Advertisement
Published: March 24th 2008
Edit Blog Post
So I finally made it to Rio. In my head Rio was always going to be the place I would end my trip, so I came here both excited but also sad with the realisation that my trip is coming to the end. The self-named "Cidade Maravilhosa" (Marvelous city) had a lot to live up to.....and it sure didn´t disapoint.
I was staying at my friend Dels place. Well now she´s my friend - before I got there she was my godmothers niece who I hadn´t seen since I was about 7. But she kindly offerered to let me stay in her flat for the week anyway. I arrived there early sunday evening to this really gorgeous flat close to the picturesque Lagoa. A very good start. We spent that evening having dinner by the lake, a few beers and catching up on the last 20 years.
I woke up the next day to a beautuful blue cloudless sky. Today was definately the day to make the trip up Cocovado to see Christ the Redeemer, one on the recently named new 7 wonders of the world. Located at the top of the 700 m Corcovado mountain, the 40 m
tall statue of Christ is truly breathtaking and scarily lifelike. You also get a fab view over both the nothern and southern side of the city so it was a great place to get my bearings on the first day. I headed back down on the train and was treated to music from a live samba band. From there I headed over to copacabana just in time to catch sunset. Despite being highly touristy, the beach is impeccably clean and a delight to walk along. I met Delydd for a few beers at the beachfront - a perfect end to my first day.
The next day I was once again treated to blue skies. I walked around the lake to Leblon, where I hung out and caught the rays. The I went to meet Delydd at her school at the bottom of the Sugarloaf mountain. We treated ourself to a caipirinha before catching the cablecar up to the top of the sugarloaf to watch the sunset over Rio. A truly amazing sight. The sunsets behind the mountains - turning the sky a deep yellow colour, and leaving the mountains dark and omnipresent. And now - I did not fix
the photos in Photoshop! Afterwards we headed to Leblon for dinner in a very nice restaurant and I finally managed to satisfy my red wine craving. After living in France going two months without decent red wine is torture!
The next day poor Del headed off on a 5 day school trip and I tackled the other half of the lake and walked to Ipanema to take in the beach and some more shopping. The next day was more of the same - what can you done when the sun is shining?! In the evening Del´s boyfriend picked me up and took me to a capoeira class with him. I was really lucky to take a class with just four others (who were all teachers! arrgh!) with Mestre Celso. The oldest active capoeira Mater in Rio, at 69 he is still jumping around the place. A real inspiration to continue with the capoeira!
Friday arrived and at 9 am I was collected to go hangliding off Sao Conrado mountain. Despite usually suffering from vertigo I was eerily unafraid as I took a running leap into nothing off the top of a very high mountain. And then all at
once I felt like a bird, soaring through the air. Its funny the glider really feels like its part of you and so there is no need to be afraid. We soared over the tropical rainforest and over the sea before landing on the beach. The views were breathtaking and it was definately one of the most amazing thoings I have ever done. Once my feet were firmly back on the ground I head into the working of centre of Rio to visit the cathedral - which is remarkably ugly outside but has wonderful stained glass on the inside and to admire the contrast of the moden skyscrapers with the colonial architecture. The I caught the famous "bonde" (tram) over the viaduct in Lapa and up to the bohemian centre of Santa Teresa. The tram was very full so the driver invited me to ride up front with him. I felt like a kid being allowed into the pilots cockpit.
Saturday was another beautiful day and the calling to the beach was strong, so I was unable to resist. Ipanema is beautiful - beautiful beach, beautiful people, beautiful weather. Its easy to while the time away there people watching.
In the evening I tagged along with some of Dels friends to a very plush nightclub in Gavea, and whiled the evening away drinking mojitos in a very upmarket beer garden.
Sunday arrived - my last day in Rio :-( I met Michelle, a friend of Dels for a delicious brunch in the gardens of a former country house. Then I headed back over to Ipanema - this time not for the beach but for the Hippe Fair. Picking up stacks of goodies (although ashamedly more for myself than the presents I had intended to buy) I headed home satisfied. Del was back from her trip so me headed out for the last supper.
Rio is every bit as beautiful as I imagined. Forget the talk of violence - of course there are dangerous parts like in every big city , but with care everyone can and should have an amazing time in Rio at least once in their life.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.128s; Tpl: 0.017s; cc: 12; qc: 49; dbt: 0.0502s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb