Falou! (All right!)
Conclusion
Now What!
Valeu! You bought this book and have read it to the end (or you started at the end and don’t have a clue what it’s all about). But if you got this far, have studied the lessons diligently, and passed the test, you are probably feeling a «bit» like a stranger in your own land. That being the case, you might be a Carioca and not even know it. Chocante!
Anyway, I sincerely hope that reading this book has helped you get over any rough times you might have had being a tourist in Rio. I never said it would be easy. Just remember: I wouldn’t trade this city for any place else in the world. It’s my city and I love it.
So, if the thought of going back to wherever you came from isn’t leaving you numa boa, pô, Rio could be your city, too. Varnu nessa, mermão! Call the folks, and put your house up for sale. And when you get back here, don’t forget — Aparece la em casa, viu?
About the author
Graphic designer, pianist, and mother of two grown sons, Priscilla Goslin is a natural writer. Born in a small mining town in the northern woods of Minnesota, she found herself on Ipanema beach for the first time at the ripe age of six weeks. Having made Rio her home for more than thirty-eight years, Priscilla attributes what she refers to as her cultural schizophrenia to the dichotomy created by her inherent sense of order and her fascination for the chaos only a passionate city such as Rio can offer. As she says, «Being a tourist is a state of mind, and I’ll confess to often feeling like a tourist in my own country. Now if I could only figure out which country that is…»
A speedy artist
When not catching waves off Barra beach or strumming his guitar, Carlos Carneiro can be found strapped into a cockpit in either Brazil, England, or the United States risking his neck as a race car driver. A bona fide Carioca — born and raised in Rio — his artistic talent was first recognized by his high school principal who, obviously not amused by Carlos’ creativity, suspended him for drawing on the school’s books, wall, and furniture. To this day Carlos still can’t figure out how he got finagled into leaving his helmet on the shelf long enough to illustrate this book. But as he concedes, «I’d even draw pictures on Sugar Loaf Mountain if it would help finance the next racing season.»
Acknowledgements
Many thanks and much appreciation to Carlos Araujo for his editorial assistance; to John Gluck for his humor; to Amy Hunt for her proofreading; to Chick for his creativity; to Shane and Sundance for putting up with the madness; to Gary, Diana, and Pat for their feedback; to Carlao for being a real Carioca and without whom this book would never have been possible; and eternal thanks to my parents, Helen and Finley, for their love and support, and primarily for getting me to Rio in the first place.
