Journalled on Sunday, 30th of April 2023 | Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 26 degrees, sunny and slightly overcast.
As this Sunday is the eve of Labour Day, a bank holiday, Yasmin will stay with me.
I got up early as usual and did a heavy workout until about half past seven. I then stopped by the baker’s for two coffees, sat outside, watched the world go by, posted photos I had edited earlier, and afterwards went to the supermarket to buy food for the next couple of days.
Yasmin woke up at about midday. I was a little disappointed that she woke up so late, but she told me she’d been inspired last night and had been drawing until two in the morning. I did not ask her to go for a walk today because I wanted us both to organise our things for the move.
I told her to separate all her clothes, books, and other belongings, and that we would give to someone anything she didn’t want to take back to her mother’s. I get the impression that Yasmin is becoming more organised and tidier.
I don’t know whether it is because of me, because I influenced her as a girl, or because she is getting older and becoming more mature and responsible. Last week, she voluntarily organised all the kitchen cupboards with the pots and pans, cutlery, crockery, etc.; she did it very well; I was impressed!
She is beginning to value and appreciate her own space, to organise her things, her room, and her little world, and as she does so, she listens to music or watches videos.
At about four in the afternoon, I suggested we have a late lunch below in a Pé limpo (a clean foot, slang for a simple but clean restaurant, bar, boteqim) next to our building. Rio is full of botequims, Pé limpos, Pé sujos, clean and dirty feet; the secret is knowing which is which.
A significant cultural difference between Rio and Sao Paulo is that bars and restaurants in Sao Paulo are usually closed, with an ambience like in Europe or the United States. In contrast, in Rio, most bars and restaurants are open or extend out into the street, like a kind of alfresco dining.
I love botequim food; it is usually high-quality, incredibly delicious, and not expensive. With Rio being so beautiful and the weather so pleasant, sitting outside at a table in front of a botequim, eating and drinking with loved ones or friends and watching the movement is priceless.
Yasmin ordered a stroganoff, which was no surprise, since it is usually exceptionally good at this botequim, while I didn’t order anything. I wasn’t very hungry, so I just ordered a glass of wine, and we talked about life, its future changes, and challenges.
After the late lunch, we walked around the block, bought another açai, and went home. Yasmin watched a film; I watched another and was in bed by 9 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Thanks for reading my blog. Check out my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments.
Richard
