Rio de Janeiro was one of the most anticipated destinations in our travels. Offering one of the seven wonders of the world, several iconic beaches and a beautiful green mountainous topography, Rio tends to encourage high expectations, and we were no exception. Drinking our
first beer on Copacabana beach, watching the locals play foot volley (an incredibly skillful blend of beach volleyball and football) and looking up to sugar loaf mountain, we sensed that we wouldn't be disappointed.
first beer on Copacabana beach, watching the locals play foot volley (an incredibly skillful blend of beach volleyball and football) and looking up to sugar loaf mountain, we sensed that we wouldn't be disappointed.
Our first full day in Rio promised the best weather, so we got up early and jumped on the first train up to Christ the Redeemer. The wonder itself was pretty spectacular, although we found ourselves spending at least as much time looking at the amazing views of Rio below us. Although mornings are supposed to be the quietest time to see the Cristo, there were still an annoyingly large mass of people up there, making photos a real challenge. Even more annoying were dozens
of photobombing protestors who were obviously under the erroneous assumption that us tourists had the capacity to unspend billions of dollars on stadiums and divert them to school funding. The other main gripe the protestors had was that the majority of World Cup revenues were going to a greedy and corrupt Fifa, but in a country so familiar with the world game we were surprised they expected anything different from Sepp Blatter and co.
of photobombing protestors who were obviously under the erroneous assumption that us tourists had the capacity to unspend billions of dollars on stadiums and divert them to school funding. The other main gripe the protestors had was that the majority of World Cup revenues were going to a greedy and corrupt Fifa, but in a country so familiar with the world game we were surprised they expected anything different from Sepp Blatter and co.
The other main vantage point in Rio is sugar loaf mountain, accessible via a relatively pricey cable car. To get maximum bang for our buck we went at sunset on a beautiful day, enjoying memorable views of downtown Rio, Copacabana and Ipanema by day and night.
Rio is not necessarily all mountains and beaches; it also has plenty to offer downtown. We took a walking tour to see all the main highlights, including Saint Anthony Church, the Lapa Arches, the
Escadaria Selaron (famous colorful staircase), the Theatro Municipal and a Havaianas store.
Escadaria Selaron (famous colorful staircase), the Theatro Municipal and a Havaianas store.
One of Cindy's friends from Australia recently moved to Rio (her husband is working on the 2016 Rio Olympics) and we caught up with her for a nice lunch. By then we had already worked out that food in Brazil was expensive by South American standards, but we were surprised to hear how much, even by global standards, accommodation costs in Rio's zona sul (relatively affluent area that includes Copacabana and Ipanama and other nearby suburbs), especially when you take into account the relatively modest average annual salaries in Brazil.
We spent the rest of our time in Rio on and around the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. We biked the length of both beaches, had a swim or two, and bought a soccer ball to make use of the goals on Copacabana beach. Everyday hundreds of healthy locals run and bike along beachside paths and use outdoor gyms, so we decided to get in on the fitness act by visiting a crossfit gym in Copacabana.
At night we drank at surprisingly affordable beachside bars; our favorite was the Bacardi bar, which served dangerously large mojitos. For one night we splurged on a beautiful meal at a Sofitel hotel terrace overlooking the beach. Unfortunately we seemed to be the only ones really enjoying our meal as the rest of the diners were Fifa officials who were typing on their laptops and blackberries while they ate.
We spent the rest of our time in Rio on and around the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. We biked the length of both beaches, had a swim or two, and bought a soccer ball to make use of the goals on Copacabana beach. Everyday hundreds of healthy locals run and bike along beachside paths and use outdoor gyms, so we decided to get in on the fitness act by visiting a crossfit gym in Copacabana.
At night we drank at surprisingly affordable beachside bars; our favorite was the Bacardi bar, which served dangerously large mojitos. For one night we splurged on a beautiful meal at a Sofitel hotel terrace overlooking the beach. Unfortunately we seemed to be the only ones really enjoying our meal as the rest of the diners were Fifa officials who were typing on their laptops and blackberries while they ate.
We were in Rio for the last five nights before the cup started, and Copacabana was a hub of frantic (and in some cases chaotic) activity as the Fifa fan fest and nearby bars were erected against all odds at the absolute last minute. We also saw the masses of fans from around the world (with the US, Australia and Colombia seeming to contribute the largest numbers) descend on the beaches of Zona Sul. One of these football pilgrims was Cindy's brother, Napo, who arrived two days
before the opening game for an extended stint in Rio. We really enjoyed catching up with Napo for a couple of days before heading to our next destination, Iguassu Falls.
before the opening game for an extended stint in Rio. We really enjoyed catching up with Napo for a couple of days before heading to our next destination, Iguassu Falls.