Rio is a pretty cool city but one that deserves at least a month or two to really know the place and enjoy everything it has to offer. There´s always something going on...
The Rolling Stones performed a free concert here on Copacabana Beach a couple months back... over 1 million people attended! And of course it´s the host to the largest party in the world, Carnaval. But when that stuff isn´t going on the place is still fun and energized. With my new group of friends from the hostel... and I´m not sure why but my room always seems to be the party room... we headed out on the town. The city is divided into neighborhoods and that´s how one designates where they are going for the evening... "I´m going over to Lapa tonight" or "I´m meeting friends in Ipanema" is what you will hear around town or in the hostel. But in addition to nightlife, I also checked out some of the historic and touristy neighborhoods as well. Santa Teresa was a cool neighborhood that became run down in the 70´s until a bunch of artist types started moving in and rejuvenated the local scene. The highlight of the neighborhood is an old trolley that has been in service there for almost 100 years. It was a fun but rough ride up the hills and through the narrow streets.
I would love to stay here longer but other places are calling me. And even though I have been to the beach 3 times, I can sense a winter atmosphere moving in. I am a good bit south of the equator now and the farther south I go, the colder it will get. Southern Chile and Argentina will have proper winters and busy ski resorts just like back home. In addition, heavy rains have settled over Rio and just won´t stop. I am off to look for greener pastures....