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| Review on the wall of the Corcovado Guest House |
The breakfast at the Corcovado Guest House was the best I've ever had at a B&B. Creamy homemade yogurt, fresh local fruit, eggs made to perfection, and a delectable meat selection all served with toast, presented in the perfect dainty portions. Fueled up, we packed our bags and got ready to head to a new hotel on Ipanema beach. (It was with heavy hearts that we left the boutique hostel as Monica, Claudia, & Diego had made us feel like true friends and not just average guests. I will 100% be staying here whenever I find myself in Rio!!)
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| Sidewalks of Ipanema |
The bus took us from the local bus stop near Corcovado Tram station to Ipanema beach where we took an educated guess when to hop off and walked along the legendary patterned sidewalks to our second hotel, the Sol Ipanema. Considering the characteristic guest house we had just left the Sol Ipanema, as your standard cookie cutter hotel, was nothing to write home about and we made it quickly out of our room and back on the streets of Rio.
Despite the rather dreary weather the beach was not short of skimpy swim wear and although we had decided not to spend the day at the beach we had to feel the Brazilian sand under our feet and the sea between our toes. The water was FREEZING not what I had expected at all. I am sure on a scalding summer day it is a refreshing relief from the heat but on this gloomy chilly day the cold rushed through your body overwhelming us with giggles as we attempted to appear relaxed on a warm Brazilian beach. Shutter on rapid fire I soon had masses of photographs to enjoy and it was time to continue on our way to the market.
The Sunday market in Ipanema called the Hippie Fair, located in General Osório Square, is an absolute must if you ever find yourself in Ipanema on a Sunday. The square was tightly packed with stalls circling twice around the center which was filled with various artists selling their masterpieces. (I fell in love with a colorful depiction of the favelas on canvas & bought it to frame when I got home.) The spectacular band of student drummers performing on the street corner added to the ambiance as we wandered through the market. From shop to shop you were spoiled for choice, from handbags, jewelry and clothes to carved wooden furniture and hammocks it was there handmade or bulk ordered, there were options galore and we got some fabulous souvenirs!
Have you ever been to a churrascaria? For those of you who haven't it is a Brazilian steakhouse where they bring around various cuts of meat, beautifully prepared, for you to enjoy. Simply flip your card to green when you are ready and various waiters present you with your options to refuse or indulge in. I had been to several in Houston, expensive, but simply fantastic! So obviously when you find yourself starving for fabulous dinner ideas in Brazil, an authentic Brazilian churrascaria is the perfect answer. We did the research and found a highly recommended "classic" Brazilian churrascaria within walking distance from the hotel and our stomachs would not stop rumbling with anticipation the whole way there. Porcão, not helped by its unfortunate name (I know it means "big pig" but you can't ignore the way it sounds in English), was the only disappointment of the whole trip. I don't know if Fogo de Chão is just so good that even the original can't beat it but, this was horrendous. Yes, the buffet they had was enormous, but quantity had obviously trumped quality and while the meat was good it wasn't worth the bill we received at the end of dinner. The whole place reminded me of a cheap Chinese buffet complete with disgusting deserts rolled up to your table on a tacky plastic trolley. I was incredibly ill after dinner, bringing an early end to the night. I don't want to burst your bubble, and I am not usually one to complain, but if you find yourself in Rio hunting down a tasty meal, do yourself a favor and try a different churrascaria.
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| No Lines for Sugarloaf! |
Monday was a holiday in the US so we woke up on our third morning in Rio, grateful for the long weekend. Feeling much better, we decided to take an hour shopping for Brazilian bikinis and Havaiana flip flops before checking out of the hotel. Leaving our bags with the cheerful staff at the front desk, we caught a Taxi to Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúca). There were so few people at the entrance for the Sugarloaf cable cars that until we actually pulled the door open to the
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| View from the first stopping point |
building we thought it may be closed. The first people in line for our cable car we were gradually joined by several more, and by the time the next car arrived there were enough of us to reach into the double digits. With each and every inch you are lifted higher into the air, the shrinking buildings around you and the immense views surrounding you grow more and more beautiful.
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| Second Cable Car to the Upper Most Peak |
It takes two separate cable cars before you find yourself on the highest peak. The views from the top are just magnificent. Cristo Redentor seemed so small and high up compared to where we were but looking down it felt as if we were already in the heavens. Shutter once again clicking at the speed of light it was a while before I sat down with the ladies for an ice cream. Minding our own business, enjoying the view, the most curious little creature appeared on the ledge below us. The size of a squirrel with the face of a monkey this tenacious little animal (that I now know is a marmoset) decided our ice cream looked rather tasty and managed to snatch the wrapper from my friend's hand. Luckily finding it unsatisfying for its sweet tooth the marmoset left the wrapper and quickly moved on to tastier options at benches along the way. Though our ice cream survived, our time had quickly been
consumed by these miniature monkeys and looking at our watches we realized it was time to go back to the hotel to prepare for the flight home.
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| Marmoset at Sugarloaf |
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| Facing Corcovado from the top of Sugarloaf |
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