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Published: August 7th 2007
Rio de Janeiro
Ah Brazil... what a fascinating place! The land of bikinis, havaianas and beer! After a short flight from Chile we landed in Rio de Janeiro on 18/3. We checked into mellow yellow backpackers in rio- a divy place in Copacabana. It was five levels of dorms, bars, pool rooms, tv rooms, games rooms...the works. One of the dorms was called the Favela room with 45 beds - all of the slums in Brazil are called Favelas.
Rio is hot and humid and nothing like we expected. The people are extremely diverse and bloody good looking I might add! While in rio we saw the usual touristy places like Christo redentor and the beaches at Copocabana and Ipanema. We stayed close to the backpackers at night so unfortunately didn´t sample much of the nightlife.
We did end up at a football match at the famous Marcana stadium. Flamengo (rio´s local team was playing Parana). It was mad. The fans played the drums throughout the game, chanted and set off flares every few minutes. Chris bought a flamengo t-shirt which has proven to be good currency around these parts. Flamengo won 1 nil. When they scored the
Crazy crowd at Marcana stadium
We had to sit up the top with the fans to avoid being pelted with dead chickens and cups of pissCrazy crowd at Marcana stadium
We had to sit up the top with the fans to avoid being pelted with dead chickens and cups of pissgoal everyone threw their cups of beer and cans and whatever else they were holding up in the air. One the way there and back, the bus driver put in an extra wooden seat to make room!
Ilha Grande
After rio, moved to Ihla Grande (an island off the coast of rio) as we felt like something a bit more low key. A Caprinha is the national drink made of rum (run in portugese, cachaça), limes and ice. I got stuck into these on our second night on the island and I was so hungover the next day I couldn´t get out of bed. Over the next few days we did manage a trip to lopes mendes (apparently the best beach in Brazil) and a few treks around the island. The island once served as a leper colony and as a prison. We ended up staying in accommodation that was a tree house and a shrine to Bob Marley.
Paraty
Feeling like we needed more beach we risked another fast and
View from room at Ihla Grande
looking out towards town of abraao furious (psychotic) bus trip to Paraty where we have been for the last week or so. Pararty was founded in the 1700s but really took
View from room at Ihla Grande
looking out towards town of abraaooff on the mid 1800s when they discovered gold nearby and it served as the port where the gold was shipped to Portugal. We are staying in the historic part which is absolutley gorgeous. The streets are still cobblestoned and a horse and cart goes by every now and then. We have island hopped, swam, snorkeled, waterfalled our way around the place and are now preparing for our trip to Peru.
It´s Holy Week this week and all the locals hold nightly services through the streets, stopping at alters along the way. They carry a large statue of JC hauling his cross.
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Tam
non-member comment
Wow!!!
You guys look like you are having a ball! Good to see Chris fitting in with his Brazil t-shirt. Kirst....you with a hangover.....no???!!!! All good back here got 4 days off now for the Easter break. Heading back to boring Bairnsdale for 2 nights. Not long until we move into our house (17th April) so pretty pumped for that. Starting to get cold already :-( Still riding bike to work (no more accidents). Hope Easter bunny finds you all the way over there. Take care Tam xoxo