Look at the two bottles of Jameson whiskey below. They appear identical except for size, but the liquid inside the larger bottle is fake. This is something I discovered about a month ago when we ordered whiskey and other things online and had them delivered to the apartment. The bottle has a taste like watered down Johnny Walker. We contacted the distributor who denied everything. I looked closely and could detect that the label over the bottle cap was not pasted down completely, but other than that, there was a label on the bottle showing some sort of Brazilian info. The bottles are genuine as well as the caps, so I don’t know how they were able to do that. I poured a little into small glasses, and the fake whiskey even has a lighter color. I now remember drinking Jameson at restaurants that have that taste, and next time that happens I will send it back.

Americans have a passion for bacon, but the Brazilian bacon is very different.  They do have the thin-sliced bacon in Brazil if you look for it, but this is mostly what you find:

I cut into small pieces and use it in my beans, but I have yet to try slicing it very thin and frying it. I am guessing the fat is desired, probably for soups. I am guessing this is something most people have seen in the US, just not me. I purchased a whole chicken to roast in the oven and upon unwrapping it, I see that the butcher was kind enough to leave the feet and head inside for my consumption. I didn’t really notice the head until I picked it up thinking it was just a large gizzard. No, I did not cook these, as they were donated to the lixo (trash). But think, how would anyone eat a chicken head? My research tells me they boil it and suck the brains out.It was not uncommon to see whole goats hanging in the markets in Russia, and in Ethiopia, one of my local technicians wanted to gift us with a lamb for the holidays. It was delivered fresh to the Embassy with blood still dripping out of the wrapping.  We took it home and put it in the freezer and gave most of it away, because it was just too much for us to eat.

This is a picture I posted several years ago while in Ethiopia, of a man on a bicycle taking his lamb to be butchered for the upcoming holidays.  I’m kinda thinking the lamb is enjoying his last ride.

We have a good friend who I used to work with, who has invested in a restaurant with several others.  We ordered some of the food online and got this:We were very impressed with that, and here is another online purchase.  It reminds me of the typical Brazilian BBQ where it is cooked, sliced and placed out for all to eat. The Brazilian BBQ is a social event with people milling about and eating with their fingers as soon it is served.Here is Dani’s attempt to make stuffed peppers.  Not spicy, but sweet with a lot of flavor.  She will get hotter peppers next time.  Someday she will make these for the Family Reunion.Okay. Visit more later.  D&D

That is all a man needs to past the time away.

Remember when I was at the other apartment and I used my slingshot to send marbles down to the local pet shop to get the dogs to stop barking? Well, I miss those days, too. But what I do to make up for it, I will wonder out onto my 4th floor balcony in the evenings and look for a victim. Usually, I see a few people walking to the metro station a few blocks away and when they are down the street at a good distance, I will fire a marble at them and see if I get any reaction. So far, no one seems to notice.Last night, I had the unique opportunity to fire a marble at an unsuspecting police car. It sat at the traffic light below, and instead of turning at the corner like they usually do, it continued down the street. When it went the recommended distance, I pulled back, and to be sure it traveled far enough, pulled it a little further and released. At that split second in time, one of the elastic bands broke free and the marble hit the corner of my apartment building, fell out into the street below and danced a little, then rolled down into the sewer. Tragic disappointment.

I’ll keep trying though.