Rio: Copacabana and Paquetá
I was nearly at the end of my holiday and I returned to Rio. Copacabana to be exact. It was pleasant walking along the front but it wasn't as exotic as I had imagined. For a start the day was cloudy and the distant bay was hazy. I would have loved to have experienced a blue sky and a clear view of the hills overlooking Rio. There were lots of beach bars offering fast foods and beer. I resisted. Reaching the fort at the end of the beach, nearly at Ipanema I espied a bike shop and couldn't resist entering. It was very triathlon orientated stocking Specialised, Pinarello, and Cervelo. I returned on a road parallel to the beach with many shops and found a little restaurant tucked away between shops and up some short stairs. I chose tilapia again but was denied a beer as they didn't sell it. I discovered that they can quote a price for a meal but at the end add a further ten per cent service charge and that this is legal.
After all I had heard about Brazilian coffee I had been disappointed up to now. I came across a place where I had the best coffee of the trip. I should have made a note of the name but forgot.
Tuesday was my last day. My flight back wasn't until eleven pm and I had managed to hang onto my room until eight pm. This allowed me to spend a day free of worry about looking after luggage.
The last place on my visit list was Paqueta, an island in the Bay of Guanabra and about 17 Kms to the north of Rio. I had to get to Praça XV, from where the boat left, in the old part of the city. Finding the correct bus stop was not easy, especially when the bus numbers had been changed but not the bus stop information. And I found out there were a few Praça XVs in Rio. The old part was interesting but also contained many modern buildings including the "Bolsa" (stock exchange)
The square had a street market selling ladies clothing and jewellery. Nothing to interest me there and I bought my ticket - a single for seven reais (£1.75) for the forty minute journey. I saw very few motor vehicles on the island, a council vehicle and a police car. The method of transport was walking or pedal powered. It was very quiet and the roads were sand, no tarmac or concrete.
I kept being asked if I wanted a trip around the island in a pedal powered rickshaw (some were electrically assisted) but it was pleasant to walk around the quiet roads free of motor vehicles. There weren't many dogs but one house in particular had around twenty cats.
It was a complete contrast to Rio. But walking along one quiet road and passing some locals outside their house I was advised not to go up the hill to the favela. Apparently some of the bandidos carry out crime in Rio and flee by boat to the island. A pity because it detracted from my vision of this paradise situated far from bustle and noise.
I was looking forwards to the return trip as I was hoping to take some photos of Christ the Redeemer and Pão de Açúcar. For some reason passengers were not being allowed onto the top deck and were restricted to the lower deck where the dirty windows prevented photography. Desembarking I eventually found the correct bus and using Google maps worked out where to alight. A shower taken and Uber booked I arrived at Tom Jobim airport for my flight home.
I had visited some marvellous places and met some wonderful people, some of whom are now friends. When can I return? Not soon enough.
Saudades de vocês
After all I had heard about Brazilian coffee I had been disappointed up to now. I came across a place where I had the best coffee of the trip. I should have made a note of the name but forgot.
Tuesday was my last day. My flight back wasn't until eleven pm and I had managed to hang onto my room until eight pm. This allowed me to spend a day free of worry about looking after luggage.
The last place on my visit list was Paqueta, an island in the Bay of Guanabra and about 17 Kms to the north of Rio. I had to get to Praça XV, from where the boat left, in the old part of the city. Finding the correct bus stop was not easy, especially when the bus numbers had been changed but not the bus stop information. And I found out there were a few Praça XVs in Rio. The old part was interesting but also contained many modern buildings including the "Bolsa" (stock exchange)
The square had a street market selling ladies clothing and jewellery. Nothing to interest me there and I bought my ticket - a single for seven reais (£1.75) for the forty minute journey. I saw very few motor vehicles on the island, a council vehicle and a police car. The method of transport was walking or pedal powered. It was very quiet and the roads were sand, no tarmac or concrete.
I kept being asked if I wanted a trip around the island in a pedal powered rickshaw (some were electrically assisted) but it was pleasant to walk around the quiet roads free of motor vehicles. There weren't many dogs but one house in particular had around twenty cats.
It was a complete contrast to Rio. But walking along one quiet road and passing some locals outside their house I was advised not to go up the hill to the favela. Apparently some of the bandidos carry out crime in Rio and flee by boat to the island. A pity because it detracted from my vision of this paradise situated far from bustle and noise.
I was looking forwards to the return trip as I was hoping to take some photos of Christ the Redeemer and Pão de Açúcar. For some reason passengers were not being allowed onto the top deck and were restricted to the lower deck where the dirty windows prevented photography. Desembarking I eventually found the correct bus and using Google maps worked out where to alight. A shower taken and Uber booked I arrived at Tom Jobim airport for my flight home.
I had visited some marvellous places and met some wonderful people, some of whom are now friends. When can I return? Not soon enough.
Saudades de vocês
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