Rio 2011
Page 2
Sunday 6th
So Rich and I have been friends since high school, and the funny part is we somehow randomly meet up in big party spots: the one time I was in Jacksonville at The Landing in 1993 before "the world's biggest cocktail party" we ran into each other, and then again in 1994 on Bourbon Street in the middle of the Mardi Gras crowds.
This time one of my postings on Facebook alerted Rich to me heading there, at the same time he was going to be in Brazil for a few weeks. Small world. So at 9:20am we were picked up for a favela tour by Exotic tours, three hours for $75B.
Since this was my second time to Rio I was looking to do something new there, and in fact saw the movie "City of God" after returning from my first trip. "Visitors get to see first hand the lifestyle of this community Rocinha. If you are looking for an insider point of brazilian view, the Favela Tourism Workshop will introduce you to another Rio. Be assured this in an absolutely safe tour as the locals welcome tourists and visitors alike."
Our group
We spent much of the time chatting with these two English girls, Jess and Katie, taking most of the year to travel the world. They were 22 and 23 years old, God bless them.
I thought this shot was rather Beatle-esque.
Back at the homestead, the rest of the group made it out to the beach about mid-day.
Pic courtesy of Face
Pic courtesy of Face
Pic courtesy of Face
Pic courtesy of Face
We made it back into Ipanema a little after noon.
Made a quick walk through the Sunday Hippie Market as well, where oddly they had a t-shirt with a Duke logo on it.
Then had lunch at Brasileirinho, having the national dish of feijoada.
While Rich headed back to his place at the Sheraton, I was anxious to hit the beach but wasn't able to find everyone else.
I actually did witness several people buy bikinis on the beach.
You could hear a street party making its way down the road so I went to check it out. Really it consisted of an initial escort vehicle the maybe two buses playing music, not sure what the appeal is. Perhaps just general street drinking, but with a truck blaring music going by...
So the group had moved on the a VERY late lunch at a seafood buffet place...
Not only a good pic of Mary, but apparently I was there in spirit via this empty high chair...
Pic courtesy of B.A.
Pic courtesy of B.A.
Pic courtesy of Face
Pic courtesy of Face
Checking my e-mail back in the room I was able to get the group's current location of a bar in the Leblon area.
Drinks and good times were had.
Pic courtesy of Face In the alcohol can impair your judgement category, we were at a corner with a Dominos pizza place waiting for a taxi. I was hungry and we were having no luck getting a cab, so finally I pulled the trigger and ordered a pizza, and of course that is when we found a cab. I figured Rich and I could catch up maybe 10 minutes later, but it turns out it was impossible to get a taxi and we had to walk our butts all the way back to the hotel and remain there. Waste of a good buzz.
The rest of the group at the samba club, and the non-gay street party that was by there.
Pic courtesy of Face
Pic courtesy of Face
Pic courtesy of Face
Pic courtesy of Face
We close the day around 1am watching the first night of the samba parades on TV, which is what we would be doing the next day. Wikitravel Rio
