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Published: December 2nd 2006
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And they say he changes as the sun goes down
The view from Sugar loaf, the little white blob in the top right is Christ My departure from Argentina was sad but called for, torrential rain and no money as the cash point wasn't working I decided it best to head to Brazil, so with my last 4 Pecos I bought a bus ticket out and empanada. Caught the bus down to the coast Florianapolis, in search of beach and sunshine. We certainly found it, on Isla SSSS staying around Barra Lago, unfortunately the wind found us too. As nice as it was sitting on the beach became a bit of a chore as the wind just blew sand ALL over you within minutes of laying down, not too much fun, but a good excuse to get out of the wind and sit in the bars just up from the beach.
It was decided to ship out and head to Parati, a cute little beach resort with old colonial houses, via Sau Paulo, murder capital of Brazil. We taught it best to stay in the bus station and hold on to our bags very tight. I have to say after the buses in Chile and Argentina the buses here were a bit of a shock, the drivers just don't care for corners or bumps and
Floronapolis
Nice but windy speed is the name of the game, all good when your trying to sleep. And where is my blanket and food.....
Arriving in Parati to cloud and rain, sadly the weather didn't much improve in the time I was there, which was pretty crappy as the only stuff going on is beaches and island hopping. The old town was stunning with all the old houses and crazy flooded cobbled streets, although it looks a bit like Venice with sinking streets its just a case of the sea coming a bit to far in.
With the crappy weather decided to head to Rio, and checked into a great hostel in Copacabana just three blocks from the beach.That night one of the guys from the hostel was getting a group of people togehter to go to some huge party in a disused footie stadium, so off we went not really sure what we were going to. A market it seemed at first, but when we got inside we were treated to forrò music concert. Its basically lots of spangly bikini clad women and hip hop stylie men rapping/ singing. All very amusing. We soon fled for the normal music as
Parati
Nice but rainy there were loads of different style bars that you grab your beer and just wonder up and dance too. After a beer or two we decided to head to a real club, sadly as it was 5 in the morning no where would let us in.
Luckily the weather was good for my first day in Rio as we, me and Americarno from Buenos Aries (Steph who I bumped into in reception) went to watch the final of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Unsurprisingly Brazil were in the final and beat Uruguay 4-1, this meant it was too busy to get inside the stadium so we happily watched the game bikini clad in the sun on the beach beer in hand. After more Havaiana shopping (my first pair purchased after just one day in Brazil) I head out to a Brazil an Funk party in the favelas. It was meant to be pretty dangerous being in a favela and all, but had great fun dancing with all the locals and the music was wicked. Sadly the weather didn't hold up too well and a few days of rain were greeted by shopping malls and DVD´s, someone had just
come from Blighly and had a Catherine Tate DVD, all good especially after home made ciprianas (rather strong!) which lead to a very good night out in Leblon, free drinks till 1? He he will make the most of that. There is yet another strange system of buying drinks, this time you just hand over a card and pay at the end, dangerous.
Sore heads all round next day but with the sun out it was up Cocovado to see Christ the Redeemer. Altogether I had done it before, still amazed by the view from the top, you an see all over the city and it is easily one of the most beautiful views of any city,and so far have managed to keep hold of the photos after the last episode. Next tourist stop was Sugar Loaf for a different view over the city at sunset. Was amazing as all the lights in the city come on and the Christ statue lights up, truly beautiful.
The weather was well and truly back with temperatures up to 35, bliss perfect beach weather so we duly obliged and topped up the tans. After sitting on the beach all day I became
the girl from Ipanema as a little Bossa Nova band played the song to us as we sat and watched the sun going down over Ipanema. Unfortunately the hottest day in ages was the day Rio decided to clean all the water pipes so the city had no water, we all smelt soo good.
I learnt to fly while in Rio, or at least hang as I went Hang-gliding over Rio, what a view. I could see the Christ statue, Sugar Loaf and all the beaches over the city. Was an amazing flight, wicked view and awesome experience, unfortunately the landing wasn't as glamours, but it seems that's how everyone lands. Having to run off a ramp of a moutaian 524 meters over the city was a new experience. After doing a bungy jump in very inappropriate Uggs I did the Hang-gliding in flip-flops, will I ever learn appropriate shoeing? I was apparently up gliding for ages but was sadly over far too quickly.
That night I had a 'beautiful' experience, or at least sat on the same steps that Snoop Dog and Pharell sang 'Beautiful' in the video filmed in Lapa, where there was a huge
street party. The Brazilians really have street parties going on, I could get used to getting shots of tequila from a guy wondering with them on a trey. We ended up in a tiny little club being the only Gringo´s pretending we could dance, not a good look. Altough feeling a little fuzzy the next day went out on a boat party organised by the hostel. We went cruising around the bays and islands with free ciprinans inhand.
Sunday was reserved for footie, Botafogo v´s Goiás in the Maracana stadium, the biggest in the world. It was a 2-2 draw and the stadium was pretty huge, but strangely very empty. I spose even Reading wouldn't be able to fill 90,000 week in week out. There was still a bit of the Brazilian atmosphere with drums and flares but not many people. It was empty enough for the crowd to be able to pick up and move ends at half time to see better.
On my last day we went up into one of the many favelas, Rochina, the largest in the world, kinda expecting them to be like shanty town it was a really surprise to see that
Down at the Copa...
Copacabanna, music and passion where always in fashion at the Copa. it wasn't that bad. The houses were all built on top of each other as you don't need any permits to build and can sell your rooftop to anyone. The kids where the cutest thing as they all wanted to have there photos taken, screaming gringo as we came thorough and calling the people without digital cameras poor gringos. It was very strange to see all the older kids, about 14, with guns who where the drug dealers, the dealers at the top of the pile earn $4 million a year, scary. The police don't go into the favelas and are paid 10% of all the drug money to stay away, very strange place.
So it was time to say goodbye to the beaches and unable to fit any more Havaianas (it got up to 10 pairs, there just so cheap) on my bag, note not inside, it was time to go. I will miss the good weather, cute men on the beaches (some can get away with the tiny little trunks) but I certainly wont miss the traffic, its like being at home, only its hotter therefore more frustrating, and it doesn't matter what time it is,
always traffic, no fun. Will also miss the wicked juice bars and great food, but time to move on and back to a country that I can speak the language, Peru here I come, no more Portuguese obrigarda.
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