Yesterday I got back home from Rio. Despite only being there for around 48hours it was complete bliss and I feel as though I got a good taste for their culture.
We arrived quite late on the first day, I think around 3am UK time which is 11pm local time in Rio- just about time to get in to my pj’s and climb into bed to wind down with a film and catch some z’s. I had downloaded ‘Blackfish’ a documentary about Orcas in captivity in Seaworld, Florida – and it was excellent. I watched it again last night with my boyfriend, it really pulls on your heartstrings and certainly made me consider my views on keeping animals in captivity for the sake of entertainment.
Anyway, returning to the subject, on my first day in Rio we walked to the local supermarket for breakfast and then headed to a Havaianas shop in the hope of picking up some bargains (seriously everyone in Rio wears them and they’re ridiculously cheap over there). Unfortunately none of us had clocked on to the fact that it was a Sunday, so after a long walk across town we descended on the shop to discover that it was closed- fail. So, instead we walked back to the beach outside of our hotel and lay out with a caipirinha under the clear blue skies. I read a little of my book and had a dip in the sea before we returned to the hotel in search of the swimming pool.
As the cool breeze had picked up a little and after I had tested both the pool and the jacuzzi I went up to my room and ordered dinner from room service. This was quite a momentous occasion for me as I have never once in my life ordered room service. Note to self- there is a surcharge (so I could have eaten the same dish by the pool for £4 cheaper) but hey, it felt very luxurious to be eating dinner in my white, fluffy gown in bed! So much so that I ordered it again the following day!
After a good nights sleep I headed down to reception and met up with a lady who wanted to do some sightseeing. I had hoped to see Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain but the crew had seen both on previous trips so that was unfortunately off the cards. However, we decided on visiting Rio’s Botanical Garden and they were truly stunning. Besides the fact that it was exceptionally good value for money (the return bus fare, entrance fee and a can of fanta came to 15 reals which is under a fiver) there was so much to see and I could see Christ the Redeemer high up on a mountain in the background. It was so serene and peaceful and I felt truly relaxed there. The bus ride also gave me the chance to witness some of the real culture there instead of the touristy sky rise buildings of the location our hotel was in. The favelas (which is a term for a shanty town) extended all the way up the mountainsides in an array of colours, it really was unique to anything I’ve seen before. The vegetation was so lush and wild- with plenty of palm trees and rich greenery everywhere, it was so visually inviting that my eyes were constantly darting around.
We returned back to the hotel with enough time to spare for a another film (‘Into the Wild’- again, fantastic!) and a nap before our flight.
Would I go back? Definitely! I hope I can return with work again. Personally, as a holiday with my boyfriend, family or friends it’s not at the top of my list, I’d have to look in to prices a bit more- however, it really is a unique place and their culture is fascinating with lots to do and see that isn’t possible anywhere else in the world.
The view from my balcony- perfect for sitting out with a book and a drink.
Looking at all the hotels from the beach.
Sunning myself on the beach. This is the life!
I had never seen such tall palm trees. These were amazingly tall.
Obligatory Christ the Redeemer shot.
Under the Big Top 