Rio is good for you!

This morning after an early breakfast I had an absolutely transcendent experience. I went for a long walk on the beach. I started out at Enseada Gloria behind the Modern Art Museum and walked all the way to Botafogo, about 2.5 miles each way. Now remember, I am not a walker. I drive. I have been walking though and this was a real test of how I did on the cruise. I took my shirt off to appear more native. No one wears a shirt on the beach. The sun was already quite warm on my back. As I mentioned before, everyone does this everyday. It was people watching at its best. “Walk-by” people watching. It was a very typical day. The beautiful people mingling with the not so beautiful people. The smaller airlines came in low in front of Pao do Acucar, along the beach landing at Santos Dumont about every 15 minutes. SD services the local flights while Tom Jobim International takes care of the long hauls. There were lots of yachts in the Enseada and at Botafogo, wonderful old wooden beauties, wide abeam and ready for partiers. The athletes were out running the “life course” with various exercise stations. Others were already showing off on the beach, thongs and Speedos the couture de jour. Venders were out hawking fresh coconuts. Fresh coconut milk is a great thirst quencher when you are out there in the sun. The walk back was easily as enjoyable without a hint of fatigue. It was as if Rio was telling me to stay, “Rio is good for you,” “see how you don’t tire,” "See how you don’t perspire” "Stay, don’t leave; Rio is good for you."