Hi Sarah & Roy here!
We are just on our way down to Ushuaia after our stay in Rio, doing the highlights; Christ the Redeemer - tick, Sugar Loaf - tick, Carnavale - tick.
It was nice and warm (24 at night!) which meant we took it easy, though we still managed to cram a lot in.
The adventure started when we arrived with a welcoming committee of a cockroach the size of a horse- home from home! I directed operations from on the bed whilst Roy tackled the beast.
As we arrived at night after all that flying, it was a relief to sleep. Saturday we orientated ourselves with Cococabana - found the beach (5 minutes walk up the road) and the supermarket for an endless supply of bottled water.
Sunday was a visit to Corcovado for Christ the Redeemer. Roy was awake first thing in the morning (6am - I didnt know it happened!) so we headed there early to try and avoid the crowds. It was a bus journey there and then a cog train ride up Corcovado. The views were spectacular as the mist burnt off.
Later in the afternoon we picked up our Carnaval tickets and walked from Cococabana round to Ipenema to watch the sunset on the beach (my camera made it look better than it was!) and then round to the Lagoon (for eating places but we didn^t find any) before heading back to our hotel. We were out for about 3-4 hours, it was a bit of a hike.
Monday was a visit to Sugar Loaf - it is a couple of cable car rides to the top, they were a bit nerve racking, but great views again. Not much to do there other than admire the views, so took plenty of photos ;-)
We then headed back to the hotel for a nanna nap so we (I) didnt flag through carnavale (by the way the apostrope isnt working). We headed t the Metro about 9 to find it closed, but we did bump into a couple of Irish backpackers, so the 4 of us walked up the the next metro station. The train was mad - people in costume for the parade, plus those in costume to watch the parade made for a colourful and lively journey.
We had good views of the parade - opposite the judges. We arrived during the first samba school. Each school has several floats and hundreds of participants so lasted for about 1hr 20 per school. Luckily between each school there was a chance to sit down and rest weary feet. We saw 4 schools, leaving during the 5th at about 3.30am. As we got back at 4, and breakfast was at 6am we stayed up, sat round the pool with a beer until breakfast and then crashed.
Monday was obviously a write off, we got up mid afternoon, chilled and then went out for dinner down the beach (Copocabana).
Today we have a nighmare journey, up at 3am for a 4am check-in to fly to Ushuaia via Buenos Aires and Trewlew arriving at 8pm tonight (so 3 flights and 1 coach journey of 1 1/2 hours). Luckily we have 2 nights in a hotel before we need to find our sea legs for the drake passage
Our flight it about to be called, so better head for now. When we have more than 30 minutes will post some pictures.
Hope all are well x
