Two weeks in Rio

Many ask me why I wanted to move so far from home.

Many tell me that people are the same wherever you go.

Well the answer is no :)

Check out these two videos, both goals are for the 3-1, naturally I was always on the winning side !

Number 1 is a goal of Real Madrid. They were playing in a completely full Bernabeu stadium although against a team that they quite like: Espanyol. This was part of the First Division games.

Number 2 is a goal of Botafogo in Maracana, playing against Fluminense, in a stadium less than 1/8th full, for a qualifying match where both teams were already qualified and playing with reserves. Check it out :)

So there you go, that is exactly why I'm here right now :)

Thanks a mil to Txarlie and Roque for taking me to the stadium, I'm starting to develop a taste for it :)

A month on the run

I'm finally back in Rio de Janeiro and I have been since last tuesday.I'm not sure why I'm writing this since nobody is going to read it, I guess it's the modern version of a diary.

It was a colourful last month, I was in Genova, London, Listowel, Dublin and Madrid, and you probably know this as I've pretty much met everyone I know except for my friends in Genova, who seem to be working hard at ignoring me since I broke up with Raffa.
But such is life, let bygones be bygones my accounting teacher used to say so I will follow his advice.

It was a wonderful time, Genova was great, got to see some friends, London was hilarious, specially the nights out with Matt and that infamous night, 2 days before Patty's exam when Gasta, Chapis and I hit the bars and ended up discussing sociology at Gasta's house at 5am.Thanks for the bed Gasta, I'll get ou back here in Rio :)

So on we get to Listowel, my grandmother unfortunately has been pretty ill lately, but she seems to be getting better, it's hard when you're 84 year young, but nobody ever accused her of being the kind of lass that gives up. Here the night life was also interesting, specially when Matte, Ned, Mike and Billy were down and ironically we spent the night with Sarah and two brothers who's names I know but cannot spell for the life of me, in a real old school pub where old men danced and sang, reminiscing a time when you had to milk your own cow and the queen was not welcome on the emerald isle.

So, one week spending quality time with my mum & grandmother later and off I went for the last few days of cold weather in Europe in the wonderful Madrid. So, to make the pain easiest here we go. Madrid is beautiful, the weather is wonderful, the women and my best friend all seem to live there.

So I crashed at Peter's house for what was supposed to be 3 night, spent my days walking around the city, meeting friends and ex girlfriends and being allover merry about everything.One night in particular stood out when we hit the bars with a Naughtie Hottie revamp, bringing together once again the guest list from Costa Rica, starring Cata, Maria and Txarlie. Joining the fun with international representation were Mariana, representing US and Spain, Bou representing Burgos, Sofia for Madrid, and Peter representing some Hungary, Finland and Colombia.

So with 50% of the UN covered we started with a concert and ended up with a blur. The night took its casualties and finally only Bou, Txarlie, Cata and I remained to hold the fort. I got home at 5am, went to sleep and ended up, one hour later, looking for the bathroom which brought me into the wrong room. So at 6 am as I was looking for the light switch I hear voices from just nearby asking who the hell was in their room... a quick apology and a pit-stop later and I was back in bed snoring happily.

Perl of the trip though was meeting Marta again. After 4 years since we broke up and without hearing her voice, we met up again and it was wonderful. It was quite an amazing experience, many people say that you should never meet up with your first love but this wasn't the case. Marta is the same happy bubbily person that I remembered, I am glad we waited so long to meet up again because I truly found a friend that knows me like few others!

So guys, thanks to all of you.Aazir, Maurizio, Ema, Elena, Gian, Massi, Paolona, Matteo, Carmen, Paolo and Sara for Genova.Matt, Ned, Chapis, Gasta, Iain and Angela for London.Mum, Gran, Mike, Billy, sarah, Unpronounceable brothers, James, John and Will for Dublin.Peter, Rocio, Txarlie, Cata, Maria, Mariana, Bou, Inigo, Palomita, Ana, Pablo and specially Marta for Madrid.
To see all of these names listed out here makes me wonder why I want to leave, but then I set out from the ancient continent of Europe and upon landing on the golden, jungle-coated shores of latin America my question is answered. I am happy here and now, perhaps I won't be for long, but here and now I am. I love the feeling this part of the world has, the joy in the Cariocas and I will try to make this my home.

And you are all invited.

It wasn't an easy trip, but I'll tell you about that next time round. Ciao!