Kind hearted Brazilians, a drunken Englishman and a girl named Death in the twist and turns of my visit to Shenanigans Irish Pub located near the beaches of Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro.

This is not the type of story you might often hear about in travel tales, because who wants to admit to going to a touristy spot where nearly everyone speaks English and it’s almost indistinguishable from some place back home, minus the collage of accents. Truth be told I didn’t mind this place when I wanted a stout beer or just didn’t want to struggle so much to communicate with whoever filled the bar stool next to me. I was never homesick during my 4 months in Rio but I was communication sick- that is sick of communicating with the same people all the time because they were the only English speakers, well fluent ones. If you have traveled along side someone, you probably have had this moment where it isn’t that you are tired of the person but need a different type of conversation, perhaps a different perspective.  So let me tell you a monkey’s tale of three very different experiences, all of which helped shaped my outlook on Rio’s Cariocas.

In some parts of the world what marks you as an adult is some long standing tradition driven ritual, in the USA where cultural ties don’t go far beyond French fries or pizza we only have one rite of passage. When you turn 18 you can buy a lotto ticket, a pack of smokes and go to a strip club, while all those things are great you are probably still in high school or just recently graduated and still not treated with all the adult privileges. That’s right, you still have one more bigger better birthday down the road that will make you into a real adult – your 21st.

Planning a round the world trip of just trying to get out of debt so you can relocate? Of course you are why else would you be reading this? Well my friend I am too, and in the giving spirit of sharing all my useless (or possibly useful) information that I’m flinging at you maybe we all can put a little more change in our pockets. I’m not boasting how you can instantly make $40K a year on your blog, no not here. This is more of how to be wise with what you have. I’m just trying to fess up to the fact that my loans outweigh what I make in 2 years at my current job yet I want to relocate out of the US in 2012. Also, I don’t make big bucks, I’ve had public teachers take pity on my paycheck, and if it wasn’t for loving what I do and the bonus free graduate degree I’d be job hunting. To be honest I really don’t do any of these right now, but I’m setting all of it out so I can complete some of my new year resolutions, and I’ll let you know how I end up in my goals.

Ladies, gentlemen and primates welcome to a new installment where I attempt to put the ‘brew’ in MonkeyBrewster.com Starting today I will be showcasing a new drink every Tuesday rated by me. Technically wine and liquors are brewed as well so expect more than just beer because we monkeys don’t discriminate when it comes to drinks. So what makes me an expert in drinking, what that gives me the power to rate and place judgment on the elixir of life? Well, nothing-you just have to take my word for it and maybe try a few for yourself to compare the difference and then share your take on it.

I come from humble beer beginning where Natural Light was the household favorite. I know you just made that, what I like to call ‘EwWwWwww’ face – that’s OK I understand but we all have to start somewhere. Today I enjoy a slightly more refined taste, but I won’t pass down a free Natty. Some personal favorites are Guinness, George Killians Irish Red, Negra Modelo and Itaipava (served super chilled on a beach of course), but as I said there are too few beers I know to really say I have a refined taste.

So you found yourself in Fort Wayne, Indiana and you are thinking “What the hell am I going to do here?” Well desperate traveler fear not for your favorite travel companion will steer you straight into an enjoyable drunken side-stepped staggering night. If it is baseball season, which is over for Fort Wayne’s beloved Tincaps, I recommend you go see the local team. They have a great stadium, inexpensive tickets and the necessity of any baseball game beer and dogs. If that doesn’t get you moving towards downtown I don’t know if you can be saved, because I have lost hope. Additionally, the downtown Fort Wayne area is no ghost town, while it isn’t a big city it has that feel to it in the downtown area which provides plenty of opportunities for a great night.

After you cheer on the home team, well their home team, find your way towards West Columbia St. for a collection of great bars and nightlife entertainment. There is the obvious choice of Columbia Street West on W. Columbia St, but I was carried away to a magical place of bright colors and bad haircuts. Ok so not everyone in this place was dressed like the 80’s but if you are feeling like letting loose 80’s style then Flashbacks on the Landing is the place for you. There is a host of great music and entertainment to be had with retro beats and clichés. In all actuality I really didn’t see any people dressed 80’s style, which is good because there was too much of the 80’s in the 80’s that we don’t want to tempt fate. The two nights I was there we saw the Tincaps out partying and a wedding party the other night with newlywed in full gown, to surmise I remember them coming in but I don’t remember me walking out, which usually means it was a good night.

After a fun-loving night I recommend walking around the downtown area during the day, the parks are a beautiful site to see. And if you end up waking up next to someone in the park, sit back and enjoy the view. Enjoy your Indiana travels because I can’t think of many other things to do in Indiana.

Since you can’t share a drink with me, share this post with others!