Rio de Janeiro !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trip Start
Nov 09, 2007
1
16
20
Trip End
Jan 2008
Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
Monday, December 17, 2007
I have been here 3 days now and guess what ......... its been drizzling for 2 of those days. Day 1 was excellent and sunny so i hit Ipanema beach which is where i am staying. Loads of people on the beach. Alot of football, beach volley , foot volley all over the beach. Huge 15 foot waves rolling in with people body surfing ( no board) which looked great fun. I tried it and had possibly drastic consequences. The trick is to wait for the wave and then paddle to keep on the crest. Fine. But nobody told me if you paddle too hard you fall off the wave, in front of the wave. You actually fall off the wave into about 1 foot of water onto the sand. What happens next ?? The frigging wave crashes down onto you. Think about it
A Garota de Ipanema
. You fall 15 feet onto sand and then 15 feet of water craches down on you !!!!! yep. Funny !?!?!?! Even funnier my swimming trunks were in shreds after being dragged along the sand. Really in shreds. I beat a hasty retreat to my hotel.Yesterday was good. I went hang gliding over rio. Wow !! what an experience. After that went on a city tour which included going to the Maracana. Pitch, dressing rooms etc. Got the shivers.
So up to now good food, smiling people, great new experiences and a language you cannot understand. All good.
Ipanema is the place to be. Great beach. The ball rules here. All kinds of sports on the beach - football, footvolley, volley ball - and you can see why the brazilians are so talented when it comes to balls !!! Women join in too !!!!
Got to know this taxi driver - Lucio. great guy, took me to areas which are no go areas to tourists. Had some nice food with him next to a favela.
Xmas is not the big shopping panic you get at home but it is strange seeing father christmas dressed up in his red coat in such a warm place. Weird.
