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Rio take 2!
So what springs to mind when you think of Rio de Janeiro...Christ redeemer statue, sugar loaf mountain, beaches and thong bikinis... Tick tick tick. That's what we did in our last 2 days in South America!
Sugarloaf cable car had some beautiful vistas looking back onto the city from the bay. Although we were there early-ish the Christ redeemer statue, which is 'behind' the city looking out onto the bay towards sugarloaf, was barely visible from all the city smog and cloud, but being Harry hopefuls we decided it would DEFINITELY clear after lunch...so we took the bus to the centro and walked around looking at all the historic buildings and bustling yet quaint alleyways. We then caught the bus to Cosme Velho - the area where the statue is - to take advantage of the soft afternoon lighting over the city. Unlike EVERY other city in Brazil, Rio's bus stops have a listing of the bus numbers which stop at that particular bus stop so you know if you're in the right friggin place (very very useful, we have missed countless buses standing only a few meters away from the 'correct bus stop'. Bex you should tell your dad that he should insist on better signage for public transport when assisting with the 2014 FIFA world cup)...but just to make sure we ask an officially dressed bus route helper...I mean those happy people that all wear brightly advertised clothing walking around malls etc assisting you to where you want to go...she happily guides us onto a cosmos bus and we thank her profusely (should've beaten her over the head!) and wave goodbye as we start our 1hr30min bus ride out of Rio!! We haven't even reached Cosmos yet (heaven only knows where the hell that place is...) but EVENTUALLY the bus makes its first stop 1and a half hours later. We couldn't get off that bus fast enough before darting across the highway to catch the bus going into town another 1 and a half hours back. As we flag the bus down and take a seat I could feel the anxiety strangling at my throat as the sun was getting lower and lower...a whole 3 months in South America, TWO trips to Rio and we don't visit Christ redeemer statue!! And the bus doesn't get 30min into the journey before the FRIGGEN axel falls offff! Offffff! Anxiety is starting to turn into hysteria as we waited on the side of a road in the middle of nowhere waiting for the another bus to come past...whether it goes back to centro we have no idea but we're getting on it!
The last train up to Christ redeemer left in 30 min and we made it!! Heeheehee - there is nothing funny...just a nervous giggle.
Unfortunately it's completely cloudy, you cannot see ANYTHING. *bambi eyes* But we're leaving tomorrow!!!! Why is it cloudy? How sure are you that there is no view?...she pointed to a Tv screen which up until then i thought was a white board...oh.
The staff advised to come back tomorrow morning- which was quite possible as our flight only left that evening BUT we had booked hang-gliding in the morning! I don't want to choose! NOOOO! I HAVE to do both! *whine* *mini tantrum*...So... the plan Stan was to get to Christ redeemer at the crack of dawn, then head to hang gliding for morning tea, then to the beach midday, then to flat to pack and airport that night! Ta-da!
We managed to get to the top of Christ redeemer before anyone else after pushing and shoving through the tourist crowd like Chinamen at a noodle buffet, we took a few great clean shots before the crowds started streaming in like ants crawling out of a 'doomed' crack. We could see the typical but stunning view of Rio bay and sugar loaf, but the morning sun was glaring straight into my camera lens so after trying to click on every setting possible we headed down the hill... tea time only 15 min away and a 30min bus trip back! (we caught a cab and told him to put voet! A term he didn't understand but we got there in time.)
Hang gliding was FANTASTIC! I want to go again! The running off a ramp and flinging yourself off a steep cliff into thin air is a little scary but once the air catches in the glider and you start to soar you don't think about it at all... the view was great, you look over all the big gardens and pools and you can see Ipanema and Copacabana beaches in the distance. You soon soar past the beach and over the sea, that was super cool, all you can see is just bluuuueee, the sky and sea merge into one, then you start twirling down and come into land on the beach. A little 10m glide just above ground and a few jogs in the sand and it's all over :( again again! :)
That afternoon our host, Christina, drove us to see the south beaches. We made a few stops on the way, had a coconut, and then finally stopped back in Copacabana where we lazed in the warm sand watching the huge waves crashing in front of us, sipping a caipirinha. *Sigh* I'm gonna miss those yummy drinks...
And that's all folks. I can't believe 3 months went just like that *snap!* now we're heading back home sweet hooome!
- comments
Warren Hey Guys, thanks for the laughs so early in the morning:) Well done on completing the tourists guide to South America. We look forward to catching up with you both and hearing all the stories. Good luck with the flight back and we will chat to you tomorrow. Regards Warren, Leah, Chelsea & Maiya