South America: What we know so far about Rio

December 30, 2004

What we know so far about Rio

Here's what we know about Rio so far, prepared in a bulleted list for upper-management approval:

Copacabana beach sucks. It's where you go to get robbed and be American. The best beach is the little one between Copacabana and Ipanema, and Ipanema on pier 9.
Everyone in this town is robbing us blind. Robbing in the sense that we are surcharged almost every time money changes hands. Our volleyball lessons were negociated from US$200 per person, to US$3 per person. I'm not kidding, either. BLECH!
Volleyball is everywhere on the beach. However, you have to rent the courts. I'm pretty sure we payed 10 times what the locals pay for that, too. Still, super fun to play in Rio.
Our cabby tried to overcharge us, and succeeded, and I almost threw punches at him, but was luckily calmed down by Tom. We got stiffed 10 Reals in change for our drinks on the beach. Etc, etc, etc. Very frustrating.
Tom and Leyton, my travel buddies, are off seeing the sights today. Due to my international financial woes, I'm taking it to the beach just after my time spent here with my oldest and wisest of friends, The Internets.

December 30, 2004 in Rio, sucky travel stories, Travel, Travel Secrets | Permalink

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Books I Have Read Abroad

paulo Cuelho: el alquimista
Another book everyone RAVES about, and I only enjoyed a little bit. However, this was my very first complete novel read in Spanish, and I'm pretty proud of that. (**)
Khaled Hosseini: the kite runner
I don't know why so many other travellers in South America are reading this, and love it so much. I thought it a bit contrived, and written at an overly dramatic level. (**)
Jon Lee Anderson: Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life
After reading this book, I respect Che for his conviction, as opposed to his actions, and can now intelligently argue my case with any college student or South America Fidelista. Oh, by the way, it was about 800 pages long, so it is a terrible idea to take it backpacking. (*****)

COLOMBIA!

es por ti
juanes: Mi Sangre
es por TIIIII. blah blah blah blah corazon. (*****)
la tortura
shakira: Fijacion Oral
I dunno if this is playing in the states, cause it is in Spanish. Go download the VIDEO from somewhere, or shakira.com. You will see frightening pectoral isolation movements. Go go Alejandro Sanz, we all wish we were you. (*****)

RITMOS PERU

everything I do
bryan adams: Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Bryan Adam´s greatest hits is the biggest CD to ever hit the Sacred Valley in Cusco, Peru. It was playing in establishments across the holy prairie, where worship of Bryan Adams is apparently mandatory. All hail B´Rya H´Aadaam, Inca ruler and soft rocker. (**)
Juanes
la camisa negra: La Camisa Negra Pt.2
OK, this isn´t just Peru. This is Juanes insanity, all throughout Latin America. Yes, I do love it too. Yes, I did buy the CD. Yes, you can make fun of me, but if you do, I won´t burn you a copy. (*****)
what´s going on
4 non-blondes: Bigger, Better, Faster, More!
3 times in one week qualifies this oldie-but-goody for the Peru list. Congrats to 4 Non-Blondes, those rockstars of yore. (**)
que paso paso
daddy yankee: Barrio Fino
Daddy is at it again. This was the very first song I heard upon enterring Peru, as hummed by an Israeli tourist in the bus seat behind me. (*****)
Gasolina
Daddy Yankee: Barrio Fino
All day long. Everywhere. Non-stop. These are some terms that can be used to describe the frequency of hearing this song. Is this a hit in the states? Anyone heard of this at all? (****)

Bolivian hot hits

never gonna give you up
Rick Astley: The Lion King: Special Edition
Dear, dear lord. Why? WHYYYYYYY? (*)
We are the world
U.S.A for Africa: We Are The World: U.S.A For Africa
OK. I've been in Sucre 2 weeks, and heard this song 4 times. That's an incredible percentage of time to spend listening to this song in 2005. By 'incredible', I mean very unfortunate. Honestly, Steve Perry and Huey Lewis really do some of the best solos in this jam. Gotta give it up for Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and the other random soul singers too. Down with The Boss on this one, he has like 4 solos and he sucks them all up like a Hoover. Just try listening to this song, all glorious 20 minutes of it, and not getting it stuck in your head all day. It's not possible. (***)
Gasolina
Daddy Yankee: Barrio Fino
All day long. Everywhere. Non-stop. These are some terms that can be used to describe the frequency of hearing this song. Is this a hit in the states? Anyone heard of this at all? (****)
escucha corazon
roxette: Don't Bore Us Get to the Chorus : Roxette's Greatest Hits
Attn Roxette: you are wildly popular in Bolivia. No, I´m not kidding. (*)
Man I feel like a woman
Shania Twain: Greatest Hits
You haven't lived until you've seen an entire bar full of drunk Bolivian men singing along, "Man, I feel like a woman!" I'm sure they don't know what they're saying, because the song before was Iron Maiden and the one following is always Unforgiven, by Metallica. (*)
The Reason is you
hoobastank: The Reason
One time, in an internet cafe in La Paz, they played this song on repeat for an hour and a half. Since then, I´ve heard it daily. Someone, anyone, make it stop... (*)

Buenos Aries Rockin'

oh my gosh
basement jaxx: Kish Kash
I really want to dislike this song, but I completely love it. It reminds me of a song from 80's super-hair girl group expose', and just like everyone else who's ever rollerskated in the late 80's, I love me some expose. Rock on, Basement Jaxx. (*****)
satellite of love
lou reed: Transformer
LOU REED!??!?!! I bet you didn't know he did this song. I bet I didn't either, but it sure is popular for the kind of lovable dance/pop that plays constantly in Buenos Aires (****)
Lola's theme
Various Artists: verano 2005
"I'm a different person. Tuuuurn my world around". I didn't hate dance music before this trip, I swear. (*)
seven nation army
Various Artists: verano 2005
Duh. Dance remix of the White Stripes. Duh. Can somebody please find me the real rock in this town, or did it all go up in flames? (*)
Walk this way
macy gray: On How Life Is
I searched the Spanish language for a verb stronger than 'to hate' (odiar), and couldn't find anything fitting enough for this song. This is worse than U2, it's worse than just about anything, and it plays once a half hour. Somebody make it stop. (*)
Darts of pleasure
Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand
What a huge hit. Our former roomate, a German girl, informs us that the german part of this song makes no sense. Who cares? Everyone loves this track, huge radio play here, on both rock and dance stations. Cut your hair into a mullet and enjoy. (****)
don't hold back
chemical brothers: Push the Button
They invented the word 'repetitive' for songs like this. Is that Q-tip singing on this track, or what? (**)
needy girl
chromeo: She's in Control
OH YEAH! Song 10 on the VICE music comp I picked up in Canada, NEVER played in the states, and VOILA - it's now on heavy rotation on METRODANCE radio station in Buenos Aries. So awesome, go go DFA records! (*****)
Without you Dance Remix
The Cure: The Cure - Greatest Hits
More awesome underground 80's remixed for dancing and playing as popular music. Long live the South American mix (*****)
Comfortably numb
Scissor Sisters: Scissor Sisters
They play this once every half hour, and it's still not getting old. Viva Rock + Pop, Buenos Aires! (*****)

LINKS

El Bar Britanico weblog
How many bars do you know that have their own blog?
ONE HELL
ADVENTURES IN LAW SCHOOLING
TravelHead
This guy has been EVERYWHERE, and brought his car. Insane.
Latin American regions now!
Another view of SA, especially Bolivia, from a Paceno. Check it out!
Blog from Bolivia
Jim Shultz writes for the Democracy center in Cochabamba, Bolivia
Bolivia Politics... live from Michigan!
Miguel is a one-man master of Bolivian politics from La Paz and the USA. Check him out for the scoop.
Iflipflop
Go check out the left side of things...
Matt's litle slice of optimism, also from Staten Island
Kevin COPS OUT on Staten Island
Neil the Soldier
oh man, live blog from the front line in Iraq by a fellow New Yorker. Insane.
Johnny BUI!
Watch out, ladies, this guy's so Asian he put's GT on the end of every thing he drives.
Sander and Lisette
Dutch buddies Sander and Lisette go adventuring through South America and New Zealand.
Travel Blog
Top 10 travel sites of the day, check it out and see if I made the cut!
Buenos Aires Robert
Robert writes Buenos Aries so that FINALLY, you can cross check all the wrong info I gave you!
TIM rules
Go bother Tim, he´s cool, and he´ll design a site for you.
Aaron
Albert's Pics
Albert gets new camera. Albert gets new domain. You get to see cool pics and make them your wallpaper. Everyone wins.
Dr. Agon Ballyee
Illy is my new home, this is what I've seen, done and heard.
PolyGlotConspiracy
plays with the words you thought you already knew.

South America

South America 2005 / 2006. Click on a category for more info, and leave a comment

December 30, 2004

What we know so far about Rio

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Categories

Books I Have Read Abroad

COLOMBIA!

RITMOS PERU

Bolivian hot hits

Buenos Aries Rockin'

Bolivian Presidential Crisis 2005

Bueno Buenos Aires

Machu Picchu

Stencil Graffiti Role Call - Buenos Aires

LINKS