the past few days have been incredible, and mainly because we're staying in a hostel. We have met a lot of interesting people and have had fun attempting to cross language barriers in inventive ways. We have met; Mexicans, Columbians, Argentinians, Brazilians, Germans and a girl from Easter Island!
On friday we went for a walk around the beaches at Copacabana and Ipanema, they are very long is exhausting in the heat, but the atmosphere is amazing and the scenery is stunning! We stayed up and were made Caiprinhas by our friendly Carioca hostel staff. They consist of, ice, lime, sugar and ridiculous amounts of Cachaça' they're lethal.
The next day we went to go and get lissie and she had a bit of a shock as not long after arriving, and still having no sleep she was introduced to Caiprinhas and invited to Samba. We also tried chocolate and cheese pizza - mistake!
So Saturday night we went out with a big group, so we didn't feel too much like Gringos! We went to Lapa which is supposed to be the best place to go out and our friends taught us a little samba and we had the Brazilian beer again, Brahma! Lapa is amazing....in all aspects of life Cariocas find joy and passion. One road had bars all down it with different music in each, people spilled out onto the road and danced and drank in the street. Everyone is alive here!
On Sunday....after our manic night, we had a lazy day. We woke up and headed to Ipanema and explored the hippy market with all the local tradesmen having stalls and then lay on the beach. Then we decide to walk all the way home which takes forever. And you get a lot of attention being white girls, people just stare! Also on the beach Liz had coco juice, the pull off a coconut, crack it open and stick a straw in, it's very sweet and refreshing but there's a lot of it!
Yesterday we did the touristy thing and booked a tour, which was definately worth it! We took a bus up to Christ the Redeemer, you go up through jungle past the favelas on the hill and up to a platform where you take a lift up to the top. He is huge, but not as big as I imagined, you can see him from nearly everywhere in the city. The views from up there were amazing!
Next we went to the Maracana, the 2nd biggest football stadium in the world, and there and lots of footprints with plaques outside, some we recognised some we dont. Then onto a big cathedral, designed by the same architect who designed Brasilia... Outside it looks like a big concrete pyramid...like a tomb. But inside the stained glass is beautiful!
Then as it was starting to get dark we headed to sugar loaf. As we reached the top of the second peak the sun started to set over the mountains. The view from up there is breathtaking. I felt lucky to be alive yesterday. As we were heading back down in the cable car the lights of the city all came on and sparkled across the water. It truly is beautiful here, i'll try and get pictures on soon :)
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