Rio De Janerio

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Rio De Janeiro


Sorry Blog fans this is the last one!

So we finally made it to Rio our last stop, and it didn´t disappoint. Rio has a spectacular setting ringed by gorgeous mountains white sandy beaches and tropical rain forest. It also has a beautiful salt water lagoon in the middle of the city that has a great walking track, it is a nice 8km stroll around it. From the lagoon you look up to the Corcovado which is a sheer 710 m granite peak with the Christ the Redeemer statue sat on top. You also have a great view of Sugar Loaf Mountain which is down at the end of the beaches.

Rio also has great night life with the bohemian neighborhoods of Santa Teresa and Lapa being where the hub of the samba clubs are located although they are a little run down and slightly sketchy at night. Rio is most famous for its amazing beaches with Ipanema and Leblon being our favorite. The sand is really clean and white and the water is crystal clear and with sand that stretches for 5km there is plenty of space to soak up a bit of sun. As we were there for the world cup FIFA had built a huge Fan Zone on the gorgeous picture perfect curving beach that is Copacabana and with the kick of to the games being 11am Rio time we spent quite a few days watching the matches soaking up the sun and drinking beers on the white sands of Copacabana. When Brazil were playing the whole of Rio seemed to shut down and the streets were filled with locals in Brazil team colours, waving their flags, having barbeques and street parties and getting ready for the kick off. They seemed to be much more passionate about the football than we are in England (it helps that they have a good team though).

On our final day we treated ourselves to a helicopter flight over Rio where you can truly appreciate the amazing natural setting of Rio. You can see the mountains that ring the city, the beaches and the rainforest that stretches down into the heart of the city, like I said it’s a truly spectacular place. You could also see the Favelas (shanty towns) from the air that are illegally built into the steep hillsides that suround Rio and highlight the huge gulf between rich and poor in the City. We did a couple of laps of Christ the Redeemer then buzzed over the beaches and the business centre and past sugar loaf mountain before heading over to the Maracana stadium where hopefully in 4 years England will be lifting the world cup!!

So that’s it next stop is Leeds, our travels are over, 10 months, 17 countries, 20 tropical islands, 30 flights, 18000km in a landrover, more over night buses then we care to remember, ferries, barges, dive boats, rafts, amzonian canoes and a helicopter !! It wasn´t always plain sailing but it was totally worth it, the adventure of a lifetime!

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Comments

[Emma McClement]

I cant believe it's over!
No more blog! No! I demand more! Am so glad you have had a great time but i am bummed that i will have to wait until the next time you two get itchy feet for more blogging! Hope to skype you soon