alarm went off way too early at 730 am. we quickly packed everything up and were down to breakfast just after 8 am. enjoyed our last morning of free food complete with bread and cheese spread and meat and cheese. we paid our 180R to rodriquez and rita, took a picture (oh he has a nice camera, hes a photographer for national geographic) and then threw our bags on and started the hike down to the ferry dock to catch our 9am ferry.
of course, everything runs on brazilian time, we we caught our ferry about 920. we climbed up top of the catamaran and enjoyed the view from up there for the 45 minutes back to the mainland. just before landing, we heard this cute couple across from us speaking in english. asked where they were from and the girl was from southafrica living in london and the boy was from mexico. they met in columbia traveling and were meeting back up. they realized we too were going to the bus station, so asked if we wanted to share a taxi to the bus terminal. we wanted to but no taxis come, so we hiked 25 minutes with our pack on our backs to the bus station. i had some awesome back sweat, not as good as in greece.
we had pre purchased our tickets for the 1230 bus, but it was just 1100. our new friends bought their tickets and asked if we could join them for an eariier departure that was leaving now. the bus dudes agreed and we quickly boarded the bus to rio.
rachel and i passed out rather quickly. but sure enough about an hour into the ride they pulled over for a fifteen minute pit stop. then we were back on the road and sleeping until we started to hit stop and go traffic which woke us up. sure enough, we were in rio. made it to the bus station, found return to sao paulo tickets for ¼ at 1030am to arrive at 1630 in time for bus exchange and get to airport. 50$. much cheaper than an airplane ticket. we hit the atm and said bye to our new friends, then saught out a taxi for felicios house. it was early, only 230 but wanted to get to his area so we knew where we were to meet him at his hosue at 4pm. we stopped and grabbed a bite to eat for 12R at a buffet, which is pay by what it weighs. then a 340 we started the block hike to his hosue. i wasnt too sure exactly how we were going to meet him, but we sat on our luggages until about 415, i was getting nervous, but sure enough a cab pulled up and out hopped this energetic cute brazilian girl who knew us. greeted us the brazilian way (kiss on each cheek) then out hopped felicio. he helped us with our bags up to his apartment, we were given a nook to keep our stuff in. very nice. he gave us a key and told us we are free to do what we want.
first thing first, we got the wifi password and updated the blog/facebook then we got ready to head to a couchsurfing thing at ipanema beach to watch the sunset. we hopped the metro after changing into crops bc it was slightly cold here. like 20 degrees celsius. emerged from the metro and walked a couple blocks to ipanema beach, one of the last beaches of rio. we walked to pier 7 and saw the cs party, but there werent many people there probably because of the losey weather and the cloud covered sky. we climbed to felicios favorite point took a couple pictures then went back to the cs party. tried the soda drink of choice down here it tasted like a shirley temple then started walking to copacabana beach to see what it looks like without 2 million people on it. after that we hopped the metro back to lapa.
lapa on friday nights is quite lively. it reminds me of the state fair but every friday night. we found felicios favorite caiprihau shop and got a 700ml ciprihua for 7R then got a 'x-todo' x stands for cheese... and todo means everything. the burger which costed 2R a piece and had hamburger, piece of ham, fried egg, salad, tomato, slab of bacon, in a bun topped with picnic (shoe string potatoes). and yes i ate the entire thing.
we then proceeded under the arches of lapa to the 'rich' part of lapa. we then proceeded to walk the perimeter, went to the famous steps and in amongst the emo hippies where a straong frangrent smell was noticable. we then went through the 'poor' part. got caipafruitas which we could chose the fruit, i got strawberry kiwi (and was given a weird—are you sure?) yes, it was delicious. rachel got a manga caiprafruita. each were 7R a piece and were 700mL. felicio and ana were light weights. one caiprahnua a piece did them in. we got back to where we started, and they decided to head home. rachel and i wanted to give them some alone time before we headed back. so we were people watching and a group of 5 touristy brazilians needed help with a group picture. so we helped then got talking to them. they have an apartment one block from copa. we exchanged information then rachel and i started our walk home. we found it quite easily. both brushed our teeth and then passed out. new years eve tomorrow!
No comments:
Post a Comment