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Our grand intentions of reading the guidebooks on the plane, planning our route, doing our budget and basically everything we should have done before we left the UK went out the window. After 11 hours of films, rubbish airplane food and unbelievably rude French women we arrived tired and nervous!
Our first taste of rio was, in retrospect appropriate. Our first taxi ride didn't do much to calm our nerves, he apparently had never heard of junctions, lanes or speed limits! Oh and of course the usual ripoff prices that all gringo newbie travellers can expect!
We arrived at the hostel, a homely clean place where we had a chance encounter in the bathroom ...
We met two lovely fellow travellers new to rio, Kevin and Claire our new Aussie friends. Off we went to copacabana beach. we were underwhelmed by it, expectations of stunning women, perfect sand, glamourous hotels with swanky clientelle were replaced by dirty sand, less than attractive women in thongs and rubbish!
Took an unsuccessful trip to Jesus (his head was buried in the clouds) and had dinner with the locals. The food in brazil is good but heavily carb and meat based with rice and chips with the meat! Beer is good here, cold and crisp,wine is super expensive so beer it is ...everyday!
We did the free walking tour of rio, lead by an excellent lady far too qualified to be doing tours but apparently the job market in brazil is worse than the uk!
Stopped at an amazing bakery worh guilded ceilings, mirrored walls and simply the most amazing pastries! Worth the flight just for them!
We then were caught up in a very peaceful teachers protest. We discovered the next day that the peaceful protest had turned into a riot that night! The police are a heavy presence in rio, Sturn and armed we never spend too long near them, rumours aplenty about corruption etc.
We next visited the beautiful lapa steps, made with tiles and ceramics for other countries!
Next was a very successful and thoroughly enjoyable trip up to Corcovado. This time we took the tram and it was amazing! Even managed a late picnic style lunch on the way up with watermelon and strawberries! Locals thought we were all crazy!
Got some amazing views of the city and did the obligatory arms wide pose with Jesus! The view and whole experience was beyond our expectations, loved every minute of it! Worth the money and then some!
Much to our surprise (and relief that we hadn't gone into lapa for dinner) the riots had turned violent overnight and the scenes on the tv couldn't have been more different to the rio we all had enjoyed so much!
Next was a highlight! The trip to the football at maracana, botofogo vs flumenese. The atmosphere was incredible and the stadium was beautiful. The supporters had such passion, never for a moment stopping the singing, chanting and flag displays.
The premier league needs to get samba drums involved and some Brazilian flair to the chants!
After a farewell to the lovely Kevin and Clair we took a trip over the bay to the opposite city, the ferry ride was ok , the place was fairly horrible so 20 mins was about enough!
Our time was drawing to a close in rio and as we planned our trip down the coast we both agreed rio was just amazing! Bustling vibrant city with character but whether it is ready for the World Cup or Olympics, only time will tell. The people were kind, courteous and helpful when we all looked so lost!
One last thing that made the first leg so delicious were the churros! Heavenly deep fried, chocolate filled, sugar coated slices of perfection ... Cooked in a road side stall buggy and cheap as chips!!
No wonder we have put on weight!!!!!
- comments
Penny Sounds wonderful my sweetsxxx