Rio - first impressions

After a hectic night, the following day was to be spent in Rio while Ana was at work. We were taking the bus to the island that afternoon. Ana, understandably, had not been filled with confidence at my ability to look after myself in the city, so she gave me a detailed map and instructions for navigation. Mircaulously I did not get lost and managed to buy myself a hotdog from a street vendor (guide books can go to hell - I did not get sick at all).

Rio is not how I imagined it at all. The city central area is not terrifying and full of lurking muggers. I was quite certain that I would be targeted straight away as my tan was woeful. I almost wore a money belt. The city proved to be quite charming. The streets are paved with mosaic black and white tiles which look quite cute. Lord knows why the people who invented havaianas paved their streets this way though. I suffered several toe injuries on my first day. The alleyways (yes I walked down alleys in Rio) reminded me a little of Melbourne as many are filled with wanky little bookshops and cafes. I relaxed considerably (still looking over my shoulder for the guy with knife).

I visited some churches (yes mum I promised) and took some photos when I was certain there were no muggers in the near vicinity. The city was preparing for carnival so the shops were boarding up there windows and street vendors were hawking accessories at grossly inflated prices. The people I had contact with on the first day were reassuringly nice. I took a tour of the library that was given by a girl wearing a shirt that revealed most of her bikini underneath, a look that I came to realise was something of a uniform in Brazil.

Anyway my little jaunt out of the way it was time to catch to bus. We went to the bus station which was, being the day before carnival, incredibly busy. Rio does not have much a train system so buses are the only way to get many places. Of course the bus was late and Ana and I were anxious about the ferry connection. When it turned up, eventually it made up time by driving at a maniacal speed when we weren´t trapped in traffic. Something needs to be said about Brazilian bus drivers. They are all mad. There I have said it. Also if you think that you might avail yourself of the facilities on the bus, do so at your own peril. I am not sure how much actually went into the toilet as it was dark but I would like to think at least most of it did.

Along the way we drove past some favellas or a favella that was about 35km long. In Rio you can never quite forget about the poverty that much of population lives in as there are favellas in many areas and many people sleeping on the streets.

After an anxious wait at the port for Ana´s girlfriend Valeria and their friend Jose, who had blown a tyre and been caught in traffic most of way, we were on our way to the island.

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