Brazil - Rio De Janeiro

The journey to get to Rio was another one of those long and tiring journey. In my previous post, I mentioned that we slept in the airport in Puntas Arenas to catch our 4.35am flight. The flight went via Puerto Montt and Santiago in Chile before getting into Rio. We got into Rio late at night because the airport bus takes 2 hours to get into Ipánema beach. We then got lost finding our hostel. It was just a really really long day.

We finally found our hostel, the Ipanema Wave Hostel on Barro da Torres Street. Our room has no windows and it was stinky hot with nearly 85% humidity, and we were there for 5 nights. The next morning, we went with 6 other people from the Hostel to see Cristo and the other main sights of Rio, including the cathedral and the Santa Theresa area.

Day 2, we explored Ipanema beach, sat there for 2 hours to get some sun and then chilled out in the afternoon. When the weather is this hot and humid, its just very hard to move around. Day 3, we went to Maracana stadium during the day and then went shopping for a white NYE outfit in the afternoon. I finally found my Melissa shoes too. Day 4, beach again and then getting ready for NYE.

NYE was a crazy night. Copacabana and Ipanema's parties started at 4pm. We eventually ventured out of our hostel with a grp of people from various countries at 10pm to catch the fireworks at countdown. Fireworks in Rio kick ass. This is all i can say! We stayed up all night, walking along the beach, trying out various food all night long. By the time we got back to our hostel at sunrise, we would have walked at least 20km. Tired.

There were around 2 million people on beach on NYE and NYD, but it wasnt packed at all... there was plenty of space for everyone. It was really well organised. We could even buy drinks and food along the way. The locals are well into it... bringing their own beach chair and alcohol and music. Samba filled the air. Everyone was really friendly and wants to come talk to us. We have to stop many times to do samba with various people and get offered drinks. It was great.

Day 5, we slept in, the only thing we did was get to Sugarloaf Mountain by sunset and then dinner.

We left Rio briefly to go to Iguazu Falls for 3 days, came back to Rio last night and it was pouring rain. It also rained the whole of this morning, which means our last chance of heading the beach is gone.... so we went in search of Havaianas instead, as everyone has put in an order for a pair.

I am leaving for the airport tonight at midnight... the flight out of Rio is at 3am. (Such awkward hour)... next stop, Morocco!

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