Keeping Your Home Safe When You Travel

I travel a lot which means I'm away from home and it also means that I think about home safety and security.  I have a few things that I do but I'm always on the prowl for tips and useful information on keeping my home safe.  I live in a condominium and recently received a notice under my door that our building had two break ins.  Both break-ins occurred when the home owners were out of town.  This means that someone must have known they weren't home.  You couldn't get any closer to home than this so I decided to do "Ja'Vonne's Travel Minute", a weekly travel vignette that I do on our show The Traveling Eye on keeping your safe when you travel.  Doing my research I came across an article in Readers Digest titled "13 Things You Never Knew About Home Safety". While not all of these tips are for when you're away, a lot of them were.

1. Sock away your valuables in your children's room because most burglars don't go in there.
2. Plant thorny bushes under a low window.  It's decorative and a deterrent
3. Ask a neighbor to be on the look out for fliers in your door and collect them if they're there.  This is a trick burglars use.  They leave a flier and then come back later to see if it's still there.
4. Turn your phone ringer on low or off
5. If you don't have a security system get a decal for display
6. Join a neighborhood watch
7. Don't load up the car until the morning you're leaving
8. if you have a security key pad make sure the display it is not visible.
9. Take care of mail slots that are in doors.  There's a more strategic place for it.
10. Keep your car keys next to your bed on your night stand
11. Store wood away from windows or any home entry point
12. When you have workers in your home do a security sweep of your home when they leave.
13. choose your locksmith wisely.

Ja'Vonne Harley, The Wanderlusting Foodie
Co-host, The Traveling Eye
Co-owner, Advantage International, LLC

The Taste of Rio

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Rio?  I bet it's not food!  Well, Rio has wonderful food. Of course, you can partake in continental cuisine, everything from pizza to burgers, the usual comfort foods. And, of course you can go to a fancy restaurant for nouveau this or that and fusion this or that but Rio is a casual place and all about it's culture and people.  So... we went for the local and national dishes.  The dishes and foods that tell you the story and history of the people.  I always say, if you want to know someone find out what that they eat and how it's prepared.  You're sure to get a story as well.

We started our food tour with one of the most famous style of restaurants in Brazil, the churrascia.  This is a Brazilian steak house or BBQ.  Churrascaria's have made their way around the world and gained popularity among meat eaters.  I remember my first visit to Rio in the 80's and eating at a churrascaria.  Then it was a plain and simple feast.  Meats were brought to your table and carved onto your plate.  Your table was set with sides and that was it.  There was no salad bar or sushi bar and there was no seafood.  But, with the growth of the churrascia, over the years I've seen this change not only in the states but in Brazil as well.  Now, they are complete with seafood, salad bars and sushi.  You may see some variances at the different restaurants in what they serve but the one thing that remains the same is the BBQ, the meat.  This is what we all come for, when our taste buds crave meat and we allow ourselves and our insatiable appetite to feast.  On this trip we went to the Churrascia Palace, just a block or two from our hotel in the Copacabana area.  The Churrascia Palace is a fairly small restaurant. In the back is a banner sized mural with caricatures of famous people.  Below the mural and mirror is a small stage with a piano.  Some nights there is a piano player.  We were there for lunch so no piano player. 

 

Just after we were seated a gentleman came to our table with a cart of libations.  We went for the caipirinha since it is the national drink.  Here the caipirinhas are made to order table side.  Fresh limes are muddled with sugar until the juice is extracted.  Then, the glass is fill with ice and cachaca (a Brazilian brandy made from sugar cane).  The contents of the glass are then poured into a shaker and shaken until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and finally poured into a glass and now yours.  Delicious and the perfect drink to go with all that meat.

 

And now it begins, the parade of servers with meats on large skewers presented to you for your selection.  Yes or no to lamb, chicken, shrimp, beef, sausages, pork and ribs. There are some traditional sides on the table but we ignore them just as we did the salad bar and sushi bar, that we didn't even realize was there until later. Not that they weren't worthy but we came for the BBQ and were a bit narrow sighted.

Our next food adventure is Feijoada.  Feijoada is the national dish of Brazil that historically gets it roots from the slaves.  Scraps of beef and pork like the ears, tails and feet were given to the slaves and they made a delicious and soulful meal out of these scraps along with black beans and rice.  I'm told that when a family prepares Feijoada they spend all day in the kitchen and all afternoon and evening at the table with friends and family.  Just don't forget the music and some caipirinha's.  I would absolutely love to enjoy home cooked Feijoada with a Brazilian family.  Maybe I'll be able to do so on my next visit.  For now and much to our delight we are enjoying Feijoada at the Casa de Feijoada.  Casa de Feijoada is a quaint restaurant located in the Ipanema area.  I just love the atmosphere.  The first thing we are served is a black bean soup and an aperitif made with cachaca and fruit juice.  We were given passion fruit, lime and honey to try.  The alcohol really helps with the heavy and hearty meat dishes. 

 

We were talking and all of sudden we heard this sizzling sound and pots of sizzling meats and juices were placed on the table along with various sides like black beans, rice, pork rinds (not the kind from the bag but made fresh), collard greens, manioc (a root that I think is a lot like yucca), farofa (toasted and ground manioc) and hot sauce.  While here, the pots are not filled with the aforementioned parts of the pig, the meats that are in the pots are seasoned with them.  Our pots are filled with beautiful cuts of meat and the most delicious sausages.  Everything goes so well together.  OK, now our bellies are full and we could go to sleep.

It just keeps getting better.  After our tour and visit to the Rocinha community we head to lunch at a restaurant named A Mineira.  We had no idea what we were in for.  A Mineira is a chain restaurant throughout Rio and Sao Paulo and features cuisine from the Minas Gerais state, the second most populous state in Brazil that is very rural and has much farm land.  It appears to me that this is a mix of Brazilian fare.   A little bit of Feijoada, BBQ and other local favorites and very typical South American flavors.  I love that the price is right and even though it's a buffet, the food is fresh, delicious and still tastes home made.  They also have a tasting of cachaca served in a mini barrel with tiny glasses.  You can help yourself to as much as you want but be careful because this is not flavored or watered down and can put some hair on your chest.

On our last night we went to Lapa, an area in downtown Rio where the locals hang out on pedestrian streets at local bars and eateries.  Some of the streets are always pedestrian but some of the main streets become closed to vehicular traffic on certain days and during certain hours.  The vibe is relaxed and lively at the same time.  How can that be? Well, people are just chilling with food, drink and conversation but are alive with the spirit of a good time.  That's what I mean and as I said on an earlier post "I'm a bit jealous that we don't have that same attitude towards enjoying life, plain simple life".  How does this fit into the food tour of Rio?  We parked ourselves at one of the restaurants.  The restaurants are small and have the option of indoor or outdoor seating.  We chose outdoor seating.  The local favorite or bar food, fried chicken pieces with french fries and a bottle of local beer.  This style of fried chicken is called Frango a Passarinho.  The chicken is cut into small pieces with the bone in, seasoned with salt, garlic and herbs and fried to perfection.  Giordanna, our guide tells us to squeeze lime juice over the chicken, it adds that extra tang.  I fell in love with this dish and ordered it again when we stopped at a kiosk bar on the beach of Copacabana. The other is pao de quuijo, these are little bread rolls with cheese made from cassava flour from the manioc and cows milk cheese, I liken them to little cheese pillows.  They are served warm and are nice and chewy.

Caipirinha's, Brazilian Beer, Churrascia, Feijoada, A Mineira, Frango a Passarinho, pao de queijo.....Try them all on your visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and inhale and digest the soul of nation.  You're sure to bring back a story or two from the experience.



Saude! To your health in Portuguese!

"Remember, the world is a book and those who do not travel, read only a page"

 

Ja'Vonne, The Wanderlusting Foodie, aka, Chica (A name I gave myself in Rio)

Co-Host, The Traveling Eye
Co-Owner, Advantage International, LLC
Photos by Howard Little/VideoTwist Productions

I Believe I can Fly.......

I believe I can touch the sky.  I think about it every night and day. Spread my wings and fly away....OK, you get my drift.  I went hang gliding with Go Up Brazil, a company that provides hang gliding and paragliding adventures in Rio de Janeiro.  I anticipated this adventure from the moment I left Chicago.  I thought about it each day and got more and more excited.


When the car came for us at the hotel to take us to the site we were ready.  In the car I was singing.  I guess badly because the driver turned on the radio.  Was this a hint? Gene, Bonnie and Howard all tried to ignore me but it was OK because I was giddy with excitement.

Gene getting ready

Howard, Chico Santos, Ja'Vonne & Gene

Gene is always my partner in crime and goes along with my adventures and a few of his own.  Bonnie said from the beginning "y'all have fun" and Howard, well he was talked into it or should I say coaxed into it.  I think he really wanted to back out but machismo got in the way.

By the time we made it to the top of the mountain to a place called Pueblo Bonito, I was beside myself.  I was like a jumping bean.  When my pilot introduced himself to me I hugged him.  He didn't seem surprised by this? He spoke fast and as he instructed me he always finished with OK?  He and his son hooked me up to the glider and put my helmet, then the instructions began.  You stand to the side of me OK?  Always to the side of me, never behind me OK? When we ready to go, together we run, maybe ten steps OK? OK, let's do it for practice.  Together we ran about ten feet at a fast pace.  It's hard to run when you're connected to the glider.  That was the extent of my training but since he said he's been flying for more than 20 years I'm OK!

Now, we're ready....We walk over to the platform that angles down and then drops off.  There's a person in front of me so I have time to gather my thoughts.  Wait, why is he walking me down towards the end of the platform in front of the other person? It's my turn? I'm going first?  Before I had time to think he says OK, we go RUN! Off the platform and mountain we go.  I'm flying or shall I say gliding.  I immediately forget that I just jumped off of a mountain 1600 feet above ground.

I'm gliding high above Rio de Janeiro.  In front of me is the ocean and beach.  To my right is the side of the mountain.  Off in the distance to my left is part of Ipanema beach.  Below me are fabulous homes along the mountain with swimming pools, tennis courts and sprawling scapes.  We go left, then right, then over the ocean.  We're gliding and I'm taking it all in.  Occasionally he says look at the camera and smile.  Then he says you can let go...spread your arms wide.  This is a freeing experience.  I don't want it to be over, but it's time to land.  He reaches down and unhooks my legs from my vest.  Now, my legs are dangling where before they were behind me.  We go over the ocean and make a quick u- turn back to the beach.  This maneuver speeds us up and is thrilling!  I actually want to make that maneuver again.  As we approach the make shift runway on the beach (Pepino Beach) he says...When I stop the glider you take three steps OK?  I say OK, but I wind up on my knees.  I forgot to run. LOL.  It's all over but I'm still smiling. What an adventure!  One more thing checked off my life list.



Ja'Vonne Harley, The Wanderlusting Foodie aka Chica

Co-Host, The Traveling Eye

The must sees in Rio

There are places you visit where no matter how many times you visit there are sights you still have to see.  In Rio, Christ the Redeemer, Ipanema, Copacabana and Sugarloaf are those sights.

Christ the Redeemer statue is symbolic to Rio.  It's the one structure that is recognized as the city's image and is now one of the wonders of the word.  Arms stretched wide to welcome visitors and embrace is residents.  It's perched a top of Corcovado mountain (so called because of it's resemblance of a hump).  Christ the Redeemer stands at 30 meters and offers excellent views of the city all around.  You first take a train up through the forest to the platform.  You then walk up the steps or take an escalator to the base of the statue.  What was spectacular about this trip was Bonnie.  Bonnie overcame her fear of statues and after five visits to Christ the Redeemer she was finally able to go to the base of the statue without fear! You go Bonnie.  There's nothing to fear but fear itself!

just a little history... Vincintian Pedro Maria Boss visited Corcovado and was so impressed of it's position wanted to have a religious figure constructed in honor of Princess Isabel.  This did not happen overnight and after much convincing, engineering, constructing and bidding and more than 60 years Christ the Redeemer was constructed.  It was on October 12, 1931 that Christ the Redeemer was inaugurated.  It was designed by Carlos Oswald and sculpted by Paul Landowskitura.

Ipanema, the second most famous beach and area in Rio is the more chic of the beaches.  It is said that this is where the most beautiful people live and hang out.  There are fewer hotels here but has some of the best jazz bars and places to enjoy live Bosa Nova.  It's the place where beautiful music has been created.  Bonnie and I walked along the beach and a rogue wave hit us. LOL  It was only knee high but it wasn't expected and caught us off guard.  After that experience I just had to get a fresh coconut from one of the beach stands.  They cut the top off of a coconut, put a straw in and you drink away.  This was so refreshing.  I hope Bonnie and I fit in with the beautiful people of Ipanema.

Copacabana is the most famous of the two and is the oldest.  Most of the hotels in Rio line Copacabana and Avenue Atlantica.  On Sundays one side of the Avenue is closed to vehicular traffic and the people hit the street walking, cycling, protesting, roller blading and just enjoying the open avenue.  Copacabana is distinctive because of its wave pattern on the sidewalk.  As you can see our photographer, Howard Little, was infatuated with the ladies of Copacabana or at least their backsides.  After all, Brazil is known for it's beautiful ladies and their bums.  We'll give him a pass on this one.  When you go to Copacabana sit at one of the stands, have a beer or caipirinha and order "fango de passinrinho" This is fried chicken cut into bit sized pieces with the bone in and seasoned with herbs and garlic.  The local squeeze lime juice over them. Finger lickin good! While you're sitting do some people watching.  There are lots of sights to see.  You will however, be visited by sales people and musicians.  But it's all part of the experience.



Ja'Vonne & Bonnie on cable car

Sugarloaf, the twin peaks is another vantage point in Rio.  To get to the highest peak you'll take two cable cars, one to the first peak and then another to the second peak.  I think it's best visited in the afternoon just before sunset.  Watching the sun set over Rio is breathtaking.  It's like watching the city come to it's second life.  As the sun sets and nature dims its lights the city's lights come on and a whole different Rio emerges.  Take it all in with the national drink, a caipirinha!

Tu do bem (a catch all phrase that basically means everything is fine)

Ja'Vonne
Photos by Gene Harley & Howard Little/Video Twist Productions

Blame it on Rio

Many things can happen in Rio and sometimes it's just because of the feeling and atmosphere of the city.  The people are so full of life.  Cariocas, as people from Rio are called, see enjoying life is a high priority.  I must say that I'm a bit jealous that I don't see this approach to life on this scale in the US.

Today, we visited Rocinha, a favella located near Copacabana.  I'm told that the term Favella is not a favorable term because of its negative connotation, so from here on out it's the Rocinha community.  From a distance it looks like stacks of dwellings that are just part of the landscape but up close this is a bustling community with hard working people.  My take away is, we have to learn to see people and communities with economic challenges as they are and not with judgement of ethics or standards.  Through the winding roads up a steep hill are people, businesses and a society busy working hard for the same life as anyone being ignored and/or maybe judged as their community is looked upon from a distance.

We arrived at Rocinha with Alvaro Filho, owner of Forest Tour Rio.  Forest Tour Rio tours are done by Jeep, which in my opinion is the best way to see any part of Rio. You get to soak up the sights and sounds of the city.  Maybe this is why dogs put their heads out of the car window.  It's like taking in the cities through all of your senses.

Once in Rocinha we first met Mary, a local woman and artist who creates jewelry and crafts with recycled materials and paints her daily environment on canvas.  We then took a walk through a part of the community and here is where you're entrenched in the sights, sounds and smells.  Through narrow streets and alleys are shops for fruits, vegetables and meats.  It's obvious that we are visitors as we try to stay out of every ones way but never managing to do so. We are amazed how everyone is navigating the environment without fail in such close quarters.  Guys are pushing carts, delivering goods to the shops, carrying large parts of beef on their shoulders.  Ladies are shopping and people were moving about their normal day of work and life.  There was something going on at every turn and we were amazed at it all.

Later we met with Carlinhos, the owner of a house that he is extremely proud of and for good reason.  He probably has one of the best spots in Rio.  He operates his business called Terrace Tourist which is basically a tour of his home on his terrace.  We are told by our guide that, here you build your own home.  After three years if the government or no one else makes a claim it's yours and all you do from this point is pay utilities and taxes.  His place is three stories, I think.  After climbing so many steps I lost count.  On his terrace there is a view looking over the community below, a piece of Copacabana, the side of the mountain, the Tijuca Forest and from his kitchen window a view of Christ the Redeemer.  He's bursting with pride as he shows pictures of celebrities who have visited his Terrace along with photos of his young self, his daughter and grandson.  Thank you Carlinhos for your beaming smile and exuberant personality.



Ja'Vonne on Cycle Taxi

Each time I visit a place a see how a community turns a need into a business venture.  Here, because of the steep climb from the bottom of the mountain and where the Rocinha begins to the top, the narrow and busy roads and the need to get there, motorcycles are used as taxis.  This seems to be the main mode of transportation except for small trucks and vans that operate for businesses.  I decided to take one just to get the feel of the ride and soak up more of the community.  For the cost of 2 reals or $1 each way I went on a 5 minute ride from the top to the bottom and back to the top again with my driver Chiago, I think that's how he spells it. These taxis zip up and down the winding roads and rarely do you see one without a passenger.  We go down down down hugging the curves of the road, squeezing between traffic, passing other motorcycle taxis and being mindful of people dodging in and out of traffic.  I don't know which way to look because there's so much activity all around me. I wish I had a hat cam so I could share the experience with you because it's hard to truly explain.
The experience of visiting Rocinha will always be a part of me.

I'll tell you about food and the nightlife next but right now I'm getting ready for hang gliding. Woo Hoo!

Later!
Ja'Vonne
Photos by Gene Harley & Howard Little/Video Twist Productions

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ja'Vonne with a caipirinha

Bonnie getting Reals

We're here!  We arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil today.  So excited because it's been at least 7 years since our last visit and we have been anxiously anticipating our return.  Rio is such a magnetic city.  It's so full of life that as soon as you leave you'll want to return.

What I immediately noticed is that it's a familiar place.  Not much has changed.  Of course, they're getting ready for some big events that are coming their way.  The Catholic gathering in 2013, World cup in 2014 and The Olympics in 2016.  There's highway expansion going on, areas inside of and just outside of Rio that are being built and renovated.  The area is buzzing with excitement and anticipation of these events and for good reason.

Flying in you fly over the Christ the Redeemer statue, that iconic figure that is symbolic to Rio, Sugar Loaf, the twin peak mountain with excellent views and the city itself and massive population.

We waisted no time and headed to a BBQ lunch or Churrascia.  We went to Churrascaria Palace just down the street and around the corner from our hotel (Windsor Excelsior).  Oh boy, what a feast.  Caipirinhas made table side with muddled limes, sugar and cachaca (a cane alcohol).  This is the national cocktail and you have to be careful because it is tasty but can be lethal.  A salad bar, which we, sad to say, passed by.  A sushi bar that we looked at but did not partake.  and the main feature, grilled and slow cooked meats brought to your table on large swords and carved on to your plate.  This is what we feasted on.  Lamb, steaks, pork loins, sausages, chicken, shrimp, ribs and so on and so on. 
We definitely called uncle.

Howard Little leading the Samba line

After a bit of a rest and with full bellies we went to Plataforma, a Brazilian show that showcases Brazilian culture throughout the countries history through song and dance.  it's sort of a variety folk show.  You can dine at the restaurant or just go to the show.  The show has been around for many years and is still a favorite and a must see.  Just like the other sites of Brazil it has become synonymous with Rio.  The announcer has been their for years and does a run down of visiting countries in the audience and then selects a few to come on stage and sing their national song.  This too is part of what makes Plataforma fun and exciting.  I can only imagine what this would be like during the Olympics.

After a long day we're settling down for a long winters nap at our hotel, The Windsor Excelsior.  A four star hotel on Copacabana. Excellent location and views.

Well, I'm beat and must know lay down to sleep to prepare for tomorrows journey to Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer), a tour of Ipanema and a visit to a Samba school.

I also have to say thank you to our wonderful guide Giordana.  She has been excellent, friendly and knowledgeable.

Until tomorrow.
Ja'Vonne
Photosby Howard Little/Video Twist Productions