My Name Is Bela

For my first few days in Manaus, I was so excited to be on land that I didn't care what I did. As long as it didn't involve a boat, or the umbilical noose that was my hammock I was ecstatic. *sigh* I knew I would miss it one day, but that day was most definitely not today.

Helpful hint #1 when in Brazil:

The majority of women do not shave their legs. Don't stare.

I just need to say that Brazilians are bloody happy. I heard numerous things about Brazil in relation to this, but I wanted to see for myself before believing it. It's absolutely true. Dirt poor and living off rice and beans most that I met, but so content. They are unlike anyone I have ever known on this planet, not a care in the world. Really. Everything, even the language, just illuminated joy. They say "Oi!" for hello. Oye, like, "Oy mate! Fancy a cuppa tea, cause I'm an englishman!" or, "ahOY matey! I'm a pirate!" You try starting a conversation like that and keep a straight face.

Helpful hint #2 when in Brazil: (spelling in different, but for clarity's sake, it's all pronounced the same)

'Mais' means 'month' in Spanish.

'Mais' doesn't mean 'month' in portuguese, 'Mes' does,

But 'Mais' means 'more' in Portuguese

However 'Mais' doesn't mean 'more' in Spanish, 'Mas' does

But 'Mas' doesn't mean anything in Portuguese

KEEP IT STRAIGHT.

With every person I spoke to, every single conversation was exactly the same:

Ooo! Who is this? Where is she from? **SILENCE** (At which point I would change my answer from 'Canada' to 'The United States') Oh! Americana! What's her name? What? That's a weird name. I don't understand it. What's she trying to say? I don't understand that either. Let's call her Bela and take her around with us everywhere we go!

Every person, word for word.

Helpful hint #3 when in Brazil:

When they say, "Uma hora" and hold up their first finger to symbolize when the tour of the Amazon Opera House is, this means it is at one o clock. Not, come back every hour, for three hours.

With that introduction, I give you, The Amazon Opera House.

Before we proceed I need to warn you, I have a serious problem when it comes to fancy things. I'm not talking about phoney fancy things like checking into overpriced vegas hotels, I'm talking about things that are genuinely luxurious. Things that make your eyes twinkle. Things that wreak of invaluable worth, that look so good you can feel how expensive they are. Things that make you feel like a princess, make you dream. The Amazon Opera House proved to temporarily satisfy these compulsions.

First, you need 701 red velvet covered seats and a roof from Alsace France. Add, Tuscan marble stairs, statues and columns from Italy, furnishing from Paris. A dash of England for steel walls, and a touch from a sexy Italian named Domenico de Angelis to paint breathtaking Renaissance art on the ceilings and panels. Now, spin round and round in the middle while looking up at the chandelier over your head weighing 3, 000 pounds, and you have yourself a prestigious Amazon Opera House my friend.

They even had a dancing room, where you might catch yourself fantasizing about being dressed as Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice and meeting your one and only Brazilian prince charming at the ball.

… It just made me feel magical, ok?

Helpful hint #4 when in Brazil:

You be careful who you smile at.

I would now like to draw your attention to the fact that I am female. I have no attraction to those that do not fit my very specific description of: male. But, even I am noticing the women around here. (Except their legs, that can sometimes be a drawback) Some of them I've caught myself staring at numerous times. Once, one of them caught me staring at her and I looked away so fast it made me blush. Dead serious.

And so, she stands, her cello in hand at the Amazon Theatre. She has just performed her concert with Yo-Yo Ma for those 701 seats, filled with smiling Brazilians and, of course her prince. The applause is overwhelming, as she bows they all scream, "Bela! Bela! We love you! Encore!" Flowers and confetti pepper the stage like Christmas. Her gown sparkling, her eyes tearing, she bows, thinking to herself that was the best performance she has ever given.

Your final, helpful hint #5 when in Brazil:

"Mucho nieve" means there is a lot of smack in Canada, not snow.

Now you might be thinking, well of course she's not going to vacate the country now, why would she do that what with all this excitement and romancing women going on? Well of course, Brazil is an absolute gem, I will not die happy until more adventures have been had there.

But first… I missed a spot.

Bela.

P.S: One picture is atop one of the balconies in the theatre. The other is in the dancing room, finding my prince. Ta ta.