Uberlândia: Humidity, Street Art, and a Seriously Confused Gecko
okay, so uberlândia. i didn't choose uberlândia, exactly. it was a layover city, a blip on the radar between gigs. i'm a touring session drummer, right? always chasing the next soundcheck, the next dimly lit stage. usually i'm in places with, like, a scene. this… this is different.
first impressions? sticky. not in a bad way, necessarily, just… the air itself feels like a warm hug that won’t let go. i just checked and it’s nineteen point oh five degrees, feels like nineteen point two, and the humidity is trying to claim my drumsticks as its own. pressure’s normal, sea level’s normal, but honestly, everything feels slightly…off. like someone turned the saturation up too high.
spent most of yesterday wandering around, trying to find something - anything - that wasn’t a shopping mall. and i found it! a little pocket of street art tucked behind the bus station. seriously, some incredible stuff. vibrant colors, political statements i didn’t understand (my portuguese is…developing), and a surprisingly detailed portrait of a gecko wearing sunglasses. i swear.
“apparently, the churrascarias here are legendary. but don’t order the picanha after ten pm. something about the chef’s mood.”
that’s what the guy at the hostel told me, anyway. he was nursing a caipirinha and looked like he hadn’t slept in days. the hostel itself is…fine. basic. the wifi is surprisingly good, which is crucial. i need to upload practice recordings. i’ve been trying to find a good *drum shop, but no luck so far. mostly just guitar stores. which, you know, is cool, but not what i need right now.
people here are…reserved. polite. they stare, but not in a creepy way. more like they’re trying to figure out what a sweaty, perpetually-tired drummer is doing in their city. i overheard someone saying that Uberlândia is a “city of transitions,” a place people pass through, not a destination. which, honestly, feels pretty accurate.
*Gear I wish I’d brought: earplugs (the street noise is…enthusiastic), a phrasebook (seriously, my portuguese is embarrassing), and a dehumidifier (for the drumsticks).
*Pro-tip: the local buses are cheap and efficient, but learn the route numbers before you get on.
*Food find:* Brigadeiros. tiny chocolate balls of heaven. i’ve eaten approximately twelve. no regrets.
Someone warned me about the traffic circles. Apparently, they’re chaotic and unpredictable. “Just…go with the flow,” they said, with a shrug. Which, as a drummer, i kinda get. It’s all about rhythm, right? Even if that rhythm is slightly terrifying. If you get bored, Belo Horizonte and Ribeirão Preto are just a short drive away.
I heard that the Mercado Municipal is a good place to find local produce and snacks. Check out some reviews on Yelp. I'm planning to head there tomorrow, maybe find some inspiration for a new beat. Or at least another brigadeiro. You can find more info about the city on TripAdvisor. And if you're looking for a place to stay, Booking.com has a bunch of options. Also, this local forum seems pretty active.
Honestly? Uberlândia is growing on me. It’s not glamorous, it’s not exciting, but it’s…real. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need when you’re constantly on the move. Now, if you’ll excuse me, i need to go wrestle my drumsticks away from the humidity.
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