(looking down over Ipanema Beach)
We arrived into Rio after a very long flight from Guatemala (via Miami) to Rio. Not only a red-eye flight, arriving into Rio at 8am, but also packed with teenage brasilian girls that were returning from a field trip to Disney World. All in their mouse ears and barely shut for an hour. So a little sleepy when we arrived into Rio, but happy to be there.
We stayed at a hostel in Ipanema called Ipanema Beach House. It was actually a pretty nice place a couple blocks from the beach with a pool and a tiki bar with very cheap beers. Considering every hostel/hotel/guesthouse quadruples (or more) their prices for Carnivale, we were lucky for get of there while still being able to pay the balance of our mortgage for the month. (Slightly overbudget for February... but it´s Carnivale, right?!)
After spending a restful afternoon walking around and getting completely lost in Copacabana coming back from the grocery store, we thought it best to have a little night in with a couple beers and homemade food. (A bit of a novelty now.) Managed to catch up with a nurse that I work with in RPA as well, so had a bit of a chat with her and her fiance until we were just about on the verge of passing out from lack of sleep.
The next morning, we woke up to bright sunshine at a very sensible 8:30. Hmm, wonder what´s for breakfast. Umm, no. We forgot to set our alarm clock 4 hours forward, and apparently actually woke up at a very jet-lagged 12:30. Nice one.
Nonetheless, we managed to get our act together and make it down to Ipanema Beach to enjoy the lovely day (and for Kyle to enjoy the nearly non-existent bikinis). So sorry, no photos. Didn´t want our camera stolen!
Then, we did the "Rio thing"... pushed our way through scorching hot sand, rented an umbrella and chairs from the nearest vendor, set ourselves up as close as possible to the water, then walked into enormous waves (kind of resembling Pipeline in Hawaii) and splashed just enough on myself to look sexy in my bathing suit. Then back to the chair for some baking. How brasilian. (Kyle was keen to remain Australian, and immediately dives into the monstrous waves for a little swim. Hmm, no red & yellow flags anywhere... for that matter, no lifeguards anywhere either. Ohhhh, that´s why they don´t swim.)
The next day we headed up with another Australian couple to see the quintessential site in Rio... Christ the Redeemer (Christo Redempto). The famous statue watches over Rio like a guardian, and as such, you have to make the trek up to have a look.
Looking up at the guardian of the city... Cristo Redentor
Views from the top.
Kyle enjoying the hot, sunny day in Rio.
View of Sugarloaf Mountain.... very Rio.
Us with our new Aussie friend Steve marvelling at the huge crowds wanting their photo taken with Jesus Christ.
Thousands of white balloons being thrashed around as we cheered on Vasco to their only goal.
Me with 2 new Aussie friends, Holly & Emma. (Leave it to us to make friends with all the Aussies...)
Go Vasco, Vasco!!
