractive women dressed sluttily and basically bordering on porn to advertise their greasy fatty hamburgers.
Hey what can I say the marketing had worked on me. Grabbed a burger wasn’t bad at all.
Made my way in got stamped out of Brazil and tried to rid myself of my remaining Brazilian Real at the Cambio. When the bloke offered me a rate of $BR3:$US1 I told him to get stuffed and I would take it home with me. Thief
Finally boarded the plane and what can I say about the décor. Sky blue filth. Not even a true sky blue but that blue with a tinge of green. Plane looked like your grandma had decorated it fifty years ago
Kicked back and started to watch Anchorman 2.Well I did until the bloke in front reclined and the screen moved into a position that no matter what angle I tilted it to or adjusted my seat to I couldn’t see the picture clearly. Gave up in frustration and turned the MP3 on.
3hours later and we were touching down in Buenos Aires. Walking through the terminal to customs etc the first thing I noticed was even inside how ****ing cold it was. After two weeks in t shirt and shorts those days were over. What was even worse is I was still in t shirt and shorts with my jumper in my suitcase waiting to come out on the carousel.
Not thinking clearly I dawdle through the terminal and was one of the last of about 5 arriving plane loads to make it to the queue for entry visa processing. What made the process slower was the dopey Argentinians who held up the queue I was in cause they never read the sign properly that the queue was for foreigners
For some reason they wanted a fingerprint scan. Considering it wasn’t required the first two times I had entered Argentina by ferry and taxi a little inconsistent.
Got through grabbed the luggage and put a jumper on. Went to the taxi counter to find out a price as I needed some local currency. Bird said I could pay in Brazilian Real so coughed up some of the excess cash I had left over and headed to the taxi rank.
Bloke there stood in the doorway of the taxi with his hand out wanting money. Told him his tip was to be good to his mother. Parasite wanted cash to point me to the next cab in the queue FFS
Jumped in and soon realised I had left my Adidas cap on the plane.30 min ride and in was back in the Buenos Aires CBD at my hotel at 11pm.
Was the same one I stayed at last time I was in town. Only got 1double bed in the room this time.
With no cash in my wallet and the cambio not open on Florida St to the next morning and not wanting to get ripped at the ATM with the official exchange rate I viewed the contents of the mini bar and took note. Then headed to the corner store and checked what matched.
Went back to hotel and hammered away on the food and drinks I could replace the next morning at quarter the price and no one would be none the wiser.
Hit the hay just after 00:30am
Would like to point out timber products were successfully smuggled into Argentina
I feel we need a civic parade when you get back to the hunter.
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