Blogs from Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America - page 2

mit dem bus geht es zurück nach rio. mit einem herrlich einheimischen, dessen klimaanlage kaputt geht und wir dann alle in einen anderen verfrachtet werden. mit jause und buch lässt sich aber alles ganz gut aushalten und schon geht es in den nächsten bus und ab durch rios innenstadt. in schrittgeschwindigkeit. letztendlich sind wir aber so früh aufgebrochen, dass noch zeit bleibt, am strand von ipanema leute zu schauen. wir sind uns nämlich beide einig, dass es alleine dafür schon wert ist, nach rio zu kommen. foto-shootings und surfer gigantischer wellen sind vor uns zu bestaunen. Zu dutzenden piercen sie die wasseroberfläche, die schon gden schimmert, kämpfen um das vorrecht auf die beste welle, DIE welle. Am strand wird nebenbei eifrig fußball gespielt und wieder einmal ein vorurteil bewahrheitet: noch nie haben wir so viele menschen ... read more

Today we had the day to ourselves. We had been tipped off by Beatriz and Luiz about some good places to go. We headed off in the morning to the hippy market outside the Metro station General Osario. Then we headed for the Ipanema beach. Golden sands, warm sea, and surfers! Although all the Brazillians think the sea is cold now! First sunbathing of 2014! Celine and I both had a swim. Then we walked along the long beach and cut inland to the Lagoon Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Then along the streets to find an ice cream parlour and Celine had fig and walnut! We then headed back to the beach and to a group of rocks called pedra de arpoador to watch the sun set at about 6pm! Of course football is literally everywhere ... read more

September 22, 2013 Brazil Postscript: Photos Dear all, Below are pictures from our Brazil trip in August. It took great restraint on my part not to post heaps of animal photos (only a subset is shown here). Click on individual pictures to enlarge, then scroll thru. Best, Craig (and Ross)... read more

Episode 2: One week in Rio 11.8.13 Hello folks We are safe and well and have come to the end of a week in Rio. Is is truly an excellent place, highly recommended. Apart from one day of miserable grey weather, it was hot and sunny and about 30 degrees the whole week - not too shabby at all for a southern hemisphere "Winter." The beach culture here is fab. You dont take anything to the beach but yourself and a few dollars (it would otherwise be stolen). Instead, for a few dollars, you hire towels, chair, umbrella, etc. Vendors walk up and down the beach, selling snacks, cold drinks , even booze. Or you can walk a few feet up onto the promenade to one of the many juice bars and the guy behind the ... read more

Headed along to Christ the Redeemer in the morning - very lucky as was another sunny day and 32 c (in the middle of winter...). Chose to get a van up to the top rather than the tram as was a 2 hour wait to get the tram. Very easy to do and got amazing views over the city as it stopped halfway up to let us take photos. The top was very busy but got some good photos and more amazing views, and had our packed lunch at the top overlooking the lake. Headed back to the hostel ready for the footy - Vasco da Gama vs Botafogo, a big Rio derby. Still struggling a tad with jetlag so had a kip before we went. Maracana looked amazing, was basically a giant bowl - in ... read more