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Published: July 21st 2018
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Here we are, back on the road after nearly 7 weeks at home! It's finally back to South America, a first for Tanya!
My first visit to Rio de Janeiro was back in 2002. It was in July, and I was on the beach of Copacabana the day Brazil won the World Cup in Tokyo. Nothing of this in 2018 as Belgium beat them in quarter finals! That day back in July 2002 was crazy. I watched the match on the beach, with hundreds of foreign journalist crews...and when the match was over, I rushed to the Corcovado....to hear the city singing to their World Cup win....what a day, it was pure magic, and slightly insane too!
Since 2002, I came back 3 or 4 times, but today it's a first for Tanya. This was actually a long flight to get here. Cheapest way was by far the none direct Durban-Dubai-Rio. Maybe be way longer, but with few miles, it was actually a great deal in the front of the page! So yes, few bubbles went down!
This time, we are staying two nights in Santa Teresa. Had a super comfortable ride
to the hotel, compliment of Emirates...great after a long flight! We could have stay on the beach, but the bohemian area of Santa Teresa caught my attention on my last visit. This is middle of the week, so away from the crazy parties of the week-end...rooms are cheap, place is relatively safe...and we got a nice crib at the new Mama Shelter by Accor.
I spent a full day showing the highlights of the city to Tanya. Bear in mind, yes, Rio has some amazing sites, but I'm not in love with the local architecture, neither with the lack of safety...or the abundance of urban graffiti! We spent two half days relaxing and doing not much around Santa Teresa. The tram is finally back after years of not running due to a fatal crash years ago. I had the chance to ride that tram years ago....you could stand on the outside, pay close to nothing, was a great experience. Today, it has been turned into a full blow tourist attraction...no more riding on the side, no more local boys jumping in for a free ride...and the price has obviously blow way too high for the locals. So
no ride for us, but still some great pics!
Santa Teresa being not that far from the Corcovado, we took an early morning taxi to the top to beat the crowds. The place opens at 8am, we were there few minutes before in front of the brand new visitor center! This is low season, but you still have to beat the crowds in one of the marvel of the world! We did it, nearly! Views are amazing...and yes I play with my little camera. Imagine here for my first visit back in 2002, my first round-the-world...and I made the decision to do it without a camera...that was before the seflies and social media diktat!
From the Christ Redemptor, we took the van back to the visitor center and then, we walk back down! Yes, you can do this, it's a good 30 minutes walk down through the forest...kind of very nice walk through the forest before catching the local 107 bus to Lago Machado to catch the metro all the way to Leblon beach!
Next, we simply walk the beach all the way from Leblon to Leme beach...yes, this is via
Ipanema and Copacabana beach. What a walk...and a wonderful 28 degrees sunshine to remind us we are in the middle of the winter here! Lunch was in a little local place...eating some cod and other local fares in the back streets of Copacabana!
The legs were starting to suffer, so we made our way to the Pan de Azucar! The world famous Sugar Loaf. I didn't do that ride for a while. On my last visit, the lines were just too crazy to enjoy the ride. Today, no lines, no wait...perfect!
Enjoy the pictures! We enjoy the experience as well as few drinks on the way! For the food, it's all about the next stop. Yes, I can say it, somehow, I'm coming back home...but home today is in so many places all over the world! I won't blog about our next stop as yet, as we are going to stop there twice....so next stop...is back to another one of those amazing places on earth...coming soon!
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