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Arriving at Rio airport, it took us a while to get to immigration as it is a long airport, and then a while to get through immigration as 5 flights landed at roughly the same time. Baggage and customs was easy, and we emerged into 30 degree weather to be met by Nenad, our Serbian guide for the next couple of days. The drive into Rio takes about an hour, and we drove down a major highway, with black vultures perched on virtually every second or third light pole. To our left was thick foliage covering any view and the right was the start of one of the many favellas which surround Rio. A favella by definition is from a native tree, and when Brazil freed all of its slaves in 1884 they had no job or home and settled on a hill containing this tree. As such the term was born and they now represent the slums of Rio, and they are huge. About the only difference between these and the ones in India are that the ones before us will always contain at least one soccer pitch.
We were able to check into our hotel as we arrived as Shae had booked us in from last night and therefore able to get breakfast, served on the fifth floor and providing us with a view of Copacabana beach. To as to this, a waiter was walking around handing out fresh Portuguese tarts with our coffee. At 9:20 Nenad returned and we were off to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Like most, we caught the funicular railway up the step hill, being loaded in 200-250 per train to shuffle us up. They have also installed a short lift and escalators at the top in case people can’t walk the remaining steps to reach the top. Once here you mix with the other 500 people to try to get your shot with the statue of Jesus in the background, or your perfect ‘selfie’ with either Copacabana or Ipanema beach behind you, and the line shuffles forward again. Iconic? Yes. Spectacular, definitely. The viewpoint does provide amazing views of the city, as it spreads along the coast and disappears into the jungle and hills at its back. However, as one of the two main sites of Rio, expect a large crowd.
The way down was just as packed, but our next destination was the opposite. One of the older suburbs of Rio is Santa Teresa, and is filled with old, art deco style villas. This sprawling suburb meanders through the steep hills providing views of the statue of Christ on the hilltop and downtown Rio with its modern cathedral and high rise monoliths. A tram runs through the suburb and provides tourists with a easy access to the slopes. Nenad stopped at a local store and bought a bottle of beer to share, as well as coconut water and ice creams. Satiated, we continued our walk through the streets, admiring the street murals and architecture.
Around 2pm we returned to the hotel, and grabbed a light bite up on the top floor at the bar near the hotel pool. From here we walked the length of Copacabana beach, looking for a ‘supposed’ shopping mall as I needed to find somewhere to fix my phone. Normally, I wouldn’t have worried about it on holiday, and would have simply waited to get home, however here I wanted to ensure that I had another form of payment, ApplePay. Not all places in South America have accepted the ANZ debit card, with some only working with the credit option through the phone, and some being the exact opposite. With almost three more weeks of travel I did not want to run into difficulties. At the end of the beach, which must run for close to 3kms we found a very deserted mall next to the Fairmont hotel. Nothing. The area of Copacabana has a main road next to the beach, which has all been reclaimed, named Atlantic Avenue. One block behind this is Copacabana Avenue, running virtually parallel to the beach. We walked back along this street, eventually finding a small shop tucked into a nondescript mall which would repair my phone. Apparently the battery had expanded and cracked open the case, and would probably have eventually leaked through. Several hundred dollars and 30 minutes later, I got my now intact phone back. We walked back to the hotel along the beach, seeing more flesh being presented through bikinis smaller than dental floss, and certain bodies who probably should have had more covering.