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Dystopian Rainiverse

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After our New Year’s trip to the Coca Cola rivers of Ibitipoca, we arrived back late last night in pouring rain. Apart from a short period just as we arrived, it rained the whole time we were away. It is still raining now. The last few days reminded me of a short film I saw many years ago – a dystopian future world where it rained all day, every day without a break. Every seven years the sun would come out for just one hour, then the rain would restart. Through the magic of Google I have just discovered that the film was based on a short story by Ray Bradbury called All Summer in a Day (read it here or, if you have 30 minutes to kill, watch it here).

Taking photos of rain is not easy! I just hope I don’t have to wait 7 years to see the sun again…

 

Of course I’m being a little melodramatic here. We actually had a lovely time away in Minas Gerais and once I have a little time to sort through my photos I’ll tell you all about it. But for now I am going to continue being melodramatic. Or maybe I can drop the “melo”, because there was quite significant drama on the way home yesterday.

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Split sky

Tidying up and moving…

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Hi everyone!

Just a quick post today as we had a party last night and I’ve been clearing up and cleaning the house all day. Here is a photo taken from our balcony yesterday as we were preparing for the party – dramatic right?

Split sky

The rain and clouds were moving away, to the right. Does the rainbow (on the left) look a bit fake? I promise it isn’t! We hoped it would be a good omen that the storm clouds were leaving us in time for the party, but unfortunately there was plenty more rain to come. Luckily the birthday girl got so drunk she didn’t notice!

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The Herbs are Smoking!

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The best way to describe recent weather in Rio would be ‘changeable’. Yesterday was blisteringly hot, then last night there was a torrential downpour (just after got home – yes!). This morning I woke to a rather tedious drizzle which reminded me of England. 


A day or two of rain doesn’t really bother me (well, unless those two days are Saturday and Sunday!) – I actually rather like a bit of mixed weather. And it seems that I’m not the only one!

 

This Basil ain’t Fawlty! In fact it is getting a little bit too successful.

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The Emperor’s Tree, Freed by Slaves

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One of the things I love about life in Brazil is that there are plenty of public holidays. Next Tuesday is the ‘Proclamation of the Republic’ holiday and seeing as it lands on a Tuesday, many people will get Monday off work too. Four days off work just as the summer is getting going? Yes, I’m pretty happy about that. Of course the weather forecast is showing 4 straight days of thundery rain, but right now the sun is shining and I’m heading off to Jardim Botanico, Rio’s botanic gardens. 

The Imperial Palms of Jardim Botanico.




The huge Imperial Palms (Roystonea oleracea) of Jardim Botanico are hard to miss, having been planted in great avenues lining many of the paths. These long-lived palms form a fascinating part of Rio’s history. 

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Sun For Sale

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If you Google “What to do in Rio when it rains” you will get a lot of hits. That’s because most of the nicest ‘Rio activities’ involve being outside – lazing on the beach, a churrasco at a friend’s place, a walk to the waterfall, wandering and sight seeing. And of course rain = clouds = you won’t see much from the lookouts at Pão de Açucar or the Cristo. 


When it starts raining, many people seem to go into suspended animation, cancelling everything until the rain stops and normal service can be resumed. 

 

Call everyone to cancel the churrasco, ensure you have plenty of snacks in the house and then prepare for an 80s movie marathon…


But it doesn’t have to be this way! If your event simply can’t be rescheduled and you have enough cash, then there is a solution. The answer lies with an indigenous spirit named Cacique Cobra Coral.

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