http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from South America , Brazil , Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Ipanema en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:16:02 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:16:02 UTC I am sitting in a little internet cafe on the beach in Ilha Grande. This is an island about 150km SouthWest of Rio. It is beautiful and the moment I got here I knew it was just what I needed. The first 5 days of my trip have been pretty full on and I am really looking forward to just relaxing chilling and rechaging the batteries. Rio is a fantastic city and I felt a lot safer than I had belie http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-349057.html My stay in Rio isn't going exactly as planned. With the exception of last Thursday morning the weather has been consistently bad sometimes even raining heavily. As a result Rio' s main tourist attractions the beaches and the two hills overlooking the city are off limits. Instead I went on a favela tour hanged out in markets wandered around the centre a bit but mostly during the day I have http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-348280.html Last time we wrote we were off to find Jesus. Unfortunately he proved very aloof and hid behind some clouds all day and we basically saw his feet and shadowy outline in the clouds and that was it. Which was a pitty as Kiran was goning to reenact some of the scenes from Romeo and Juliet she gave it a go anyway.I think Jesus was hiding from all the horrible lies happening in the gift shop below.. http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-347595.html So we have hit Brazil and have travelled from the Iguazu Falls again they looked just as awesome from the other side if not more impressive through to Curitiba and then up to Rio de Janeiro via a small island called Ihla do Mel.Brazilians do live up to the reputation of being amazingly helpful happy and beautiful people well at least the majority of the ones we have met. We have also now bee http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-345743.html We arrive in Rio after a 24 hour bus journey from Iguazu although the thought of a 24 hour bus sounds horrendous this one is actually pretty good it has massive seats which recline almost to a bed they show films and serve food and drinks the scenery is pretty good too. I almost dont want to get off When we arrive in Rio it is hot although not uncomfortable. We arrive at our hostel in Ipa http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-344174.html We arrived in Brazil after crossing the border with Argentina where our bus driver left us stranded at the immigration office We eventually got on the next bus and spent a while trying to get any of the ATMs to give us any Brazilian money. After spending nearly three months speaking and listening to Spanish it was a shock to go back to not understanding a word anyone was saying to us in Portuges http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-343802.html SAO PAULOWe got to Sao Paulo on Sunday morning after not much sleep on our 5 hour overnight flight. At the airport we got some money and our Aiport Bus Service into town and to our hotel. Fortunately we had booked a cheap for Sao Paulo prices hotel previously so we just had to get there.Our first impression was pretty good especially because people just felt really friendly and ready to help http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-341574.html Landed in Rio last night around 9pm Rio time. We're 2 hours behind ye here. Weather is fababout 28degrees today. Flight was fine them sleeping pills are unrealhad trouble waking up when the plane had landed. Our hostel The Mango Tree is finelots of Irish here met a few different people just over for 23 week holidays and one backpacker at the end of his journey. Took a stroll down to Ipanem http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-339733.html Its been a couple of weeks now since my last update and i now have a few moments to let you know what ive been up to since then. After leaving Cordoba I originally intended to stay in Iguazu for 5 nights in order to see the falls and have a few days lounging by the pool. This however turned into nearly a fortnight due to unforseen reasons i.e. my card was eaten by an ATM machine. Fortunatly I had http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-337778.html Well I have arrived in one piece just about the weekend of partying had its pros and cons I have to say... all my fine planning for the trip was undone by allowing all to look throught my bags and I find myself in Rio minus my new camera and ipod cables. Oops The journey here was long and felt longer with the hangover. The flight was one hour late leaving Dublin in the end due to technical pr http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-324313.html Rio De Janeiro Uploading the pictures first text is coming soon o http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-323104.html I have been in Rio for the past couple of days and am so far loving it.After a disappointing 24 degress on friday saturdays weather put in a much performance at a tangaining 34 degrees.Ipamena beach is just what one expects brilliant white sands ocean tiny bikinis tinier male swim shorts...and a whole host of people trying to sell every type of tourist tat under the sun...so far i have man http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-321050.html Of course Jody had to check out the Ipanema Hippie Fair. The Sunday street fair dates back to the 70's which is when it got its nickname. The hippies used to display their crafts and other goods for locals to buy. Since then it has expanded to many different types of artisans with their crafts from all over Brazil. Our favorite buy of the day was tapioca. We loved it so much we bought it in 2 http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-318676.html I don039t even know where to begin with this city I thought Buenos Aries was crazy but Rio is completely bonkers We spent 8 days there and had the time of our lives We stayed in a part of Rio called Ipanema which is quite upmarket. Now I know you039re probably thinking that we should stay in the more working class or traditional areas but we would probably have lasted about 3 minuites i http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-315704.html Rio the only city in the world that has a jungle and the smallest bikini bottoms you'll ever seeWe've discovered that Brazilians run to a different time to the rest of the world there's no rush or sense of urgency......until you step into a taxi. Driving at ludicrous speed running red lights and weaving between cars we arrived at our hostel at Ipanema beach slightly unnerved. But the warm re http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-314619.html Choose deciding the take 6 months out and go and see what the worlds about.Choose a whole new world of sights and smells and a Singapore Sling in Raffles Hotel.Choose Petronas Towers strawberries and tea choose tropical islands in a hut by the sea.Choose to relax before crazy Bangkok draw breath for a minute youre in for a shockChoose the dancing road to Angkor Wat learn of the awful regime http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-313267.html It's rather scary going travelling. One minute you're in your local weatherspoons drinking 79p cups of tea because you're desperately trying to save money and dreaming about the farflung places of the world that you intend to go to then in no time at all you're there And half way through the trip Time certainly does have a habit of creeping up on you Rio had always felt so far into our tra http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-305305.html We had a brilliant time in Venezuela despite having heard various horror stories from other travellers most of whom didn't actually go.... and we're so glad we went. It was more developed than the previous 4 countries very green and we met some lovely people.We had an absolutely brilliant trip to Los Llanos an area of flat savannah the size of Italy. Our first day included a visit to a much ce http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-302815.html RachThe sun was setting when our plane landed in Rio de Janeiro staining the sky a watery pallette of pink and purple and I knew instantly that I had arrived somewhere special. Even the roads leading us out of the airport were lined with palm trees.As our bus crawled through the busy colourful streets of weekendRio towards the beaches the tiredness that had been weighing on me just minutes be http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-302036.html That means ldquothey said I came back lsquobrazilianizedrsquordquo. Thanks Carmen Miranda . My dad is back in the States and I think he has officially been ldquoBrazilianizedrdquo. Cachaa and caipirinhas shrimp in a pumpkin po de queijo agua de cco cake and fruit and of course brigadeiro basically chocolate frosting balls rolled in sprinkles. Not to mention his growin http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-300797.html PollyWe went to the Favela yesterday which was really good. We visited Rocinho Favela on an organised tour. A bit apprehensive before hand after watching City of God but it was fine and actually probably safer inside than walking down the street in Copacobana. Favela means slum or Shanty town in Portuguese. They are scattered all over Rio mainly on the hill sides where they cannot bui http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-298569.html RossBusy day yesterday folks so updating the blog before I forget. Pol I got up relatively early for brekkie then headed to the main street in Ipanema to catch the 583 bus to Cosme Velho R2.10 each with Erin from Kentucky...Located at Cosme Velho is the lower station of the furnicular railway cog train up Corcovado the mountain on which Christs statue stands. The cog train costs R36 ab http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-298010.html Bom GioPollyWell we are really loving Rio. We moved hostels after 2 nights as it was a bit rough round the edges and sleeping in a 14 bed dorm was quite hectic. Thought wed ease ourselves in a bit more gently so moved to the Ipanema Beach House. Its nearly twice the price but really pretty and has a pool and a bar area to sit out and meet other travellers. It also includes a great all you http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-297167.html HeyHere are the rest of the Rio pictures... paragliding etc. olots of love xxxxxxxxxx http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-295738.html RossWell we escaped relatively unscathed from Sao Paulo apart from a major toe nail incident with a school kid. Sampa as the locals call it is a bit of a dive and really not much to see or do so we went to the zoo. Weve learnt some Portuguese Sao means shit and Paulo means hole...Hotel was basic but clean and right in the middle of the city centre. The room had an ensuite bathroom a f http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-295296.html Hey everyoneMy stay at Rio had finally come to an end am leaving tomorrow on the night bus for Ouro Preto just for a few days on the way to Salvador Heading north where its hopefully going to be even hotter oAs most of you have probably heard... i didnt even last a day in the fevelas o It was awful so I ran away I met the American woman at the bottom of the fevelas and we hiked up to http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-293346.html What a difference a bit of sun makes ehI took a tour today up to the outstretched arms of Jesus overlooking the city. The 30 meter statue is visible from everywhere in the city when its not shrouded in clouds that is so imagine what a pleasant surprise to wake up crisply at 630am to a crystal blue sky. I rushed out to the beach to see what it looked like in the sun ate another buffet brea http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-292123.html OK so i finally made it to Rio de Janeiro there last week. What a week it was Everything about it and I'm still sulking about. I miss Rio.... Its one of those places. Its like Bali I'm just in love with the place. They have everything and they know it.Then I stayed on a small alley street in Ipanema where there was like 10 hostels. So the banter was defo there. Id been in the hostel 30 Min's http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-291967.html Ive had a pleasant time so far although the weather has not been cooperating exactly.I ate last night up on the 23rd floor of the sister hotel to the one Im in and spent most of the meal stumbling around basic Portuguese with an extremely friendly but equally incompetant waiter. After the appalling attempts we made to communicate it was actually a relief to get back to the sanctity of my lit http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-291721.html I just got back from my first stroll along Ipanema beach. On the way back I was walking toward Sugar Loaf mountain with impressive waves crashing on my left and giant gloomy storm clouds stuck to hillsides in front. All the lights came on its 530pm and going dark already.Ive followed all the cautions the guidebook recommends so far but it has tended to create a slightly paranoid sense of exp http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ipanema/blog-291305.html