May 1,

I did not sleep well – had a bad, weird dream. I woke around 0300, due to the dream and could not get back to sleep until 0600. Jeff did not sleep great either. He’s having trouble with the bed. It is like memory foam, but a dense harder version. When we reawakened my back was sore so I did a session with the TENS unit (Jeff has had to use it a couple of times already). So I guess I’m not a fan of the bed either. Anyway, we set about to our Javas and breakfast of oatmeal with the last of our granola and coconut yogurt. We enjoy coconut yogurt and it has been awhile since we have had it. My coffee stash is getting low so we will get a replacement batch today.

When we finished breakfast, I blogged about yesterday as Jeff read/planned. We readied and left. Jeff had found me a top rated coffee roaster and it was only one km away. We arrived around one at Cafe ao Leu, which translates as Coffee at Random. They had at least eight different kinds! I was debating between two flavor profiles when I saw the name of one was Cafe da Paula, I kid you not!!! 😂🤣 Well that was like kismet! They did not have any of that kind open to sample, but had one that was a similar profile. I tasted it, liked it, had them course grind the beans – buying the bag of Paula’s Coffee. Now my Random Paula’s Coffee is literally and figuratively Paula’s Coffee. What a hoot!!! It cost 65,00 BRL or $13. That was a decent price. So overall a great experience and Jeff did not have to wait that long since I didn’t have a full cup of coffee.

As we were leaving we saw more dog walkers, but these appeared to be the owners, as they were just walking one or two dogs each. A golden retriever-type dog was tired and had stretched out on his belly cooling off on the cobblestone. His owner was talking with someone, and the dog was taking advantage of this. He looked like he had just been groomed – his coat glistened. I had to get a picture. Then as we walked we saw a lady with two small dogs, they seemed just groomed too, having little bows on their leashes. Their tongues were hanging out like the previous dog’s. I can’t blame them, it is still muggy, but not as bad as yesterday…and the temperature is lower. Most likely this is from the rain this morning. I don’t know how much rain fell, but the uneven cobblestone sidewalks have puddles. Anyway, as we walked we noticed the bannered scaffolding that will block the streets closest to Copacabana Beach. This is where Shakira is due to perform tomorrow night. It is a free concert, so I imagine this place will be packed! They forecast a million or more people. We thankfully will be gone, as we leave tomorrow morning.

Around 1330 we came to Stambul Comida Arabe, which means Istanbul Arabic Food. We had a starter of- Babaganuj, or Baba ghanoush, which they described as ‘eggplant spread with sesame seed butter and mint’ and a main for two of -Cafta de carneiro e arroz com lentilhas, which they described as ‘Lamb cafta(kofta) and rice with lentils’. Jeff had a Chopp Brahma- a draft beer and I had a Limonada Suica- a ‘Switzerland lemonade (lemon, water , sugar and ice). We were given pita for our Baba ghanoush. It was not as good as some, but did have a minimal smokey flavor. There were four different bottles of sauces – all had their name on them – a garlic, a Worcestershire, a Chili, and a chili with tahini. When the main dish arrived it was a heaping pile of rice and lentils topped with homemade French-fried onions and two, foot long skewers of ground lamb with herbs. The rice and lentil combo was unique and good, we jazzed it up with the garlic and Worcestershire sauces though. We had half of the rice and lentils left so we got them to go. The meal was 146,19 BRL or $29.32.

We went back home and Jeff had a TENS unit session and a siesta – he did not get as much of a “second sleep” as me. I blogged this entry and then I laid down, as Jeff went to the for some wine. He said he saw a lady walking a great dane and a chihuahua, and people were grinning at the sight as was he! Today was dog watching day!!(HEE-HEE) We heated up our leftover rice and lentils that we’d seasoned with some of their sauces before we left. The day was simply living somewhere else, but probably our last time in Rio de Janeiro.