18/2 Rio
The plane drops down in Rio and we just miss getting ripped off for a taxi. It was a funny ride though, both of us with our eyes peeled trying to see Christ the redeemer statue, is that it... No its not... How big will it look?? We approach it from the side for the first time, seeing more and more of it until its going under the roof of the car. We then hunch down to watch it out the side window until we pass into a tunnel. It's been a long time of wanting. We arrive at 'walk on the beach hostel' and are shown to the triple bunk six person cell/sauna. It's hot in Rio, very hot and a little humid. To make this worse we have a WiFi system that doesn't work well and planning to catch up with our Salvador Carnival buddy, Jenny, was made more difficult. Finally we get through and search for an all you can eat/ per kilo restaurant, it is a place that weighs your plate and charges you per kilo of food you eat. After way too much food we head out to find a caipirina bar. Almost giving up and dying of thirst (already on the way to drop Jenny home), we find a place and grab a table. What a night, laughing till our sides hurt, reminiscing on the past and enjoying each others plans, 4 caipirinas later we stand to head home. They hit hard, and we have an interesting walk to take Jenny home and then head back ourself. Home to go into that sauna. I put Sarah to bed and I'm offered a beer from two Japanese traveling musicians. Great guys to chat to till I climb the ladders to get to the top of the triple bunk, in the outer stratosphere.
19/2
A bad nights sleep in the sauna, we woke up a little dusty. After some breakfast we decide to go for a wake up swim with this Canadian guy we met at breakfast. Where do we swim?? .... Wait for it.... At Copacabana beach.
We walk a long way to the south to where we heard it was cleaner and nicer and go for a dip in the famous water. This is the first time either of us have had the 'I'm not sweating feeling.' it's amazing!! By the way, I wasn't in hot pants, I decided to go for Australian board shorts.
Later in the day we agree to head to the Canadian embassy with our new friend as its all the way to the north of Copacobana beach. While we were sitting and waiting for him to return, we grabbed a drink overlooking the beach at a little shack. Out of nowhere, a loud screech of tyres and we turn around to see a stopped taxi and a person laying on the ground behind it. We feared the worst. After a while the guy got up and got into the ambulance, appearing to be good after such a long time on the ground not moving. A guy near us explained it was likely someone trying to get a meal. We thought about it and; actually we didn't hear a sound of the car hitting anything. just another day in Rio, haha.
20/2 Tour day
Today was a day of booked tours, a full day with only a small gap in it. The list included; Christ the Redeemer, sugarloaf Mountain, the Lapa Steps, beaches, waterfalls in the hills, lookouts over each part of the city, Santa Teresa which is an arty district and a game of football at night. A full day.
The tour of Christ the Redeemer was everything we imagined and more. It's massive and inspiring, arms out, open to anyone who comes to Rio. The views of the city from the roads around the statue and from sugar loaf mountain are so beautiful. They really are incredible and Rio is known (for good reason) to be amazing, I think it's on the top of amazing city's lists!!!
So... what did we do? We left the hostel and went the longest way possible around the city till the bus filled up. The guide spoke all the time in the bus to explain what we went past. She was very knowledgeable on the area.The first stop was the beach where the hang gliders land. This was really weird as one of the people left the group here, too hungover to continue. We got a quote and went into the hills to see a waterfall. This was really unexpected. 10-15 minutes drive from all the craziness and a 10 minute walk and we could be in the middle of nowhere. We pile back into the van and drive past many natural showers and city view stops to Christ the Redeemer statue. A different bus and many steps later we had our necks crooked up, looking up at the big man with his arms out. The view from here, the view the statue has is amazing.... So bloody hot and sunny but amazing. There is great detail in parts of the statue and we walked around him many times.
Next stop was Santa Teresa for a walk through and look into some great kitch shops on the way to the Lapa steps. This piece is a large incredible work with tiles in a public staircase. When you hear this you don't imagine the staircase is as large as they were. We get some photos and try to find Australian and English tiles. A kangaroo or two and a harbour bridge later I'm all smiles and Sarah is wondering what's going on. Don't worry we found a few English ones.
Later we ascend sugarloaf mountain on the cable car for great views and loved watching the planes from the city runways turning early to not fly over us.
After a quick stop at the hostel we are ready to go watch a game of football in Rio. The trip to the game was interesting with a bus full of drunk Israelies but we arrive and are seated in different areas in a half empty Olympic style stadium. It was a good game and experience but a proper football field and full stadium would make a huge difference.
21/2
Sometimes the list of jobs gets too big and you need to sort them out. Today we got the odd jobs done, solved how to send photos home and back them up again, bought Havaiianas for both families and moved out of the sauna and to our new hostel called Santa Mix. This was in a different more arty area near the famous La Boca steps. The hostel ticks every travelers box, we were so happy. A real mattress with comfortable pillows, beds not attached to eachother and big lockers. We could do washing and the owners were great. The beds were interesting, the bottom bunk was wooden on rollers and the top was attached to the wall and had chains to the ceiling. Atleast you don't wake up when others roll over.
We walked up the road to a cheap local place that is the best in an area famous for Feijoada, and it didn't disappoint. We will miss Feijoada.
22/2
s***tttttttt.... We missed the alarm on a bad day, not sure why but it's lucky we weren't to late. It's not long till we have to be at the appointment with the British consulate to pick up Sarah's new passport. We get there without breakfast and after waiting a while on the steps with security looking at her passport, they let us both through. Lucky since in the rush I forgot mine.
We took the city walking tour in the lonely planet, right after sending packages home.
We head into the Rio city and take a left turn out of the subway station with our heavy post parcels. A few streets later and after walking through more markets than I have in the rest of my life we realize it was a right turn we needed at the start, oops.
After making it to the post office and working out what we have to do, we decide lunch is more important than the very long line.Lunch is the first sign of home for so long, a double parma!! Ohhhhhh.
Post done.... it was hard to work it out but hopefully they get home.
We start the city tour and walk around the streets of Rio. It is so underrated. Everyone stays on a tourist trail and they really miss an amazing city of the world. I believe because of the geology/geography of the city it's rated as one of the most amazing cities of the world.
We head for a few sights..... A famous ice creamery and confectionary shop which had another surprise, a pot of tea!! See the photos for the fun. We went in around amazing plazas, churches, theaters and the landmarks of the Lapa arches and a pyramid church.
Later that night we talk with a few travelers who have just spent 4 months traveling overland from Cairo to Cape town. An amazing journey and interesting hearing it from people who just came from there. We have a few quiet drinks while talking and the hostel owners have a party on the roof.... A little weird that when we head to the dorm the owner is sleeping in there on the covers. I guess she can do that but it's weird.
23/2
We have spent a few days here and still not made it to Ipanema. We try and workout the trains and end up using a bus aswell to check out the beach and shopping. We also heard about a cheap sushi place that's good and after that we were craving sushi.
The beach was long and packed but the other streets were really quiet. The different sections are separated by large pillars and types of people hangout in certain areas. The professional beach volleyball area, the 'muscle beach' area and gay beach with rainbow flags were very easy to work out.
We headed back to pick up our things and fly to Campo Grande, for a free night, free transfer and our trip into the Pantanal. On arriving we met Rebecca and Jasper who will be on our tour for the next 5 days. The free night in a hotel turned out great, with a big fresh breakfast included.