What a beautiful day to jump off a mountain!

Trip Start Jul 06, 2007
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Trip End Aug 06, 2007


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Flag of Brazil  ,
Tuesday, July 31, 2007

The breakfast buffet was excellent, the best we have had at a hotel so far for variety.  It was such a gorgeous day, just the kind you want when you are planning to jump off a mountain.  After spending several weeks watching wild parrots in Peru and Brazil soar among the clouds and squawk joyfully as they flew overhead, it was time for me to experience what it is like to fly!  I had booked hanggliding with Just Fly-highly recommended by Lonely Planet and used for the Amazng Race.  A driver picked us up right on time and drove us to Sao Conrado Beach and I was issued with a student pilot permit.  The car was full and Ina didnīt get to go up to watch me jump, he stayed on the beach with the ground crew.  There were several tourists also jumping and we all got instructions on where to hang on to the instructor and how to run off the platform and jump.  Finally it was my turn!!  We ran and jumped off the mountain and all of a sudden I was flying like a bird!  OK, birds donīt wear harnesses and helmets, but close enough!  I had a great flight for about 15 minutes I think.  I was eye to eye with birds over the forest and the sea.  Now I know why birds squawk when they fly.  I screamed for joy too, it was such an amazing feeling!  We landed perfectly and then I got the shocking news that my DVD didnīt work.  So guess what?  I got to do it all over again!  The second time the DVD came out beautifully and I was very happy with the service from Paulo and Just Fly.  Highly recommended!!!

We were dropped at a hostel so I could pay on the credit card and I noticed a sign for tours to Corcovado for only 45 Reais, our hotel had quoted us 80.  So we booked the afternoon tour and went off to a Kilogram restaurant.  This is a great idea-itīs a buffet and you help yourself and they charge you only by the weight of what you eat.  I had about 400 grams of food and Ina had about 600 grams, the whole thing was about $17 USD. 

The afternoon tour was fantastic.  We were taken to Corocovado to see Christ the Redeemer statue which is the symbol of Rio.  We did the usual tacky tourist photos with outstretched  arms and enjoyed the view.  Then we drove through a favela (slum)  to see how the poorer locals live and drove past Mr Biggs house-the British train robber who is pretty old by now but the house is beautiful.  We also saw the Maracana football stadium where they play soccer matches and saw the Sambadrome and Cathedral.  We hopped out at Rio Sul shopping center to shop around a bit.  Nice mall like in any large city in the world.  Finally, we had dinner at another kilogram restaurant and visited the night market which is sort of a mini-hippie fair.  Great day in Rio!. 01 Looking up the mountain I am about to jump off
01 Looking up the mountain I am about to jump off
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