Graffiti art is common, much of it well planned & executed.

Yesterday we changed our lodging. We’re now in an apartment approximately a 20 minute taxi ride ($4) north of our first stop. We went from hostel (but not hostile) to an apartment that lacks nothing. Believe this is the hostess’s home but she is/has been out of the country. She (Liliana) manages the property via Airbnb email, and with good relationships with her housekeeper and the doorman. Per Airbnb, she’s a Superhost, receiving all 5- star reviews from her guests.

Liliana had the doorman deliver a bottle of Brazilian red wine and some cheese. Now that’s how you get a 5-star rating. $32 a night. The same price as the hostel, where we paid a premium for location. Thirty dollars seems to be our sweet spot for lodging, though one could pay as little as $25 and up to $45 and beyond.

A list of items in this one bedroom apartment include: coffee pot and all typical kitchen appliances, coffee and basic kitchen supplies, beverages- soft & hard, snacks, washer w/ detergent, fully supplied desk, towels and all toiletries, tv, guide books & maps, you get the picture. A search for commercial lodgings in the area reveals a local hotel for $41 and a Hilton 12 blocks away for $180.

Outside our 3rd floor window ( yeah! Minimum street noice!) and across the street are 6 mini soccer fields – fun to watch. Thinking of you Ben B!

Every sink we’ve used, in the hostel or in a modern building’s restroom, has the normal two knobs, one of which works and delivers cold water.  The shower also has two knobs, again only one works.   But….that cold water passes through a water heater in the shower head, and provides endless hot water. 

Hours before the evening Christmas performance (to be detailed later),  side streets leading to the Plaza were particularly packed.   Cars take the center of the single lane and buzzing streams of motorcycles weave between the cars and curbs, taking every opening given.  Horns are used liberally when one doesn’t move quick enough or just to express annoyance at the situation.  It’s not unlike New York, except these street were built 200-300 years ago.

Such a traffic hot mess makes for an entrepreneurial opportunity for some brave fellas.  At this intersection, a block from us, traffic from the right has the right of way.  Moving so slowly that there are no openings, the traffic from their right can’t advance.  Thus enter the self-appointed local traffic cops.  He ( in the middle of the intersection above photo) stops traffic and waves a couple of the stuck cars through.  

Mr. Traffic Cop then  dashes down the street (above) to the cars he’s waved through (they haven’t gone far, traffic is still creeping) and hopes to collect a tip.  He then scrambles back to the intersection to again risk his life in the dark for tips.