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Published: April 29th 2009
Hey everyone,
The first couple of days in Rio were exciting to say the least.
Well my flight to Rio was an extremely long flight. I think it worked out to be 11 hours. Altogether I was travelling a solid 24 hours between Dublin to London and then on to Rio.
As I arrived I got to immigration and there was queue to go through. Of course for some bizarre reason I was the only one picked out of the queue and I was escorted into a back room. I was quite nervous now at this stage. I thought someone may have put some drugs in my bag or something llike that. I felt I was on "Banged up Abroad". Nuts! Anyway the authorities were questioning me about my travel plans and I told them. It seemed as though it sent alarm bells ringing through their heads and they got more people in to question me and I´m literally shitting at this stage. It turns out that the fact I had no flight out of Brazil they were going to send me home on the same plane I flew in on. An interpreter was in my company at that time and I explained to her that I booked an overland trip to Lima and that I was going with GAP Adventures. The guys still couldn´t get their head around this or they wanted to play me instead and see me sweat. The interpreter turned to me and said "unless you have a flight out of Brazil booked, you will be going home on that plane you arrived in on!"
Then all of a sudden one of the guys said 10 days. They stamped my passport for ten days. I did not know what exactly that entailed, whether or not I could extend my visa. The interpreter said that I could but I´d have to do it another day with Policia Federal at the airport or some other boarder. I knew straight off ten days was not sufficient enough for my plans.
Anyway I left the airport still very unsure how to progress this visa situation. Uk and Ireland are entitled to 90 days without a visa and of course they just had to pick on poor Mick. I must have stood out like a sore thumb at the airport. Got to the hostel in Ipanema at approx midnight.
Checked into the room and met a guy called Justin. He said there were a few of the hostel were heading to The Emporio. I said to myself "feck the sleep and go out and have a few drinks" I needed them at that stage!
That was the very first time I was introduced to the Caiprinhia. I couldn´t pronounce the word for days and then nailed it. Anyway these drinks are rocket fuel to say the least. They are basically a local Cachassa called 51. I think it is about 40% proof. A glass is filled with ice and lime. Sugar is put in the bottom and then the 51 was added. Another glass is placed over the other glass and acts as a shaker. It is shook well and then a straw is placed in the glass ready for drinking. They are a bitter sweet taste and the sugar acts as a calming down agent for the 51 as it is quite bitter. Had two of those and 3 small beers. I was on my ear. :0
The following day I woke up without a hangover. Spoke to the reception and told them about the visa and they said I had to contact GAP and also would need to get back to the airport where Policia Federal were. The problem with this was that I was starting my trip on Tuesday and this was Good Friday. Everywhere shuts down til the Tuesday. I also contacted GAP twice and no response at all over the weekend. So I was in Limbo and hadn´t a clue of what to do.!
The hostel was one block away from one of the most amazing beaches I have seen. IPANEMA! Nice! The women were great wearing virtually nothing. I went to the beach with a few girls and another lad from the hostel. Karina from Norway, Angela from Ireland , Danielle from Melbourne and Villy from Denmark.
The sun was beating down. Before I knew it I was burnt within 20 mins in the sun. I also played around in the sea catching a few waves for body surfing.
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Larry
non-member comment
Nice Blog
Hi Mick, Nice story, we could use a little of that here in Germany! Best wishes, Larry