Samba Night

Saturday, Mar. 5

I am staying in Maria Helena´s small room behind the kitchen. All apartments have such rooms here. They are designed to be either the maid´s quarters or a storage or work room. It is only about 1.75 m x 2 m (about 5 ft. x 6 1/2 ft). We have made me a bed on a fold-away pad along one wall. There is a ceiling fan, so it is comfortable.

I completely forgot this morning that I made arrangements to meet Ib at his wfe Anna´s apartment between 10:30 and 11:00. I got up at 8:00. Because maria Helena was out, I used her computer to check e-mail. I became involved replying to e-mails. Then Linese got up and we had breakfast. At 11:30 the phone rang. It was Ib wanting to know where I was.

Linese and I went shopping about 12:30 to get the things for our luncheon --beer, chicken, green onions, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, cachaça, limes, etc. Then I went out later to get some medicine and to get cash.

Maria Helena´s friend Claudia joined us to cook lunch. They have been friends since they were in kindergarten together. Linese and I removed the skin from the chicken. Maria Helena prepared the ingredients for making chicken and rice. Claudia made garlic bread and cut some cheese. I made caipirinhas. And Linese prepared a salad. Around 4:00, Maria Helena´s boyfriend Paulo came, and we ate. It was delicious chicken and rice flavored with saffron, peppers, and other ingredients.

Ib came in the evening. Around 10:0, Maria Helena and Linese got dressed for us to go out. Maria Helena wore a simple black dress which was short. Linese wore jeans with strings of beads down the side seams and a stretch, strapless top with a large numeral "5" on it. They both really looked great.

We went downtown to the Carioca Cultural Center. It is a club on the second floor of an old building from the 1800s. Two sides are lined with floor-to-ceiling folding doors which were opened to the square. The view looking out on the cobblestoned square was of an old colonial building and a library built in a baroque cathedral style. Beyond in the near distance were the spires of an old church. Inside, there was a live samba band with a singer. There were 4 rows of tables going back from the stage, and the bar was in the rear. The aisles were full of people dancing. So was the area around the bar. The music was great. This is a place that specializes in getting the best samba bands. It had an older crowd with most people being in their 40s and 50s. We danced until about 1:30. Then we all headed home, dropping Ib off in Ipanema and then returning to Copacabana.