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.

My first night visiting Shenanigans came after reading up on it online with my fellow American roommates. We decided to give it a go and see if we can truly maneuver the bus system at night. Thanks to a helpful bus driver, we arrived safely at our destination. We plopped down in a little corner and before we knew it, we were chit chatting it up with some Cariocas that we were bumping elbows with. I like to think it’s because I’m cute and cuddly, but really my two blond female roommates probably had more to do with it. We ate, drank and told stories for what seemed like hours, until finally it was time to head out. Our newfound friends helped us to locate a taxi who tried to charge us 5x the usual rate. After some arguing we went off to find a new taxi, the second driver only wanted to rip us off 3x the usual rate. These Cariocas weren’t having it and finally located two taxis so we could all ride together. They made sure we safely arrived at our home in Botafogo. After they dropped us off, they refused to let us pay our portion. Then they squeezed into one taxi and headed off to their own home. They never gave us more than a name or asked for anything but ours in return.

You ever meet that piss drunk stereotype of a tourist that makes you hope and pray he is of a different nationality so that he doesn’t ‘represent’ you. Well, my first encounter was with a drunken Englishman who after barging into the bathroom shouted to all those around, asking how to say ‘Let’s go back to my place’ or ‘How about a blow job’ in Portuguese. Yeah, my thoughts exactly. This belligerent tourist clearly was pissing off everyone around: tourist, locals and the staff. Thus, he quickly found himself getting escorted out the bar. Three carioca men who were at the bar also happened to be on their way out when this man hit the wall – literally. He then proceeded to pass out on the stone sidewalk and make that awesome drool gurgle noise of a half coherent man. These three carioca men called an ambulance and made sure some of the watchful eyes in the park across the street didn’t dare come over to pick pocket this man. A few other locals walked out of the bar and began to argue with the three men on how they should leave him be and let him learn a lesson. But they stood by until the ambulance picked him up.

It was a cool night and I ventured off by myself ending up at Shenanigans chit chatting up a few locals and an Irishman who loved to talk – but he had that cool accent so I was kind of interested too. That is until I knocked over a huge glass ashtray; which landed on the foot of a girl next to me, yeah smooth operator style! After apologizing profusely, I learned her name was Death (ok so it was really Deth but close enough I mean come on!) The crowd on the balcony came and went but we chit chatted together as I pawned over what a friend told me earlier that week. “If you don’t kiss her right away she won’t think you’re interested.” While the validity of this comment is questionable let alone a stereotype, I decided why not, I haven’t done more than hug a Brazilian woman as of yet. After a mini make-out session we were kicked out of the bar as it was closing, each going our own way. Her friend hinting that we should visit such and such hotel, I decided to leave it for another day. I never called her but then again a sober morning will get you to question dating a girl named Death or Deth or whatever exactly it was.

What did all this teach me, well for one that not all locals who hang out at touristy spots are scammers and creepers. The other thing is to not to underestimate the hospitality and openness the world can offer you even in a large city like Rio and even with a girl named Death.

___________________________________________________________

Don’t forget to fling this post at others if you like what you see!

An Irish Pub in Rio – A Monkey’s Tale is a post from: Monkey Brewster

Well the other night was my brother Prometheus’ 21st birthday so being the older wiser brother I did what anyone would do – I took the day off and road tripped to see him. I picked up a bucket aptly renamed the puke bucket, pack of Gatorade, Alka Seltzer and some aspirin – experience has taught me these things are needed. The down side to this day of all days was that it was on a Sunday night, not exactly a party night especially when the birthday monkey had a 9:30 class the following morning.

‘Alcoholism!’ you shout, maybe so but you don’t have to say it like it’s a bad thing. In the US this is more than just being allowed to drink this is the mark of adulthood. There are no more age barriers for the rest of your life – except maybe retirement, access to Social Security and a few other old people things but that’s neither here nor there. This is put on your big boy underwear type freedom and let me tell you it doesn’t get any better than that. To be honest I think that the US should lower the legal age and look at alcohol like many other countries do and kids learn to appreciate it at a younger age. Depraving a young teenager the gift of a hangover is just cruel, especially if they break the rules and do get a hangover they have to hide it – doubly cruel. Alas, let me step off my box….

I took my brother out for some wings and beer for dinner, well beer for me the little guy was still 20 at that point and the stingy waitress was no fun. After a coma inducing throw down with chicken wings and potatoe wedges we took a mini power nap – what I said it was coma inducing and the All Star basketball game half time show sucked. Once 11:30 hit we gathered our wits, so we could loose them later, packed in the car and drove downtown to do some bar hopping.

The first bar we had a beer, my brother’s first was an Abita Purple Haze followed by a Jager bomb and a shot of Jose Cuervo. Well I asked for a shot of Jose Cuervo but the bartender fluffed it up a little – I’m fluffy enough I don’t need my drinks to be. To add insult to injury (other than my shot that is) they never carded the little guy – those bastards! So we went off to another bar and got him a fish bowl – no litterally it was a fish bowl filled with purple stuff. Then after a few more bars with their house specialty shots we ended at a laid back pool hall bar for some hot nuts. I know that sounds dirty but it’s a shot, just click the link you dirty human. We finished the night with a round of Dos Equis and let our designated driver (yes we were responsible) take us home.

The whole night my brother boasted “I’m not that drunk” which is true he was doing pretty good but it was still night. To say I was proud is an understatement, the little fur ball didn’t even puke. He did however feel like crap the next day, and returned home after making it though only one class. That my friend is where I left him, asleep on a 4 hour recovery nap before his next class after an intoxicating night on the town with yours truly Cornelius Aesop.

Do you have a good birthday story? Any recommendations for the next time I take him out or a must try drink or shot – during a weekend where wake up time is simply monday-ish? Leave a comment below and if I like it enough I just may make my brother Prometheus succumb to it, with photographic evidence of course.

___________________________________________________________

Don’t forget to share this site with others if you like what you see!

The Great American Rite of Passage is a post from: Monkey Brewster

1. Keep Track of Your Expenses – nothing was more of a shock to me than to find out how much money I wasted once I actually kept track of my monthly expenses. Let’s just say my alcohol and eating out expenses were each individually far greater than my grocery bill. I think realizing you have to write out that I spent $50 at the liquor store and still bought drinks at the bar was more of a deterrent than just the fact that I was spending the money. Click here to download a free excel spreadsheet set up to help you keep track of your expenses.
2. Buy Fresh – after reading through My Year Without Spending talking about Community Supported Agriculture or CSA I started to realize that I can be thrifty, environmentally friendly and eat healthier all in one swoop. Since I live in the Midwest currently and most of the local CSA participating farms only have eggs during the winter I plan to go full force come spring. I also spent last summer and fall enriching some dirt behind my house so I can plant a small garden keeping the money in my pocket feels even better yet.
3. MMB or Movies, Music and Books – All of these can be simply cut out of your budget if you just go to the library and use other free services like Pandora.com or Hulu.com (Sorry only works if you are in the USA). I did however give in and purchased cable for the winter months, furry or not when it’s below 10° F I’m not going anywhere. The difference is I only got the basic, no digital anything $14.99 a month cable plan, which will likely be removed come spring.
4. Live the Compact Lifestyle – Ok back to being influenced by My Year Without Spending I only wish I could remember who led me to this site. I don’t know how well I can fully live the compact lifestyle, which basically means not buying anything new other than essentials. My problem is I don’t think they list beer as an essential, which besides the obvious reasons has become a part of my blog with my New Brew Tuesday blog feature. The idea itself is great and I am taking it into consideration on spending my money on new things especially when following up on number 1 keeps reminding me of my loan debt.
5. Sometimes Hot Sometimes Cold But Always Gassy – My current residence doesn’t have AC so that isn’t even an option, but during winter I try to keep my house at around 55° F when I’m there and 48° F while at work. I rock socks, sweaters and my Peruvian chullo to keep me toasty. I bought new house slippers because my current ones weren’t keeping my toes warm, you think with socks and fur I would be ok. I also have the benefit of living near my work so once the weather breaks I’ll try to ride one of my bikes to work, motorcycle or bicycle. Hey, motorcycles use less gas than cars, plus if you ever seen a monkey on a motorcycle you would understand what it means to be badass.

I’m not sure which of these will work or if I’ll even follow through with, but I have my goal set so it’s up to me to take the steps to get there. If it helps any, winter is a hell of a motivator. What are you doing to save up for your own trips or to help become location independent. Where have you succeeded or failed?

I’m also willing to update or make changes to the shared spreadsheet, as I said I’m no financial expert or spreadsheet genius but if you are by all means fling your knowledge my way so I can fling it towards all my readers.

___________________________________________________________

Don’t forget to share this site with others if you like what you see!

Loans Will Be the Debt of Me is a post from: Monkey Brewster

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.

The only true way to know beer (wine and liquor) is to drink them all. Since I am now an educated monkey on the ways of drinking who lived passed that special night in the USA when a young primate becomes of age and can slam down their ID at a bar and say such things as, “Beer me blazer.” Oh that special night where I did try to consume every beverage the world had to offer in a champ like bar crawl, I have learned from you. No, I will respectively space out my drinks to one a week, or at least my posts so it looks like I drink only one a week. New Brew Tuesday, yeah you wish you thought of it.

To be honest if you have a refined pallet for beer tasting try sites like Beer Advocate or Rate Beer which I can proudly state gave a similar rating of my first New Brew Tuesday choice of drink. I did learn this fact after I rated my beer so don’t get started on this monkey see monkey do crap up on your high and mighty human high horse. Yeah, that’s right you have to be on a horse to be high up because you can’t do it on your own without the help of an animal. Yet, I digress so without further ado…

Name: Marke Altenmünster Maibock

Price: $7.99 (for the bottle not a six pack)

Made: Kempten, Germany

Alcohol: 7.5% Alc/Vol

The Maibock gave off a sweet almost honey like smell which I believe gave it its’ mild sweetness at first. The premature sweet taste gives way to a smooth dry bitterness a rich beer should have. I liked the label from one animal to another I can appreciate how awesome it must be to be immortalized on a beer bottle. If I were a nit picky monkey I would point out that the red stopper should have been green as well to add balance, but I’m not that shallow to mention such little details.

Overall I would have to give it 3.5 bananas out of 5. It is good, I can’t deny them that but for the cost I don’t know if it is worth purchasing over another typical German ale. There was nothing that stood out enough to warrant the fact that I could buy a six pack of something similar in flavor for close to the same price.

___________________________________________________________

Don’t forget to share this site with others if you like what you see!

New Brew Tuesday – Altenmünster Maibock is a post from: Monkey Brewster

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!

Tincaps and Flashbacks is a post from: Monkey Brewster