Bemvindo ao Rio de Janeiro!

OLA do rio! I'm here safe and well, let me update you on my trip in.

I flew to Lima, Peru and connected to Sao Paolo, Brazil via LAN Airlines. They had mid-sized personal TV's with movies and shows (Friends/Simpsons/Big Bang Theory in Espanol, Portuguese and English), and the food was not disgusting. Service was terrible, and they all seemed annoyed if you asked "hablas ingles?". I couldn't tell if it was something I was doing, but they all appeared to have the same attitude. Also, leg room was similar to Spirit Airlines; meaning knees against the seat in front of me for 16 hours. Last complaint: no directions about anything - no telling you how to board, what's there to eat, or how to get to your connecting flight. Pure guessing all along. Luckily I was able to sleep for most of it. I ended up trying to cram in some extra Portuguese lessons and studying what to say at the airport if I needed to ask questions.

When I got to Sao Paolo, I didn't realize i'd have to go through customs since I wasn't at my final destination. Since my last flight was just a domestic flight, it meant I had about 30 minutes to go from my gate, through customs, and boarded onto the next flight since it was a short layover. Plus, sitting in the window seat meant that I wasn't going to get to use the bathroom until the airport. STRESS FEST #1. All in all, I made it through and got to my flight (e o banheiro) on time. More embarassing studying (reading a bright orange "Brazilian Portuguese Phrasebook" on a plane of Brazilians) and I finally landed in Rio.

No hassle through passport validation, I went to change some dollars for reals (pronounced "hay-ice") and went searching for my driver from the hostel. I was looking forward to finally having my name on one of those signs at the airport. Only...I couldn't find him. The plane landed about 20 minutes late for whatever reason, plus I had to do some last minute paperwork and change money, but he was nowhere to be found. I started to walk around looking for a sign, and eventually figured to call the hostel and ask them where to find him.
Attempt #1 - Bought a phone card, then realized I had no idea how to use a payphone. There's so many area codes and things that I was just standing at the phone for about 12 minutes aimlessly trying to dial the number. Missed first free throw.
Attempt #2 - Ask around and find someone who speaks English to help me with the phone. Spoke to about 5 or 6 people and found no luck (which makes no sense, it's a big tourist city airport? no one? no english signs???). 2nd serve fault.
Attempt #3 - Try to get on Wi-Fi and look up how to use a payphone. All networks have only portuguese directions and I can't translate what they're asking for. Strike 3.
Attempt #4 - Walk outside and catch a cab. First guy waves me over, takes my bag and I almost get in. Asked him "how much" and he says R$100. Immediately grab my bag back and tell him it's too expensive. 4th down conversion fail.
Attempt #5 - Find a cheaper cab and get the hell out of the airport STRESS FEST #2.

Cab took me straight to the hostel, no issues, and I was thankful to be there safe and sound. Checked-in and was so happy to hear someone speak English at the hostel.

How's the hostel??? It's aiiiight.
Bathrooms - private toilets and showers, somewhat clean, sometimes no toilet paper.
Beds - comfy, no A/C (which is a big OOF) and kinda crowded as there's 18 beds and triple bunks in my room
People - lots of variety of people here. Tons of English people, which I tend to hang out with more often. I've met one Californian, one German, about 15 Brits and a handful of Israeli's as well as some Argentines. I don't feel like this place is incredibly social (people tend to be traveling in groups or have cliques formed already, but it might just be me? It's my first hostel stay anyway. We'll see how it goes at the next one.

Interesting culture note: Brazilians don't flush their toilet paper. You wipe yourself, and ball it up and throw it in a trashcan next to the toilet. Which means it always stinks in the bathroom. And there's a bunch of feces wrapped in paper in a big pile in a can next to you. What happens if you forget and flush it anyway? You risk pissing off the hostel people when it floods. What happens if you accidentally drop it in and THEN remember? Designate an eating hand, cuz one hand is gonna get filthy.

I'll leave you with that. Will update soon with pictures from various activities later. Take care and thanks for the well wishes and prayers!

Ate mais tarde!