Tuesday
18th August
Rio
We
were picked up by our beautiful guide, Carolina, and taken on one
last of her personal tours. She decided that we needed to have a
look at the beaches string of beautiful beaches of Salvador,
conveniently on the way to the airport.
As
we travel we are lucky to meet some truly beautiful people. Our
guide and friend Carolina is one of these people. She generously
shared her love of her city, personality and sheer zest for life and
we were so sad to say goodbye to her when she dropped us off. Who
knows, one day maybe she will be our guest in Australia?
Our
return to Rio was a little more interesting than we expected. Our
driver was pulled over in a routine police road stop and he then had
to pay a bribe to (the unfriendly and heavily armed policeman) get
through it – interesting to see how corruption works at a very
basic level in this county.
It's
nice to be back on Copacabana beach and tonight we met up for dinner
with another new friend Romi, whom we had met last time we were here.
We began with drinks at the Copacabana Palace. This is a land mark
Copacabana hotel that was built in 1911. We had caparinas by the
pool and Romi treated us to stories of the history of the
hotel and Copacabana. It was like having our own personal guide.
Dinner was at the local Lebanese restaurant that Romi suggested. We
sat on the side walk and watched the world go by in this vibrant part
of the city. During the meal, Romi leaned over the table, grabbed
Jim's arm and exclaimed “I love your Freakles”! After a
moments pause, we both realised what he meant and exploded into
laughter. Oh, the subtleties of language and pronunciation!
Evidently, they don't see a lot of peoples with 'freckles' in Rio.
Wednesday
19th August
Rio
Downtown
today. We ventured into the local subway system and headed downtown
to the centre of Rio. Romi had given us an itinerary to follow on
our journey in the city. First stop was the Opera House that is
being refurbished. It was designed by the same man who designed the
Paris Opera so that will give you an idea of what it looks like. Then
to the National Library and the Justice Museum that now contains
revolving art exhibitions. Outstanding and challenging contemporary
artworks in a beautiful historic building. The rest of the day was
spent touring the market area. This rabbit warren of streets and
alleys filled with smells and sounds was a real treat. We even broke
our 'don't purchase' rule and picked up a few shirts and a pair of
shorts for Jim. The shop assistant was a a little surprised when Jim
(though sign language) indicated that he would wear the new shorts
out of the shop and leave the old ones there in the garbage bin. I
suspect they did not stay there for long after we left. What an
Australian might consider to be old and finished would not be how the
poor of Brazil would see it. One last stop in the most beautifully
romantic and charming cafe ever for a coffee and sugar dusted custard
filled donut completed the trip. A night out on the town, finished
off at our favorite restaurants in Ipanema (called Fronteria) topped
off another great day. This place is fabulous. You grab a plate, fill
it up from th AMAZING selection of dishes from the most beautiful
buffet, have it weighed, then pay. It's charming, filed with locals,
cheap and truly delicious. We will miss this place.
Thursday
20th August
Rio
Today
ends the second phase of the adventure. The most common response to
us when we have said we were going to Rio was, “Be careful” And
so we have been careful. But what people failed to also mention was
that the people would be so joyous and friendly. Whether in tourism
or just meeting people, we have been welcomed, befriended and helped
by everyone we have come in contact with.
As
we look out our hotel window we see that it's raining and blustering
outside. Must be time to go.
