This place12 is so cool, it deserves a separate post. At the outset, everything about it in terms of location, entrance, building, etc. look rundown. But come 11 pm, it transforms into a hip samba spot where the dim lighting is just right, the live music/singing is soul piercing, the overcrowd (yes, I am using it as a noun;)) is fun, and the vibe is unique. There is hardly any place to move, and onlookers like myself are happy taking in the scene while random couples find space to break into a samba all around you.

Random observation: Every culture has it’s nuances when it comes to the dating scene. In Brazil, it is not uncommon to see complete strangers go in for a full-on smooch within minutes of making conversation at a bar/club/whatever. It’s not uncommon to see the hookup fall apart a little later, and the cycle repeating with the same person trying to swallow another stranger’s face. When we mentioned this to a Brazilian friend, he noted how weirded-out  he got in the US when he saw complete strangers grind into each other at a club. Touche my friend, touche…