Food and art – a great necessity! My friend Jonas was a great host of both. My first meal in Rio was a sushi buffet at Taiping. After this refueling I was set to go.

Much of Rio I’ve seen is a fusion or a mix with a distinct Brazilian touch. So much of it is bold. I was like an ant next to the Arcos da Lapa (Lapa Arches). This is a double tier of white arches that used to be an aqueduct and is now a bridge that a tram crosses over. It’s a work of art that is historical and functional.

Copacabana Beach looks calm at night, with a line of white lights framing the sand. The next night we went off the beaten path to Niterói. We drove across a long bridge to reach this coastal town. I had the best crepes made by Ivan, a former air traffic controller in Paris. He cooked them right on the beach and spoke English.

The Museum of Modern Art overlooks the beach at Niterói. It stands on rocks, a spaceship structure to some eyes. This work of art was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, born in Rio and the recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. It seems wherever I went, works of art mixed in with ordinary life.

At BGS I walked around and played some basketball and air hockey games. Memories of Sonic came back when I saw an old Sega Game Gear handheld on display!

For the performances I had hoped to include most of Koji Kondo’s Super Mario music. That meant sessions of ear transcription. On stage Jonas translated Portuguese to English so I could talk to everyone. It seemed that language was not much of a barrier. The open emotions spoke well enough. Seven’s team and the large crowds shared this same enthusiasm.

It’s always special to play in Brazil. When I just turned six, I played music by Heitor Villa-Lobos at my first festival in California. I had no idea then that I would play in his hometown of Rio.

I brought home great memories and a sense of unity. The personal touch and teamwork coexist in the Brazil I experienced in more ways than what is said here.

I am reminded that friendship grows from shared experiences and how we remember them.