We are used to blackouts in Nova Friburgo, every time the wind blows, it rains hard, or a branch falls, we have blackouts. To survive them we have candles handy, a flash light always charged and for the really long blackouts, a lantern that keeps the shadows at bay.
But in Rio we have no standing plan….
We arrived in Rio yesterday at a little after one in the afternoon and at 4 or so the electricity went out. It flickered on, then off and on and off, then nothing. At 7:30 in the evening it was dark in the apartment, even darker in the hallways, and the stairs where no natural light reaches – really, really dark. We had one candle, and one lighter, and two cell phones that eased the darkness in the bathroom, but no plan.
We walked down the dark stairs using our cell phones as flashlights.
Down on the main street all the stores were closed down, street lights and stop lights were out, one poor policeman was out in the intersection holding his hand up politely, 
no flashlight or reflective clothing, just optimistic anticipation that the speeding busses would come to a stop for him. No option there to entertain us so we walked up four blocks towards Copacabana and found a place with lights and cold beer…..
No lights (or phone, computer, internet) until around 3 today. No stores were open, no restaurants open to feed me lunch, worker sitting on the steps of businesses, wondering the sidewalks, waiting….
Nearly 24 hours without electricity, we need to get a plan. But for now I have to go empty the refrig – toss out everything that spoils in 34 degree temps ….
