4:30am it is. I seem incapable of sleeping beyond that time. Wake up and just lie there… Hope Rio will bring a change.
My host from Rio, by the awesome name Eros, still didn’t get in touch with me. I messaged a couple times and I’m supposed to be arriving tonight… I called him in the morning to find out that his English is as good as my Portuguese – but at least now I know he exists!
Now, my time at the University of Sao Paulo wasn’t terribly well planned. I was doing very little for the whole week, and the longest and probably most interesting part was left until Friday, when I need to go to Rio. Moreover, I didn’t know this until Tuesday, so couldn’t plan my travel in advance. When I checked bus tickets on Tuesday, there seemed some reasonable options at the right times, but the website wouldn’t let me book them. Rogerio said I shouldn’t worry, just go to the station and get the ticket before departure. Today when I checked, there was literally one ticket left on the bus I wanted, and none for a few hours either way. It takes 7h to get to Rio, so leaving at 3:44 means almost 10pm arrival, and I really don’t fancy arriving even later… As I couldn’t book this last ticket through the website even with Rogerio’s help, I got a bit worried. Rogerio, with his unfazed calm and chill, said I shouldn’t worry because there is always a way, but offered to go to the station and buy it in person for me while I go around visiting people with one of his colleagues instead of him.
I went and it was really interesting, though took some patience – the checks and bureaucracy involved in letting us in to the place would make you think they keep secret weapons in there or something. UNIVESP is an online university which collaborates with a tv station to record videos and has great local infrastructure in small towns around the state. This was actually properly interesting and worth coming here from the work perspective.
The meetings were interrupted by stressful updates on buying the ticket… But he managed! For the right time! The last one! However, then miscommunication prevented me from attending the last point of programme – actually visiting the tv station. Rogerio said (I thought) the place is near the bus station, so I can end my visit at 3 and catch the 3:44 bus. Turns out it is not close to the station at all. So I had to cancel and leave early to make it. I couldn’t miss the last lunch with the team though! They took me to a neat buffet place where you just take food and pay by weight. Seems to be the way here, I’ve seen many similar restaurants.
I said my goodbyes and went to the metro station. Fortunately, getting to the bus station was straightforward and I had almost an hour to spare. I was hoping that I’ll have the time to buy sunglasses, but alas! I’m really puzzled – I’ve seen no shops that sell sunglasses yet, not even stands in tat shops. And people don’t generally wear them, although the sun is obviously quite intense! I don’t get it…
Much reading happened on the bus ride, and much thinking. Also, appreciating the countryside and frustration over the fact that I was always a split second too late to catch the photo I wanted. Saw lots of what I assume must be termite mounds. And cows. They don’t mind each other apparently.
The bus was massively late, traffic really bad, and the station extremely crowded. At midnight it’s 30°C here. The first taxi driver I asked for a price to get me home said RS100. I laughed and found another that said RS50. The driver was speeding hard and ran a few red lights. We arrived at Eros’ home after midnight, found he does exist indeed, and even has a friend who speaks English! The place is huge and pretty manky, and on a rather dark street, but it will do. Carnival music is blasting outside, fireworks flying, but I’m finally calm(ish) – after an entire day of uncertainty and worries, I did make it here! Now the only worry is not to get mugged over the next few days…
aeplja