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Hey everyone,
We are currently stuck in Buenos Aires after a national strike has disrupted our travel plans to Bariloche, but i'll get to that later. We have a day to kill so its the perfect time to Blog!
We touched down in sunny 33 degree Rio on Sunday morning and went straight to our Airbnb in Leblon, an affluent suburb of Rio next to Ipanema beach. The "loft" description was right, small compact but perfectly located. First impressions are that security is high on Rio de Janeirians minds. Every building has a security gate and guard letting people in 24/7.
We spent the first day looking very white, drinking from coconuts, looking at beautiful bronzed Brazilians on the Beach.
Our chilled first day over, we went exploring on day 2. Wanting to be "real" backpackers we tried to navigate our way across the city by bus. But as there are no bus stops this was quite tricky. We got to Copacabana drank some beers and got beaten up by the massive waves. Everyone plays beach volleyball out here. There is also a variation where no hands are used, so basically headers and volleys over a volleyball net. I didn't try.
Then for some spectacular views from Sugar Loaf mountain at sunset. A daunting cable car ride up the mountain then one of the best sunsets I have seen in my life. The sun set behind the mountain with the iconic Christ the Redeemer in silhouette. You could see the favellas, the port, the airport, the rich boats in the Marina the beach of Copacabana - real Rio.
Day 3 we went to Lapa to see the famous and colorful Seleron steps where apparently (according to Laura) Snoop Doggy filmed one of his pop videos. The steps are decroated with random mosaic tiles from around the world. Lots of opportunites to take some cool pictures. There was even a Brazilian photographer taking a satirical picture of "instagram man" which was quite funny (see pictures). Next stop after getting on a crazy packed bus up some cobbled streets we went for lunch in bohemian Santa Teresa at the Bar do Gomez. Great Caprihnas and traditional Brazilian petiscos (like tapas but better). Then a quick walk up to a viewing point at Parcque das Ruinas - a 1800's house of ill repute!
Final day we headed to the Santa Marta favella near Botafogo in central Rio for a guided tour. This was the first favella to be pacified in 2009. Michael Jackson also shot "They don't care about us" here. It was an eye opening experience. This favella had 6,000 inhabitants but there is another much poorer favella with 200,000 inhabitants making this the more affluent favella - if you can call it that. The tour guide lived there and made us a strong Caprinha in his house. After that we hopped on the Metro to see the Estadio Mario Filho (Maracana) and drank beers with the friendly Flamengo supporters ahead of their Copa de Libertores match against Leon.
Our final evening we went to the Garota de Ipanema (the bar where "The girl from Ipanema" was written). We had some delicious juicy steaks - nom nom!
Then an early 6:00am flight to Sao Paulo....panic in the morning as our alarm didn't go off. We then flew to Sao Paulo to Buenos Aires where we are now, due to transport unions (amongst others) being on strike and crippling the city. We fly out tomorrow to Bariloche where it is 6 degrees!
Hope you have enjoyed our first blog.
Nick & Laura x
- comments
Sian Jones Ahh sounds amazing! Keep safe! Miss you xx
Noo Ahh love it guys! Amazing memories xx