Partying alone

To be quite honest, as much as I love traveling alone, I really wish I wasn’t this time. It seems like I’m the only person who’s alone at this carnival, everyone is partying with friends, at least in couples! Everyone I met was really surprised that I’m on my own, and frankly, they have a point. Also, everyone else already has their pack, so I meet them and then at some point they just bugger off with their folks leaving me alone again. I mean, I’m having a good time and meeting people and all, but things get boring much quicker than they would in company.

Anyway, enough winging. Today I finally slept! Until 9am! So good… I hope it stays that way. I was wondering what to do, reviewing possible places to go, but however I look I already am in the best party place in the city, right between Copacabana and Ipanema where so much stuff happens! So instead of planning I decided that pretty much everything here is awesome anyway, and I might as well just walk about and join whatever I find.

Having seen people yesterday, I decided that my rainbow outfit will be just fine. I walked out in it, gathering some glances on the streets as turns out nobody else around was dressed up nearly as extravagantly. I guess it’s still early in the day. But soon I heard a party, joined it, and was perfectly at home. It was a bit small though and I got bored after some time, so I went to hang out on Copacabana beach. Even found an abandoned umbrella and sunbed!

I sat there for a while, a nice moment to relax. Then decided that I can totally go swimming as well – my swimming trunks have a small inside pocket perfect for the keys and a little money, which is all I need. I started heading home, but got distracted by another street parade, this time much better. I got quite into the dancing, and the costume clearly was a good idea – people wanted to take pictures, dance with me, rub their sexy bodies on me… That’s my kind of party!

I stayed there for a while, but eventually got too hot and decided it really is time for a swim. The plan worked perfectly, and my gods the ocean is warm here! And the waves! Amazing.

Back home, changed into the rainbow again, and on to the beach party! Or parties, I should say – Ipanema is about two miles long and there was a party every hundred metres or so, gathered around wherever someone brought music. I’ve seen club speakers hooked up to car stereos, speakers built into rubbish bins, built into beach umbrella stands… I walked the length of the beach stopping wherever I liked the music, finally reaching a big party on the other side. Danced there for a while, with much ass rubbing involved (it’s a thing here). It got dark and I figured that the ship had sailed, might as well stay a bit longer.

I got tired eventually and started heading back, doing about a mile per hour as there were still too many parties going strong on the way. Finally I got back and decided to write this before going to bed to stay up a bit longer and thus prepare for the late night parade tomorrow.

Now just a few observations. First of all, safety. I have not been in any remotely dangerous situations so far and everyone I met is great. I keep minimal stuff on, have it hidden, and use my trick of behaving like I own the place – seems to work just fine. I’ve seen a couple fights and a couple chases (after a thief?), but it’s what you’d expect at an event that size. It’s not bad at all.

Next, sex. With all I heard about the carnival, I’m disappointed. I haven’t seen anything untoward going on at all, not even much making out or topless girls, not even mentioning anything more. Every now and then strangers kiss, but they make a massive fuss of it here, with crowds around them shouting ‘beijo, beijo’ and cheering when they do kiss. Big deal. Much rubbing while dancing is going on, but it’s just dancing. Overall, with all the sexy people around there are surprisingly few sexy things going on – or maybe I just don’t see them.

Finally, the carnival seems to be the opposite of the Edinburgh Festival. In Edi everything happens inside and you hear all languages except English. Here everything happens outside and the only language you hear is Portuguese.