A delicious drop…
This mysterious white object appeared in the sky last weekend.
How has the weather been for you over the last few months? It seems like I’ve been hearing stories of freak weather from all over the world – floods in Britain, snow in the US and ice storms in Canada. Here in Rio we had the hottest summer in 50 years. From the start of December 2013, right through to the end of February, we had temperatures that rarely seemed to dip below 35°C (95°F) and spent long periods well up above 40°C (104°F).
They say that the British are always talking about the weather, but I tell you what – when things get hot, the Brazilians talk about it a fair bit too! Day after day I would hear people complaining that the temperatures were insuportável (unbearable). I have to confess that I took a certain amount of pleasure in telling anyone who would listen that I positively loved the high temperatures. And after all, I spent the first 30 years of my life complaining about how cold it was, I wasn’t about to start moaning about the heat!
Then, in the last week or two, some mysterious white objects started to appear in the sky and not long after, the heavens opened. At first it stayed hot despite the rain, but in the last few days the temperatures have finally dropped too.
Now I’ll let you guys into a little secret – I’m actually quite enjoying the fact that it isn’t so hot anymore. This morning I went for a run in the park and it was just 21°C instead of the 28°C it had been a couple of weeks before.
And in a country that is so reliant on water to generate its power (Hydroelectric power plants produce more than 90% of the electrical energy consumed in Brazil), we are in dire need of more rainfall if we aren’t going to suffer embarrassing power cuts during the World Cup.
I don’t think I’m ever going to be a big fan or the rain or the cold, but after the longest, hottest summer of my life, I’m prepared to admit that a spot or two or precipitation can be a good thing. And happily it isn’t all grey skies and rain – I’ll leave you with a shot I took of the full moon rising in a clear sky over Guanabara the weekend before last.
The full moon rising over Guanabara Bay.
I find it really interesting how much Rio looks like minha vaca (Macau) in your full moon rising over Guanabara pic. I think the once Portuguese Asian enclave possesses a better variety of local dishes though, especially this one (yum) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galinha_%C3%A0_Africana.
Btw do you have air con at home? Please don´t tell me that you passed it up due to ecological concerns.
Interesting! I happen to know of a little Macauense place near me that serves that dish. I haven’t tried it yet though.
Mrs Eat Rio and I had prolonged negotiations regarding A/C and I eventually acquiesced, though only a small unit for our bedroom. I must admit it came in VERY handy over the latest few months.
P.s. Minha Vaca could be your best ever – Parabéns! :D
Thanks for the compliment. Regarding your air con policy I don’t think you’re alone since numerous sources have confided that Alex also keeps a small unit in the bedroom.
Crazy temperatures of above 40C for such a prolonged period. In Madrid I suffer for 6 weeks when it goes above 35C, but very rarely gets above 38C. While Sevilla hits between 42-45C.
It’s interesting – I’ve noticed that I’m totally fine up to around 38, but just a couple more degrees seems to make a huge difference. Much as I hate to admit it, anything over 40 is just a bit too much. 45 must be unbearable!