As you might have guessed, yesterday was Gay Pride in NYC. This was my first time in the city for the event. I have to say New York really does it big. Josh and I started the day with a brunch (what else? It is the gayest meal there is) and then headed over to walk along the parade route a bit. I was amazed at how long the parade stretches here, from 52nd street, all the way down 5th avenue and then east over to Christopher and Greenwich. That is one LONG route, with every group imaginable related to gayness, and tons and tons of people all along the route watching. I don’t think I have ever seen as many at a pride event, and I used to live in SF, where there would be tons. As we passed through the Village we stopped in to see my friend John and his crew at Cowgirl before continuing on to the water. We ended the day with a dance party on the pier, which was much cooler with the breeze off the water, and the music was really danceable, even if we were hemmed in by hordes of the shirtless and the sweaty. I left before the end and took a pleasant summer stroll back to my new apartment and went to bed.
Now to finish setting up my new room and work space, and get back to website making…
The boys from Ipanema go walking.
We are totally loving Rio, even though we haven’t left Ipanema (and to be honest, haven’t even gone very far in the neighborhood). Our apartment is very well located and quite nice, a two bedroom, two bathroom affair in the heart of Ipanema. We went out to a small club with amazing music and energy last night called Galeria Cafe. It was really packed and oh so flirty and it seems that there is more public kissing here than in any other place I have ever been. I think a heavy lip lock often takes the place of a handshake here in Rio. Josh and I danced and danced and before we knew it, it was 5am. Today we eventually woke up and went to the beach, and although it was fairly overcast, we had a very pleasant afternoon, watching all the men go passing and saying “ah”…
Some clichés and stereotypes are true. Brazillians (at least the ones I have met) are really into their music. After a great and low key dinner with Gustavo and Adilson, we headed over to a bar with live music to meet up with the wild and lovely Carol (who is apparently having an affair with the singer). A few beers and some great standard Brazilian songs later, Walter joined us and we didn’t stop moving and singing until the place shut down. I was really amazed to examine the small crowd, their enthusiasm for the music and the movement, which for them were inseparable. I have always felt a little clumsy on the dance floor myself, so I was in awe of how fluid and connected everyone was to the music (especially Carol). I myself was never raised in a culture as musical as this and it was amazing to witness. And although I didn’t recognize most of the songs, they were so catchy that I was mouthing along whatever portugese-like things I could, swaying in my seat and feeling giddy.