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4/6/1964 - First Impressions by James C. Brewer

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS JCB First Impressions April Rua trudente orais Ipanema Rio Janeiro Brazil Mr Richard Nolte Institute Current gorld Affairs adison Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Nolte There ocean difference between Rio Cape Town Both beautiful harbours Sugar Loaf Corcovado other hills which Rio sharp challengfng quality Cape Town Table iountain By comparison hills round smooth distance convey certain softness As Table Mountain reflects solid orderly South Africa Europeans Rio hills reflect relaxed flexible Brazilians People severe economic inflation political crisis after another without losing their warmth friendliness sense humour Perhaps their ability themselves their lives their oliticians grain humour which sustains Rio fantastic growth years overly congested where Cariocas concerned about future This congestion humid weather which prevails impression arrived Lagos hills However unable expand inland because hills Rio become apartments Copacabana houses these hidden storey apartment buildings In Ipanema southern suburb small court houses which matter apartments Urban Rio somehow finds people Those without money squeezed among million fantastic hillside fayela_s_ where dwellings sizes shapes construction thrown where faith alone keeps falling The become umble people noise inadequate public service There continual state disorderliness Rio borders chaos The erratic driving habits local Brazilians until recently spiced drivers ota_es something between which careened through streets occupants By recommendation traffic study removed southern sections replaced conventional busses The busses conventional drivers Between stops openings traffic drivers strive speed before slamming their brakes rider comes table tennis JCB I busses passing other abreast little Volkswagon sturdily holding somewhere between speed street service mostly always erratic Sometimes surprisingly somet disappears Post boxes removed short I found never collected Larger water pipes being according reports there plenty water We where water considered surety depend But northern suburbs weeks without water Everywhere before using Americans claim filtered water should boiled Electricity rationed householders writing being twice usually those times needed We because drought there enough water produce needed electrical power It rained every romantic eating every evening candleligh And congratulating ourselves which would affected electrical notice apveared sating there further supply which would within hours ShopDing adventure Food generally adequate there always shortages something Right sugar flour This supplies ofeverything short because every stocking One woman bough cases Brillo revolution Food inexpensive compared Africa States inexpensive Brazilians since prices inflationary currency Prices morning night And 6overnmen orders stable price particular commodity npears market until raise allowed Exchanging dollars another adventure Like housewife around possible change Here again rices change daily Amid frightening breakdowns things generally operate necessary degree somehow large continues function relative serenity Perhaps reason possible Brazilians carry JCB great flexibility imagination Nothing impossible matter state affairs There always If around otherwise would anything Brazilians masters jeitQ skill making We might never known about revolution until alerted friend Many Brazilians taken comDletely unawares Rio based newsmen actually country On revolution there strike protest there strikes another There lines stores there always lines Rio radio Federal Government controlled lared patriotic speeches martial music still small Portuguese vocabulary needn conveyed anything unusual going The story circulated about newsman arrived during Baster Week streets beaches alive confusion noise Noticing similar confusion later April assumed another holiday What mused holiday after another When received cable editor States demanding information about revolution could respond What revolution After Rio swarmed foreign newsmen absence dramatic revolution story interviewed other pictures scenery cooked pieces inflation This Braziliar tradition bloodless revolutions And probably ability funny keeps bloodless While realizing seriousn problems purposes behind revolution Brazilian friends still enjoyed making whole thing comic opera One friend described Post VI Copacabana taken minutes Colonel machine drove DK motor running while guards fooling around their And their cigarettes Nhen youngest complained revolution rainy another Brazilian friend explained raining would there wouldn revolution Just people world through refreshing Nell arrived Brazil chaotic moment We immediately thrown engulfed whirl Brazilian holiday revolution Images ideas jumbles Brazil country learn Right still involved business living fascinating business Rio Serely Received New York April