Rio and Buzios

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Hi all,


Last couple of days have been pretty hectic. We spent Sunday morning at Ipanma market, which was really cultural. The market was held in a park fairly close to the beach. The outside of the park was devoted to 200 to 300 stalls selling lots of bits and bobs. The centre of the park wasdevoted to artwork. All of the artwork was so expressive, whether it was landscape artwork or modern. I particularly likedone artists take on the favelas: really bright, bold and colourful. PS I tried to find some cool Brazilian fabric for you, mum, but it was all quite bland. I will keep looking.


It was gorgeous weather so five of us including davids cousin went to ipanema beach for a few hours. The swell was great, probs about 3 to 4 foot waves, and we watched to surfers. They were really good. The waves break really close to shore so they never got long rides but there were almost tubes so was fun to watch.


One of the things that has really hit me being here is that you are constantly being offered something to buy. Whether you are in a taxi in a traffic jam or on the bach there is always someone there carrying something to buy. For example we were at traffic lights and they come past the window selling chocolate or drinks, or there was one boy who would juggle infront of cars then beg through the windows. On the beach someone walked past every 20 seconds selling rink, or sunglasses, or sarongs etc.


Another thing to hit me is the difference between local and Gringos, white people, ps i have little punctuation on this laptop so sorry! They adore my blonde hair, although it attracts some unwelcome attention too. One guy on the beach made me some flower earrings out of wire riht infront of me, gave them to me as a present and said: a flower for a flower. Sweet. but he did try to sell them to me first. You have to be firm with these people! especially the children. so hard to say no to.


So after the beach we went to see Christ the Redeemer at sunset, which was truly beautiful. Sunday evenig we ventured with spme tour guides into the Favelas. There is a club run by the mafias on a weekend. The agreement is, the mafia keep it safe, but we dont do drugs or take guns. The club was a massive warehouse, we had vip access to a seperate bar too, and they played Brazilian Funk music. It was one of the best nights I have had in a long long time. The music was absolutely amazing, some of the guys were rather gorgeous although extremely pushy and there was a danceoff between locals and gringos which was hilarious. Didnt drink alcohol and had the best time. need to get a brazilian funk CD.


Monday was spent having a girly lunch and shop with friends, then drinks in Copacabana Paleis, the most posh hotel in Copacabana. It was a girl from londons last night so we wanted to give her a good send off.


Today David and I have come to Buzios, two and a half hours bus ride north of Rio, for pretty beaches and somesun. Staying in a great hostel called Nomad Buzios Seashore Hostel. We sunbathed and read books and David and another traveller went out in Kayaks . Tomorrow we plan to hire bikes and explore Buzios before heading back to Rio in the evening.


Thats all I have time for, off to play some cards, sorry about the lack of photos I will try to upload some tomorrow back in Rio.


One cool thing is the public phone booths have Oi! on them as thats hi in portuguese.


Love to all!


S xxx

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Comments

[oscar]

Oi!
Sounds like your having a great time. Keep it up!