Richard Segal 
Parrot and the Rooster 

Capaz! This legendary expression of Southern Brazil couldnt do justice to my expectations and promises ahead of a two-and-a-half-week visit to this country. One university, two football teams, three barbecues, four chimas, five cities, six hotels, seven beds, eight pounds in the real for a pair of alpargatasthe whole nine yards. The trip was well timed to coincide with the crescendo of a political crisis and a spontaneous blanket protest march and was amply spaced for reminiscing previous travels to this golden but cursed nation.

However, would I be lucky enough to escape the tribulations of a thinly cloaked English independence campaign, otherworldly business email chains, and nutty correspondence from sharing economy tenants at my summer cottage before they walked off with my front-door knocker? All this and more, as told to a PDA during the morning and evening commute of a careworn Northern Line rider.

About the author

Richard Segal, an American citizen, resides in London, England, and works in the asset management industry, focusing on emerging markets. He has written widely about matters relating to the global economies and public policy over the years. His most recent novel is Birch.