Shopping and flying day

18.07.2016

I decided to buy some stuff to bring home, but I thought it would take all day. I found what I wanted immediately (some bowls and necklaces, not really a tall order) and on the way to lunch, I saw a hair salon full of bored stylists. So of course, I had an impulsive hair cut. My hair was an absolute rat's nest after all the beaches and the lack of conditioner at the end of the trip. She cut a big chunk off the ends and I think she gave me a moisture treatment too. All for 35 reals. Sweet.

With my straightened out glossy hair, I went out to a fancy fish place for cupuacu, the Amazon's biggest fish. It was also fantastic, with crazy buttery potatoes on the side. I really need to hit the track when I get out of here! Blarg!

The bus to the airport was not far from the restaurant, so I walked over and caught one pretty quickly.

I had the strangest feeling walking into the modernist building in the middle of the jungle. I had been engulfed in chaos for so long, that maybe I forgot what it was like to be in a regimented and meticulously organized place.

I felt out of place, perhaps like Pocahontas in England. Everything seemed strange and new. My eyes disbelieved the clean floors and sparkling glass displays with products arranged in neat rows for sale. The shiny gems, designer clothes and beautifully packaged souvenirs were a little too much to handle so suddenly. I wasn't sure if this feeling would fade with time, but it was a little jarring and a little worrisome.

I got to Sao Paulo late at night and no one at the Tam Airlines desk would help me with my partial refund of the trip to Curitiba. I couldn't believe they wouldn't phone anyone at the main office in the United States to clarify what was going on with it. Amazing.

I found a hostel that I thought was near the bus station. It turned out to actually be a strip club. I don't know why. The people at the strip club didn't know what hostel I was talking about so they sent me to a prostitute hotel. Fine whatever, I'm tired, it's 50 reals and clean. There was even a little cupboard that spins to the outside, so that you could put money (drugs?) in there and spin it around to give it to the lady before she let you inside. I guess that's kind of convenient for them, but creepy for me.

I would also like to say that I have observed prostitute hotels in many cities and the ones in Sao Paulo are the loudest.

Manaus market