Ipanema

I tried the continental breakfast this morning. Rich dark coffee with a selection of breads, pastries and cake followed by scrambled eggs and sausage [more like hotdog] and a buffet of fresh sliced fruits and ham and cheeses. Not bad at all. I then went on a long walk the length of Copacabana and back [ about 3 miles]. The entire city comes out to jog, walk, bike, stroll, mosey and be seen. There are yoga groups on the beach next to capoeira dancers, and military men running through drills [there are barracks at both ends of Copacabana]. Every size, weight, height, age, color, etc. were there. I think it's the first time I haven't felt selfconscious about my physique in years. Of course you must be tan. The rest of the day I have given myself over to Flavio, Renata and Caue.
Renata cooked lunch while Flavio and I walked Caue to his school. We then sat down for a feast of sauteed beef with onions, brown rice, farofa and a white root that is pureed with a little milk. It has the consistency of creamy mashed potatoes but it is being embraced throughout Brazil as the new, must-eat-regularly, miracle food. I drank fresh coconut water as a beverage. It is full of potassium and essential minerals and is very safe and refreshing to drink as it comes served in it's natural insulated container. You can buy it on the street most anywhere in Brazil.
We then went out for a walking tour of Ipanema. There are beautiful exotic trees along the streets with orchids and other tropical flowers growing in them. The shops are very fashionable and would stand up against anything in San Francisco or New York. Renata then informed me that the really good shops are in Centro. We stopped at one of the hundreds of fruit juice purveyors for my first taste of asai. It is served very cold in a tall glass with a spoon. I did say glass. This is a street side vender that serves their drinks in glasses. The asai was deep purple, almost black and I proceeded to get it all over me and everything near me. It is delicious. I then had a tangerine sorbet. There were fancy bakeries everywhere tempting us with deadly looking eclairs and cream puffs, ice cream cakes, pies and more pies. No wonder everyone was out exercising this morning. Tomorrow we board ship.