gonna be down a few more days before I leave coming back... things are REALLY expensive... standard mixed drinks at the hotel bar are about $15USD (or more), domestic beers are like $10... its ridiculous, but such a wonderful city and the people that are hosting us down here are absolutely the most hospitable people i've ever met...
ya, its winter here, temps in the 60's and 70's, gorgeous... i tried my best to pull a friday night like the GTG on thursday eve... bar tab ended up at like $250USD... ouch, still payin for that one... we're finished with the work, went well, tomorrow is tourist day
we were having a local concoction called a caipirinhas... and of course in the hotel bar everything is extremely $$...
fortunately there wasn't much to do the next day as it was mostly a prep day for the work we did yesterday... we planned it out ok... today though we're gonna lunch at Hooters Brazil!!!! i'll be bringing my camera to inspect how the local talent compares to the good ol USA!!!
sorry, didn't make it to hooters, slightly disappointed about that went to the BBQ (churrascaria) for lunch the other day... a Fogo de Chao type place for those who've been to one... one of the interesting foods on the sword was Chicken Heart (yes I had some), kind of weird, but tasty... they also take beef tenderloin (filet mignon) and do a peppercorn and parmesan cheese rub over it before grilling it... WOW, talk about the AWESOME... their Calabrese (sausage) is quite good also... tonite for dinner they are taking us to the original Fogo de Chao ( chao is actually pronounced "show" unlike everyone I know in the states that calls it "chow")... they said we will get drunk also... I've hardly paid for a single meal down here... absolutely the most gracious people I've ever met in my life... another interesting note too... the history of brazil VERY much parallels the USA in terms of the slave trade, reveloutions and etc, even the approx time frames... we spent a good amount of the day yesterday in a local museum with our new friends talking about the history and finding the difference/similarities in our history and cultures... also interesting, they've previously had bad experiences with americans being "rude" or as they describe 'short and abrupt'... I told them they must have been from NYC... biggrin.gif honestly they now have a different impression and were very grateful that we've been so friendly and open with them... restoring other countries faith in americans one person at a time... one of the guys brought his new wife out with us to the shopping mall with us and she helped us find things and talked with the sales people... the brazilian people are friendly and caring... they've never met a person they didn't like or help... kind of reminds me of the SE of the USA, they feed you and take you into their homes as if you were family... some of them will be coming to chicago someday in the next year or two and I've already volunteered to spend a weekend with them showing them chicago and having a real american BBQ (pulled pork and ribs) at my home... I'm proud to say I have some fine new friends as they would also say the same... edit - you can also get a GLASS of beer at a mall food court, and the food is served with actual metal flatware on real plates... very cool
