Ipanema at Starbucks

I just entered a contest online to win a trip to Costa Rica. It was easy and fast; I usually don`t spend time doing things like that. Someone had told me that the theme at Starbucks right now is Brazil. I browsed the site and that is definitely the theme. Coffee from Ipanema right now is their suggested bean buy. It`s weird how Starbucks has had a running theme in my life for the past 3 years. When I got back from Guatemala I first started working there. At the ridiculous training classes everyone is required to go to, they were showing the process of coffee-making right from the bean and showed a lake in Guatemala I had just been at a few weeks before. It was kinda crazy to have that little connection. Then, right before I left 8 flippin` months ago for Brasil, they had a Brasil them going on. Now, again, it has returned. And Ipanema! I loved that place. The people, the smell, the soft sand and big waves....delicious.
I read another SALTer`s blog this morning. She had gone para gliding and said something about how it didn`t give her that thrill she thought it might have and was questioning what it was going to take to put that feeling in her stomach. I thought the same after hang gliding! It`s true how just walking through the city alone or dodging traffic on my bike is more scary. It probably wasn`t the best thing for me to read her blog and see all her pictures because I began to feel a bit jealous that I`m not having all those adventures. She`s in Bangledesh and has to wear totally different clothes and has been to several of the surrounding countries. It`s too dang expensive to just travel here in Brasil. It`s a huge country with higher prices for quality services. Rio was my one adventure, and I wouldn`t take it back for anything, but can`t help wonder how if I were in another country (another continent) my adventures would be completely different, include a lot more hiking and cheap travel. But I can`t let myself think about it too much (that reminds me of a C.S. Lewis quote that I don`t remember right now).
I am going to go here pretty soon to drive my CR to the dentist. I am practicing driving today because when my parents get here I will be their motorista and need to know how to be a defensive driver.
79 days and can`t wait for hot showers. Today I was jumping up and down to try to speed up my heart rate before entering into the freezing water. I didn`t wash my hair. I couldn`t stand it for too long.
I keep smelling Baja Fresh and Red Robin.... chai, jamba, frozen yogurt.