Getting Settled In

When I got to Manaus, I collected my luggage and headed out to the general airport area, where Monteiro, our driver, was waiting. After a reciprocal thumbs up (which serves as communication between Monteiro, who doesn't speak much English, and myself and my colleagues) he dashed off to bring the car around. Once in the car, though, I found Monteiro had been studying English and had a bilingual dictionary in the car for us to work through a few sentences, say some greetings and have a few laughs.
Not much later, we arrived at Slaass Flat Hotel, where I'll be staying during my trip. I got put into a corner room, which is slightly larger, has a better layout and double the balcony space than their normal apartment-style rooms. Not that I will really use the balcony; it's hot as hell out there.
Monteiro told me that it had been about 36 degrees (about 96F) the day I arrived, so I was sort of happy to have arrived in the evening, where it was still pretty muggy, but nothing to formidable. Anyway, I've currently got the A/C cranked and it feels cool in here as we rapidly approach noon.

I was able to get a pretty good night's sleep and wake up around 7:30 this morning. After a run on the 8th floor treadmill (which provides a decent view of the city), I showered and got some breakfast. Slaass Hotel does serve a heck of a good buffet breakfast, complete with pineapple, mango and other fruits, lots of breads and sandwiches, eggs and chouriço sausage, coffee, juice and yogurt, etc. Then I sat back and read the Rolling Stone magazine I'd bought in Newark and drank a couple cups of Brazilian coffee, and then I headed over to the grocery store nearby.

Thirty minutes later I was back in my corner room with 7 bags of groceries, including a few bottles of Santa Claudia agua mineral com gas, a few ripening pears, a package of almonds and cashews, a box of raisins, a bottle of Argentine red wine and a cheap corkscrew. I also bought a bucket and laundry soap so I can do some washing here when I don't have time to run to the laundromat. So I should be all set for a little while at least.

Apparently my colleagues have reserved the tennis courts uptown this afternoon. I'm not sure I'm up for it after all the travel, but it's probably better to get out and move around, and get some exercise. Unfortunately, when I play tennis, the exercise usually comes in the form of chasing the balls I lob into the stands and other courts.