Beer, Cheese, Meat, and Hot Sauce

Last night after work, I once again left with Rodrigo and accompanied him home to Valinhos, a small city about 20 minutes away from Campinas by bus. We were to meet some of his high school friends and head to a bar for some drinks. Unfortunately, their favorite watering-hole was closed, so after some discussion, we headed off to a Pizzeria/Bar a little ways away. There I continued my Brazillian cultural education with a type of beer called chopp.

The four of us began with a round of Brahma Black, their favorite chopp. The method of keeping tabs at the bar was particularly interesting. We had a slip of paper assigned to our table, with the numbers 1-50 arranged in a 5x10 grid. Every time the waiter brought another round of beers, he would cross of the corresponding numbers. I jokingly asked Rodrigo if he had ever finished an entire card in one night. Not yet, he said.

Beginning around 6:30, we continued drinking, chatting, laughing, and eating plates of cheese and smoked meat, accompanied by a deliciously spicy hot sauce. Along the way, a couple more of their friends arrived and joined the table. I also sampled a Caipirinha, essentially the national cocktail of Brazil. It was quite strong. By the end of the night, I was falling asleep in my chair, and we had collectively drank 54 beers! The entire first card was filled out, and a second card started. Fortunately, the place had a drink special with all the beers half priced, so we didn't quite break our wallets.

Turns out tomorrow is a holiday and a long weekend here in Brazil, and I've been invited to a few parties with Rodrigo's friends, even though he will be in Sao Paulo seeing his girl.