Reynico (Carnaval Special)
I was trying to make my way through the crowd that was at arrivals in the Rio de Janeiro airport. There were lots of them! I wanted the people I was getting to know I was there, so they won't have any problems. Eventually, I gave up and went to wait next to the exit door, holding my sign up high, in case they could see it on the distance.
I looked over the arrival list and noticed that the flight from USA was delayed. I internally groaned and sat down in some of the waiting chairs, though there were almost none left.
Hello! My name is Bruno Salvedo and I'm a tour guide here, in Rio. I'm Brazilian, so my English is kind of poor... I hope this new tourists I'm order to guide can accept some grammar and language mistakes and not be like the last group... They even corrected my way to eat a hamburger!
Either way, ten minutes turned into thirty. And thirty turned into an hour. And an hour turned into two. By now, I was cursing even the president of the airline company for having such a bad service, but part of me kind of understood why the delay was about... The second weekend of February (almost always close to Valentine's Day), Rio becomes a giant comparsa. Traffic has to change its curse because the streets are filled with chariots and dancers on the street.
One time, an american tourist I had compared our Carnaval with Mardi Gras. Though I've never been to USA, by the description the man said, it sounded similar. But I did find some difference. For example, Mardi Gras only last a day and the music that fills the air is jazz. Here, the Carnaval last a whole month and we have mostly drums sounds. The main course, if you will, is around this time... People from neighbor countries cross the boarders only to see our Carnaval. Also, it's the busiest time of year, since hotels and restaurants are pack till the end of March.
Finally, the flight from USA arrived and people started to come out the arrival door. I looked down at my sign again, in case I misspell it. A big 'DI ANGELO' was noticeable and two people headed my way when they saw it. It was a couple, maybe in their late twenties. It was obvious they were newlyweds, because they couldn't stop glancing at each other and giggle and peck each other.
The woman was tallish. Her long brown hair was braided in some fish-braid or something, and was falling gracefully over her shoulder. Her eyes, also brown, but with a spark of intimidation on them, were glued into her husband. Her tan skin probably could make you confused and ask her if she knew her way around the place.
The guy was pale, though it looked like he was trying to get a tan. His hair was black and it was up to his chin. His eyes were hidden behind big aviators glasses, but he was smiling at his wife, holding her hand tighly. Both were wearing jeans and casual T-shirts, though the guy had added an aviator jacket. He's gonna get hot...
"Hi! You're here to take us?" the woman asked. Her tone of voice was very intimidating.
"That depends. Are you the Di Angelo's?" I questioned back at them.
"Last time I checked my passport, that was my name" the guy joked, nodding. I nodded back and smiled at them.
"Welcome to Rio. Hope the waiting wasn't long" I checked. You never know with the tourists. One minute, they're pushing you against the favelas, and the next they're screaming at you because they missed the parade.
"We'd done longer trips than this one" the woman assured me.
"My name is Bruno" I introduced myself "I'll be your tour guide on this trip"
"Nice to meet you, Bruno. This is my husband, Nico and I'm Reyna" the woman made the introductions. I guided them outside the airport and loaded their luggage in the back of my truck.
"Pardon the question, but you don't seem American" I noticed, opening the door for them to climb inside.
"I'm not" Reyna admitted.
"Me neither" Nico agreed too. Reyna rolled her eyes, while I got into the driver's seat.
"Oh, please! You didn't born in Italy! Your mom was the daughter of an Ambassador!" she said, tiredly. I had the feeling they had this conversation before.
"And I was born in an Embassy, therefore, I was born in Italian soil" he retorted, smirking.
"I give up!" Reyna complained, leaning against the seat. I decided to break the tension.
"So, what are you in Rio for? Pardon for my bad english in advance" I apologized, glancing at them through the mirror.
"Well, is our honeymoon, but I honestly don't know why this time of year" Nico confessed, looking at his wife "It was her idea"
"I wanted us to have a real latin experience!" she explained.
"So, you admit I have latin influences?" her husband interrogated her, smirking. She smirked back.
"I do too, so stop pouting about it"
"Fair enough" he replied, smiling. I took them to their hotel and left them to rest the night. Tomorrow, is when the real tour begins.
I told the concierge of the hotel to wake the Di Angelo's early in the morning, but I got a surprise when I found them having breakfast in the dinner a few minutes after the signaled hour. I waited for them and met them an hour later in the lobby.
"Good morning, Bruno" Reyna greeted me. I nodded at her and her husband.
"Good morning to you too. I hope the noises weren't too much of a trouble" I admitted. Last night, it was the Sunday parade. And it had started with a big noise blast.
"Noises? What noises?" Nico raised an eyebrow, confused.
"He sleeps like a log" Reyna whispered as explanation. I gasped and nodded.
"Well, are you ready for the tour around the city?" I checked with them. They nodded "I must warn you. The travel agency put together a bunch of people with the same destination that you two, so it's gonna be a large group" I warned them, like an apologie.
"As long as they don't bother us, it'd be fine" Nico stated. I nodded and guided them into the tour bus.
Luckily, there were no misfortunes during the tour around the city. Most of them were quiet all day, specially the Di Angelo's, but I think it was because they wanted to save energy for the Carnival tonight. An hour before the Carnival started, I took them all back to the hotel, making them promise they'd be there so I could pick them up.
An hour later, I picked them all up and took them into the crowded streets. Music was blasting through the speakers, making you deaf if you were close or next to it.
"The parade is about to start!" I shouted to them, so they could hear me through the sound. Soon enough, the carros started rolling down the street, surrounded by dancers. It was more of a circus than a show. Each carro or chariot has on a girl, who is denominated 'Queen', representative of the topic of the carro. This groups practice and plan a whole year ahead of them their choreography and costumes and chariots.
Some say it's a feast to the eyes (frankly, the only people I heard say that were men who only came to the parade to see the women dance. Did I forgot to tell you? The women are practically naked, only wearing a costume resembling a bikini, covered in glitter and carrying some decorations in their backs or head. To give you a vivid example, it's like the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, but without the musical guests and the girls wear costumes instead of lingerie).
I've seen the Carnaval many years, so I try to pay attention to my group. Most people don't know it, but this is one of the perfect opportunities the burglars have to steal from innocent (and some of them, drunken) tourists. What caught my eye was that, between the people that was rushing into the streets to dance with the comparsas, were the Di Angelo's. Sure, Reyna was the most enthusiastic about it, but Nico's smile made me think he wasn't having a bad time either.
They collided with a couple of dancers, who took them and started to dance with them. Nico, a bit sloppier than Reyna. Nico was dancing with a girl, but kept checking on the guy who was dancing with Reyna with a frown. Sadly, the inevitable had to happened: the dancer that was dancing with Reyna got too much friendly and, well... Nico saw it.
I quickly got closer to try to control the damage, but the Di Angelo's had it under control... More like Reyna had things under control. Nico simply was staring at the guy, smirking. I'd like to think that, if he caught him, the fate of the dancer could had been worst... much worst.
"I'm so sorry about this incident" I apologized profusely to the couple. Clearly, this was embarrassing for me, the dancer and the entire crew of the chariot.
"Well, I'm having fun!" Reyna disagreed. I stared at her, completely surprised. Nico was smiling at her, before cracking up.
"Reyna, you're stopping the parade" he told her. Only then, Reyna blushed and noticed what she had done.
"Oops! Sorry! Move along!" she chanted, smiling in apologie. The male dancers were backing away from the couple, especially Reyna, who walked back into the crowd with Nico, chatting animatedly.
"Carry on" I suggested, walking back as well. I was about to turn in a corner when I heard crying.
"I'm so sorry. I ruined the trip!" a woman was sobbing and her voice was muffled. She was probably leaning against someone.
"You didn't ruin anything, Rey..." the man argued. I realized the voice belonged to Nico. And the woman must be Reyna... "C'mon! Where's the girl who lend me her strength when we crossed half Europe with Coach?" he questioned her.
"This is different! We're alone and it's our honeymoon and-"
"It's gonna be OK, Rey, I promised..." he soothed her "Now, c'mon! Let's celebrate we're young and alive!" Reyna chuckled at him.
"You stole that sentence to Jack Black" she pointed out. He groaned.
"I knew there was a side effect for watching 'The Holiday' too many times with you..." he complained, making Reyna laugh loudly. I smiled to myself. It was nice to know things could be turn around...
Another one here! You guys requested too many times for Reynico! Here's Reynico!
Also, I was going through the comments and an idea just popped in my head: a book of mortals who believe in the gods and meet them and/or their children... If someone likes it, DM me and you can have it! If not, well... I'll see if I get inspiration during my vacations.