There is nothing like a different culture to make you feel like a moron. Anytime we step out of our comfort zones we must learn and adapt. And it is the simple things that leave us feeling stupid Simple things like how to use the elevator. (There are two sets of doors). How to turn the power on in your room (power is only available while the room is occupied, making charging things while you're out impossible) and then how to turn the lights off without cutting power to the room. I thought I had learned that trick in Australia. Apparently not! Just some of the other things I learned yesterday. As for today?

After a very good sleep, I was off early to take a walking tour of Paulista Ave which I found online. A walking tour of about 12 km.

Most of it consists of buildings -historical and otherwise. But along the way I discovered the gem of this area-Trianon Park. It is only two blocks from the hotel.

Trianon is a small park-a couple of blocks square- that offers visitors a glimpse of the Atlantic tropical forest. The park was established in 1892 for high society. Some parts of the forest have been converted into walkways or trails while other areas have been converted into playgrounds for children. Statues of nymphs, fawns, and other objects are far and wide. The park is the perfect way to take a break and I fell in love with it.

While in the park I found a group of about a dozen women dancing around a circle that had planets, stars, etc. I'm not sure but I think they were dancing for world peace. Don't know if they succeeded or not since I can't understand the newscasts.

In the afternoon, I decided to tackle the Metro. Didn't have a particular destination in mind but wanted to see if I could navigate my way around. It turned out to be quite easy and I plotted a route that required me to take 4 different lines to end up back at my starting point.

The system is very fast, extremely clean and efficient although the older lines are noticeably less nice than the two newer lines which are the nicest and most advanced I've ever seen. Tomorrow I will use it to visit some places further away from the core.

One thing I've noticed is the number of people that still smoke even though it seems everywhere is non-smoking.

The surprising part of the day was being mistaken for a Paulinista. I'm sure I must stick out because I don't think I look anything like a Brazilian. I'm much too white and am actually taller than the majority of the population. (A rare experience). It might be because I have quickly adapted to the pedestrian way here. That is that walk/don't walk signs are merely suggestions and nobody pays any attention to them. But they are good at judging traffic and going accordingly so I just tag along.

But three people stopped me in the streets to ask for directions with their maps in hand. They couldn't have picked anyone more useless. It didn't take more than a couple of words before they realized their mistake.

But I'm pretty sure that the third person swore a blue streak at me. A lady about 40 who seemed very nice and polite when she asked me for help suddenly erupted into a string of invective when I said I couldn't speak Portuguese. I haven't a clue what she said but it was pretty clear that she hated English and that as result I had to be the scum of the earth. Some things just don't need translation. Expression and tone are all that are needed to get the point across sometimes.

Tonight was Friday night and the street was a zoo. Traffic heavier than any I'd seen earlier and the streets were jammed. Every street corner had something- fire and brimstone preachers, bands playing for donations or to sell CD's, poets, singers and lone musicians. There was even a saxophonist doing a remarkably good version of "The Girl From Ipanema." I thought that would be sacrilegious here. There's nothing good in Rio according to those here or so I've read.