Rio is absolutely beautiful!! At lunch yesterday it suddenly hit me: I am in Rio!!! It was an awesome feeling. We have been at Ipanema Beach for the last two days and staying at the Sol Ipanema Hotel. The beach is just opposite our hotel. I got upgraded to a beach view room because I asked them if I could get a lower floor because I really don´t like lifts and heights. The others were not happy as we all were originally booked into mountain views.
We had a tour yesterday morning that took us to The Christ on Corcovado mountain – was awesome!!! Fantastic feeling to be there – had seen it on tv – but nothing beats actually being there. A most amazing experience! Then we went to Sugar Loaf – but I chickened out at the last minute and did not go up – the height was terrifying and those cable cars did not look too safe. I am doing the tour again with Bradley tomorrow and will go up Sugar Loaf with him – I´ll feel safer with him there. I just have to do it – can´t come all this way and not make the trip.
We also went to the stadium where the practice is held for the Rio Carnival. We were a bit disappointed that this year the carnival is in March and not February but was told it´s because Easter is later this year. The carnival is actually not just a party for the sake of partying but a celebration of the start of the run up to Good Friday and Easter. The carnival starts the day before Ash Wednesday.
The people here are very religious. We also visited a Catholic Cathedral that looked like one of those Mayan buildings. I would never have guessed it was a Cathedral at all!
I definitely do NOT feel like a beached whale here in Ipanema Beach, because no matter what your size, you wear the skimpiest swimming suit you can find! (BTW: I discovered that there definitely are fat people and they are all at the beach). I feel like a prude in a full-piece swimsuit. Also all you take to the beach is a chair and towel. Walking around in your swimming costume is normal even though you´re not planning to swim but just feel like taking a walk around the city. I saw this group of fatties that had way bigger tummies and thighs than mine and their costumes were mostly pieces of string – not a lot of material around their bodies. It really is a different world here – the attitude seems to be ´As I am´ – no hang-ups about body weight or shape whatsoever. I think we could learn a thing or two about that. I´ve never really been shy about wearing a costume on the beach, despite looking like a beached whale but now I actually think that I might be able to pull off a bikini if I lost like only 5kg – but only here in Rio – don´t think Cape Town beaches are ready for my booty yet!
People here seem to be out very late with tiny babies – maybe they bring them to the beach to fall asleep because it´s so hot - I don´t know. Clearly they are not worried about getting their babies into routine – they are out at the beaches till about after 12. Most families here seem to be families of four: parents with two children. One thing that we saw a lot of was teenage boys walking hand in hand with their mothers. Children here seem to spend a lot of time with their parents – even teenagers. Wherever you go you will see groups of families together and not large group of just friends – at least during the day. The parents (some of them) leave around 11pm and then the younger crowds start arriving.
The beaches are filled from early morning till early hours of the next morning. Last night we went for supper and afterwards went splashing in the waves till after 12. The temperature was about 29 degrees and the water was very warm. A bit weird considering it’s the Atlantic –because on our side the Atlantic is normally freezing. It´s hard to fall asleep because it is so noisy till about 2-3AM because there are still a lot of people on the beach. There are huge flashlights on the beach – so its okay to be out so late – the walkway is kind of like Sea Point Promenade but much longer because it stretches from Ipanema Beach right through to Copacabana Beach.
Between the walkway and the main road there are cycling / running lanes. There were people running after 12 last night and I was thought only in Rio would people be exercising that time of the night – but I suppose its probably because that is the coolest time for them to run. At 9Am this morning it was 33 degrees already. I love it!
Most of the group left just after 9AM to start travelling back to SA. It was sad to see them leave as we were having such a good time. But I am getting Bradley in exchange so not too sad. He will be arriving in about 3 hours – can´t wait!! This morning can´t go fast enough!
I will be checking out in an hour and checking in at The Windsor Plaza in Copacabana beach. And then I will see my husband!!!!! We stay in Rio for another two days and then off to Argentina and Iguassu falls. How romantic are we spending Valentine´s day in Rio!!! Awesome!!!
Sorry about not being able to load the pics – will create an album when I´m back for everyone to see.
Chat soon!
