- Kelly and I on Sugarloaf -
- Scenery Video. Really captures what Brazil is like! -
Santo Theresa
Santo Theresa is a cool neighborhood in central Rio. It used to house the city's wealthy, but it is now fairly run down and bohemian. We stumbled upon a pretty cool stretch that had some nice restraunts, cafes, art shops, etc. Given that it was rainy and cloudy on the day we visited, it made for a great afternoon of exploration. Although I admit I one of the cafes creeped me out because it only featured paintings of murdurous woman. Seeing crazy eyes and bloody knives probably wasn't the best motivation for going through with the proposal later that week!
We both drank at least one Caiperinha per day. A nice refreshing alcoholic beverage. With LOTS of sugar. So much sugar, that I'm pretty sure we both suffered from withdrawal headaches when we got back. But this was definitely a highlight, and I'm looking forward to trying to find some Cachaca at my local Charlestown liquor store.
Buzios
OK, I admit it. As cool as Rio was, it was hard to relax given the constant activity in the city and on the beaches. Which made Buzios the perfect way to wrap up our vacation. Nothing but hills running down to a half dozen beaches around a peninsula. A quaint downtown area with lots of great restaurants (and, purportedly, an Ibiza-like nightlife between New Years Eve and Carnival). And lots of pousadas, Brazil's version of a bed and breakfast. Can't speak highly enough of this place - definitely look forward to making a return trip someday.
The Proposal
Let's just say that bringing an engagement ring to Rio definitely qualifies as a "heart in your throat" adventure, just like dropping into Chute in Tuckerman Ravine. Our safe was loosely attached to the wall. The guide books all advise removing all expensive (and expensive looking) jewelry. I was too scared to bring my watch down, and thought about leaving my sunglasses, which are practically a happy meal give-away compared to the ring. Kelly had her debit card number lifted by a scanner in a Citibank ATM. We were taken on a cab ride around the perimeter of Rio because the cab driver didn't think we knew where we were and was trying to double our fare. And that's to say nothing of the favelas around seemingly every corner. But the ring survived, and now we are going to get hitched!
Moro de Urca, Pao de Acucar, and Christ the Redeemer
Welcome to the "views" portion of this blog entry. Rio is a special city for a number of reasons, but in my opinon, the leading reason involves is dramatic topography. Two of the highest points of the city are Pao de Acucar (AKA Sugarloaf) and Corcovado (where the Christ the Redeemer statute sits). We took a cable car through a rainforest and by an abandoned, blown out hotel to the top of Corcovado, and we took a tram to the top of Pao de Acucar after hiking to the summit of Moro de Urca. Although both locations are touristy, they are definitely worth the trip. Especially Pao de Acucar, where we saw a few marmosets (think tiny, fury monkies).
Copacabana, Ipanema & Leblon Beaches
The heart of Rio (at least for the relatively safety-concious travler) is its beaches. Copacabana was the star of the show in the first half of the 20th century, and that's where we rented our apartment for the week. At this point - most tourists stay at Ipanema or Leblon, but we enjoyed being in Copacabana because it was a little more "authentic." There was a big futbol match one night, and we enjoyed walking around the neighborhood and watching everyone watch the game. Very festive atmosphere.
Maracana Stadium
This is not a glamorous picture, but I think its one of the more interesting ones that I took. It shows the "other side of the street" from the pristine Maracana Stadium that will host the World Cup final in a little more than a year. I'm guessing they'll be using a narrow lens for the panorama shots. I honestly think Rio is a spectacular place, but there is a big divide between the wealthy and the poor, and it is perhaps best exemplified by this picture.
Boston Marathon Bombing
Finally, I just want to briefly mention the bombing before wrapping up. A bit surreal to learn that two bombs went off near the finish line of the race (and two blocks from my office) while we were walking down Ipanema beach. We made a point to go down to the make-shift memorial and pay our respects upon our return, and are very, very relieved to know that those close to us avoided a number of close calls.
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