I will spend two days on my own in Rio, so I can recover from jet lag before the musicians arrive.
On Monday afternoon I go on a walking tour of the city's Historic Centre. Tour guide Lisa collects me from my hotel. She walks me to the Metro and shows me how to buy a ticket and take the train. I ask her if it's safe for tourists to travel alone on the Metro. Lisa says it's the safest and fastest way to travel around the city.
This knowledge is extremely empowering. Until now I've only seen the beachside areas of Rio, and, whilst it's probably the best area to stay, there's a lot more to see. Now I know how to get around.
Lisa is originally from Germany and also speaks excellent English. She launches into a lively commentary, starting with the settlement of Brazil by the Portuguese and its history leading up to independence. The story provides a fascinating extension of the European history I studied at school.
We visit ornate churches, grand squares and charming laneways, and finally we end up at the beautiful and historic Cafe Colombo. I order their special coffee which is flavoured with cinnamon and cocoa and topped with whipped cream, plus a Pastel de Caipirinha. It's a Portuguese custard tart with a caipirinha flavouring.
It turns out to be a five-hour walking tour. When Lisa drops me back at the hotel I'm tired, but still go for another walk, along Copacabana beach in the late afternoon sunshine. I wade in the water, allowing the waves to splash my clothes. It is glorious, and I can hardly believe I'm here.
I've developed quite a heavy cold, but luckily I have brought some cold pills that I can take on the day of the show, to stop my nose from running. And for the cough, the best remedy is to inhale hot steam. By way of risk management, I've brought a travel kettle (hotels here don't provide tea and coffee making facilities). So I can also have hot water to drink, which is soothing for the throat.
And the show is still three days away. By then I'll be fine.
I have dinner in the hotel restaurant, and check my emails.
So far, so good. As far as I know, nothing has caused our show to be cancelled.
There is an email from my musician friend Fred back in Adelaide. He has searched the venue's web site and has found this week's program, which lists our show "Australia & Brasil com Bossa". He has taken a screen shot, highlighting our show and noting with some curiosity the show by the music legend Marcos Valle on the following night. Fred's annotations make me laugh out loud.
Hooray! We are now officially on the program.
On Monday afternoon I go on a walking tour of the city's Historic Centre. Tour guide Lisa collects me from my hotel. She walks me to the Metro and shows me how to buy a ticket and take the train. I ask her if it's safe for tourists to travel alone on the Metro. Lisa says it's the safest and fastest way to travel around the city.
This knowledge is extremely empowering. Until now I've only seen the beachside areas of Rio, and, whilst it's probably the best area to stay, there's a lot more to see. Now I know how to get around.
Lisa is originally from Germany and also speaks excellent English. She launches into a lively commentary, starting with the settlement of Brazil by the Portuguese and its history leading up to independence. The story provides a fascinating extension of the European history I studied at school.
We visit ornate churches, grand squares and charming laneways, and finally we end up at the beautiful and historic Cafe Colombo. I order their special coffee which is flavoured with cinnamon and cocoa and topped with whipped cream, plus a Pastel de Caipirinha. It's a Portuguese custard tart with a caipirinha flavouring.
It turns out to be a five-hour walking tour. When Lisa drops me back at the hotel I'm tired, but still go for another walk, along Copacabana beach in the late afternoon sunshine. I wade in the water, allowing the waves to splash my clothes. It is glorious, and I can hardly believe I'm here.
I've developed quite a heavy cold, but luckily I have brought some cold pills that I can take on the day of the show, to stop my nose from running. And for the cough, the best remedy is to inhale hot steam. By way of risk management, I've brought a travel kettle (hotels here don't provide tea and coffee making facilities). So I can also have hot water to drink, which is soothing for the throat.
And the show is still three days away. By then I'll be fine.
I have dinner in the hotel restaurant, and check my emails.
So far, so good. As far as I know, nothing has caused our show to be cancelled.
There is an email from my musician friend Fred back in Adelaide. He has searched the venue's web site and has found this week's program, which lists our show "Australia & Brasil com Bossa". He has taken a screen shot, highlighting our show and noting with some curiosity the show by the music legend Marcos Valle on the following night. Fred's annotations make me laugh out loud.
Hooray! We are now officially on the program.
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