Português of the Week

comemoração - celebration

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Apartment Search Begins

Rio de Janeiro isn’t unlike Los Angeles.






Each city's got its dualism.

LA has the Eastside and the Westside while Rio’s got Zona Norte and Zona Sul. The south zone boasts the tourist-filled beach communities of Copacabana and Ipanema, reminiscent of the Santa Monica/Marina del Rey scene. On the other side of town, the middle class, endless and invisible at the same time, dwells in the north zone—the humble, working-class side of life. Before I pick a place to rest my head, I gotta choose a Zona.

Walk up the Escada de Azulejos da Lapa (Tiled Stairs of Lapa) and you’ll find yourself passing the art galleries and coffee shops of Santa Teresa. With a view of both Zonas, Santa Teresa somehow manages to resemble neither. It proudly claims Rio’s bohemian quarter. The countless dreadlocks along Rua Almirante Alexandrino make me feel like I’m in Venice Beach. But once that sun sets you’d better have a good game plan. Things can get a bit sketchy.

Then there’s Niterói—the municipality across the bay. I’ve met some cool peeps from here. Though inconveniently located, Niterói seems to be a smidge more comfortable and spacious than the city proper. I’ve never actually been, but it seems a bit South Bayish. You know the whitewashed, culture-void masses of Redondo and Manhattan Beach? Sure I partake in the occasional surf session at Porto and happy hour beer at Sharkeez, but if I’m going somewhere to live, I need to be in the mix.

The first phase of my apartment search consists of scouring Rio’s version of craigslist—www.easyquarto.com.br

If my Poor-tuguese doesn’t make things hard enough, the record high Rio-estate will.

http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-real-estate/rio-rental-market-up-for-high-season/

I guess it’s just gonna come down to some good old fashion luck—for which I’m due after the last Vegas trip.

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