Rio 'Did I Miss Something?' Janiero

Overnativa Green Hostal Rua Bento Lisboa 83A, near the Catete Subway Stop, (stay there!)

We did miss something, Carnival. That's when all the magic happens in Rio de Janiero; streets filled with loud music, girls in small costumes with big feathers shaking their perfect bods to samba, parties that go day and night, drinking, dancing... high prices, more robberies, violence...etc. Okay, so we didn't mind missing Carnival. Salvador was just about all the partying we could handle, but we were still expecting something special from Rio... and when we got there, it was just a normal city. There did seem to be a higher number of gyms and in consequence, a higher number of muscular bods, but no, not all Brazilians are tan, fit and beautiful. The beaches were spectacular with crystal clear water... We of course caught a rainy afternoon when we checked out Copacabana, thinking, at least we have finally reached the place that inspired Barry Manilow to write the famous song, Copacabana!!

'At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....they fell in love'.

We later realized while analyzing the lyrics more closely that we weren't north of Havana and Lola the showgirl actually lives in New York.

Rio does have some notable sites; Sugarloaf Mountain, an oddly shaped peak that you can reach by cablecar for a view of the whole city and the 30 meter statue of Christo, one of the 7 wonders of the world. We spent a laughter filled day visiting the Cristo with two, should be professional British comedians, Rob and Adrian. While at the top, clouds rolled in and out giving us a peak of the amazing panoramic view of Rio including the favelas (slums) in the distance.

The favelas that surround Rio are known for being some of the most dangerous slums in the world. Check out the extremely powerful movie, City of God for a shocking and horrifying view of the favelas... the Brazilians we met said that the movie is not an exaggeration.

We then pondered what is so wonderous about this 'Wonder of the World'... We were able to think up a list of more wonderous things in the world. So we decided that it had to be political... a need for more tourism in Rio when carnival isn't happening... maybe a pull from the Catholic church? Hmmm, for now it remains a mystery.

While in Rio our quest to hear, understand and dance to all kinds of Brazilian music continued. One night we went to Bip Bip, a hole in the wall with live music, supposedly where many Brazilian stars started their careers. We found ourselves amongst a serious crowd of old men who told us not to talk and not even to clap. ooook.

We also spent an evening dancing forro at a big club with a 1970s feel. We watched girls in cute dresses float and twirl across the dance floor, led by handsome partners... seriously, did we go back in time? We too gave forro a try, but there was less floating and more embarrassed laughter.

Of course there was more samba and we watched, still amazed as girls and guys alike shook it all night long. We then decided that we just can't possibly learn every South American dance.

After a couple of days we made the good decision to change hostals in order to avoid being moved into the 15 bed, mixed dorm, with a group of guys that our British friends referred to as, the prisoners. We ended up in a small, quaint hostal run by Dida, one of the kindest Brazilians we'd met. Actually everyone we met at the hostal turned out to be cool.

We celebrated Easter by going to one of the most interesting Catholic masses that I've ever attended. There was minimal talking during this mass. Basically everything was sung.

We stayed in Rio a day longer than planned, just so I could buy a nut agogo... an instrument usually made with two metal bells, but mine is all natural. The extra day turned out to be worth it, not only so I could take home another strange instrument, but also because we found a big crafts market, the most interesting and creative one that we had ever seen. Brazilians really know how to recycle. They turned what might be trash to most people into some really cool wall decorations, purses, shirts, etc.

We drank one last acai (strange fruit, drink, meal... supposedly very healthy) and chose our next destination Florianopolis, 20 hours South by bus. That would be our last stop before cruising straight on to Uruguay.