by J M K

Created on: July 10, 2008   Last Updated: November 24, 2008

The eight hour overnight plane ride from Miami, Fl to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil felt long and sitting next to a deportee did not make it any more comfortable.

After we arrived, the trip to the hotel was expensive but easy. The cab driver was our first Brazilian friend; with limited English he tried to be our tour guide. After an hour we made it to our hotel in Arpoador and met our second friend, the knowledgeable concierge. We headed out to Copacabana. A walk down the beach to find an ATM turned into an activity. We walked, laid on the beach until the wind picked up, and went through the city to finally find the ATM. During our excursion we found beautiful hills (one we trekked up), fresh coconut juice, amazing mango juice and another friend (the locals are friendly here).

We came back to the hotel to change and headed out to Impenema. Impenema is 5th Avenue mixed with old world charm and it is stunning. We ate at a swanky place called Bazaar. We enjoyed filet mignon and namorado (a type of perch) and a delicious cheap bottle of wine.

Saturday, May 10
This morning we enjoyed a free breakfast of croissants, papaya, and mango juice that is typically of Brazilian hotels. We decided to head to the fair out in greater rio. On the walk to the metro we found a small market- I got great shoes. The metro ride was easy and clean. We got off at the right stop but had to find our way from there. We met two Scottish girls in the same predicament and together we made a confused foursome. The locals, always willing to help but never able to speak our language, pointed and through a park and a favela, small neighborhood, we found our way. The market was in what looked like an old soccer stadium (excuse me, football), large and bazaar. We paid $1 R ($.60) to enter and walk around the maze. A CD store, candy shop, samba dancer, singer and butcher were just the first row. We ate carne (not sure from which animal), rice and beans, got a sugary coconut dessert and left.

We decided to go to the city center. We got off at the central metro stop and walked around the block before realizing we were not in the city center and were, instead, off the map. We did see highly guarded government buildings, a local market (not for tourists) and a park.

After a metro ride and short walk we arrived at Lapa. There was a beautiful park and, while searching for a bar, we found an eleven-story flight of mosaic stairs. After a photo shoot we settled at the bar with the most rowdy people. We drank sangria

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