“The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

It’s never easy to start a blog. But maybe this time it will be easier. My head is full of creative ideas, impressions, hopes and expectations ahead a two-months long journey to the other side of the world. Still, what to expect from your blog entries, Bence? – I asked myself wondering in one of the hidden corners of Heaththrow’s Costa coffee waiting for my flight to Sao Paulo.

Well dear friends, if you know me, you won’t be surprised by the delicate social, political and sport issues dominating my writings. So, don’t expect a plain traveller’s story introducing places, cultures, costumes and cuisine of my host country. Being a tourist is boring. Why waste your time in hotels, restaurants and packed beaches instead of discovering the true spirit of the place? One can only gain true experience through late-night conversations, personal interactions and exchange of views with local people. Thanks God, I cannot afford to stay in a 5-star hotel drinking my daiquiri at the pool having some empty chat with boring businessmen.

In the following weeks I will try to introduce this colourful wonder called Brazil, topped with a huge quantity of Olympic craziness and flavoured with some political and social and economic unrest. I have been long inspired by this country and the Latin American spirit. Finally, the perfect moment has arrived to take a closer look at the Brazilian way of living in a historical time for this country. This blog cannot truly reflect the first-hand experience I live in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but I will try to do my best in order to depict the true ‘Olympic Fever’ for you. Let’s see what comes out of it.

Episode n. 1:  Budapest – London – Sao Paulo

Boarding in Budapest. British Airways flight full of English pensioners having spent a long weekend in Budapest. Brexit is still the main topic in the newspapers so I take a proper English tea in order to celebrate the European freedom of movement and our common achievements. It’s a bit of a delusion, but my companions are not that talkative, probably some of them are still dreaming about the greatness of British Empire while consuming their well deserved gin-tonic imported from the Queens’s diamond territory. After having arrived to British soil – luckily - I still get through the border while waving my less-welcomed Hungarian passport with a huge EU Commission sticker on it. First challenge completed.

At Heathrow terminal 4, Geri, my ex-teammate welcomes me. He has been working at the airport as a check-in agent and due to his brilliant skills and competences he has been promoted recently. My dear fellow English pensioners: he is not that kind of guy who lives off benefits L  He even returns to Hungary for his medications just to avoid the overloaded British HealthCare system run by those unnecessary economic immigrants...but let’s leave the Brexit topic behind and head to BRAZIL!!!

My flight takes off at 10 pm, a pretty short journey of eleven and half hours is foreseen. Expected arrival time to Sao Paulo is 5:20 in the morning. The super-sized BA airplane looks like exactly the sky rider edition of a London double-decker. Due to some fortunate coincidences, I sit next to a US-educated, Italian descendant young Brazilian, Gabriel, with who I have some lengthy conversation about the recent developments in Brazil and his views on the Olympic Games. Although he is proud that Brazil is hosting this mega sport event, he also admits his fears and concerns about the level of organisation at Rio 2016. I am extremely thankful to this guy who later helped me to get around in this unknown soil and provided with much needed advices and tips. Muito obrigado!

The first two things I have to face in Brazil are a one-hour waiting before border check and an almost lost baggage at the drop of station. To follow-up, Guarulhos International Airport cannot be more distant from my accommodation for which reason I decide to take a transfer together with Gabriel and his family. This could have been a great money saving idea, but we had to realize that the minimum waiting time would be at least an hour till the next transfer. Bem vindo ao Brasil!

However, sharing economy rocks in the Southern hemisphere too: I use a uber ride to reach my destination which is a small and cosy AirBnB room in the south part of this enormous city. For European eyes, the extent of city is somewhat unbelievable and the level of traffic is unprecedented in this massive urban jungle. Upon arrival, Thais and Fabio welcomes me in my new accommodation which is situated in one of the newly built residences of the Southern part of the city. I take the liberty not to discover the surroundings but to have some rest instead.

To conclude, a big part of my presumptions and expectations have been proved already in the first days. Brazilians are extremely helpful and welcoming people who adore their country and culture. On the other hand the way of organisation of life reminds me somewhat of a lazy summer season in the Mediterranean Riviera. Festa até de manhã!