Journalled on Saturday, 4 November 2023 | Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro: 26 degrees, hot, sunny and a little overcast.
It is early, cool, and windy, with the possibility of rain. I went to the Portuguese bakery and made an entry in my journal. I had two coffees before returning to the flat to pick up Perola.
I have some pre-planned fixed routes that I take with her. They all include, at some point, letting her off her lead at the park. She enjoys following me from behind, stuck to my heels like a shadow, and occasionally diverts to talk to someone or another dog.
I’ve mentioned before that I’m amazed by how much attention she attracts in the street; everyone looks at her. This walk: We passed in front of the beach and the park, so she was let off twice. She really enjoyed it. I believe we spent at least two hours wandering around Flamingo.
When we returned, Nalva and Yasmin were preparing to go to Livraria Travessa, a well-known bookshop in Rio. There are several, and one is very close to us in Botafogo. I wasn’t invited, which is even better, as if I had been, I would have had to pay. Instead, I used the time wisely to prepare four or five blog posts.
Since she has been upset with me and has stopped talking to me, I am incredibly disappointed in her. We’re not doing any family activities anymore. Before, we used to go to a restaurant a couple of times or take walks together in the street. That has all come to an end now.
I think Yasmin feels she has been treated unfairly or that I have been too harsh with her. Perhaps I have?
However, life is rough and tough, and if you do not see the reality, you can quickly find yourself in deep trouble. I have also noticed for a long time, since she was a baby, that my daughter never wants to move on, evolve, or improve herself voluntarily.
When she was a young child, she wanted to be a baby again. Now that she’s a teenager, she wants to revert to being a child. It is as if she doesn’t want to assume the new responsibilities of her new age or stage in life at that moment.
I have also noticed and said before that her mother and father being together doesn’t seem ideal or convenient for her. She does not like seeing Nalva and me together, which I find strange.
Even though I do not intend to resume any romantic relationship with her mother, children usually want to see their parents together, somehow, at least without resentment or fighting.
The final of the South American Libertadores football championship was in the afternoon between Fluminense from Rio de Janeiro and Boca Juniors from Argentina. The Libertadores is the South American version of Europe’s Champions League, where the best club teams on the continent compete to become champions.
It is also a fact that South America is home to some of the best football players in the world and football history, such as Pelé, Messi, Maradona, Tostão, Carlos Alberto, Zico, Ronaldo Fenómeno, Ronaldinho and many others.
During the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, droves of Argentinians flocked to the Country by plane, car, boat, and even motorhome to support their national team. This weekend, Rio de Janeiro is bustling with Argentinians for the Libertadores final at the regarded world temple of football, Maracanã Stadium.
My son-in-law, Mario, is Tricolour, referring to the three colours of Fluminense’s official football shirts: green, purple, and white, which are in the final. I haven’t had the chance to talk to him and find out if he got tickets for the match.
He is completely obsessed with Fluminense, just like his father was. If he doesn’t go to the match because getting tickets is difficult, he will watch the game with friends at home, with Jessica, or at a bar or restaurant.
Some bars and restaurants in Rio de Janeiro are associated with supporters of particular teams. So, no matter where he watches the final, he will be having plenty of beers with friends. I watched the game at home. It went to extra time, and Fluminense won 2-1. Mario was overjoyed, so I sent him a congratulatory message. Everything was good; his team won!
I opened a bottle of wine to watch the game and to work a little while drinking. It’s the first time I’ve had wine in two months. The wine was very nice, even though it was a cheap bottle. However, I felt a little guilty because I didn’t want to drink before going to England.
In bed by 10.30 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
