Less Stress, More Success

Rio De Janeiro, Brasil
April 9th-12th (Mon-Thur)

I like to think that I rarely get stressed, but the first day in Rio de Janeiro was just that. After a successful flight (I fell asleep immediately after dinner and had to be woken up for breakfast about 8 hours later) it was soon apparent that only a handful of people in Rio speak English, and only a handful of banks take MasterCard/Cirrus. The battle to find these has been long, sweaty, horrifically confusing and stressful. Tedious stuff when you’ve only got two and a half days to see a city that feels as big as all of Ireland.

Word.

Even though we’re chuffed with ourselves for mastering the buses in this metropolis (taxis are too expensive), it’s more bitter sweet than anything because it takes well over an hour to get from one ‘sight’ to the next. It’s probably safe to say that in one day we spent more time on buses than a Galway-Dublin return air coach.

''Pão de Açúcar' aka Sugar Loaf Mountain
Cloud cleared shortly after this so we got the view in, phew!

'Cristo Redentor' - Christ the Redemeer
No tickles.

Not even a hug. Oh Cristo!

 In the end trying to tick off as much of the recommended lists in the Lonely Planet (thanks Anne!) as possible was just too much, we realised just how big the city was and so we cut our itinerary in half. Even though we may have missed out slightly, I can safely say I could get 100% on any Rio de Janeiro geography & landmarks Facebook quiz – Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana, Botafogo, Flamengo, Cinelandia, Pao de Acucar, Cristo Redentor (for some reason I could never remember this name so I just called him ‘Christ on a bike’). I know them all so well… from a height and from bus windows! Also, if there was an ATM location quiz I would ace that too.

Hang gliding, courtesy of the big sis!

The fast pace of Rio really took it out of me, after Whistler I’m used to such a relaxed lifestyle of skiing, napping and drinking. Over the last few days I’ve had teeny tiny naps on about 70% of the buses I’ve been on. Fear not, the buses are safe (enough) so napping is eh… safe (enough). It’s just like falling asleep on the 46A really. In general though I’ve not been afraid for the security of any personal belongings at any stage or even felt a presence of ‘those bad people’. Interestingly, there are noticeably few homeless people on the streets. Every town has the poor unfortunate at some corner, or the token Nora Warts so perhaps Rio caters for those in the poorer favelas which are a stone’s throw away (with a very good arm).



Prior to visiting Rio I would have considered it to be one of the more dangerous places I’d be in, so without jinxing myself, I may now re-jig that imaginary list. Rio preconceptions I had were from tales of mugging and of the plastic surgery, alas I’ve not seen any of either (at least I don’t think the bodies have been cosmetically enhanced… from what I’ve seen Brazilians are just ridiculously fit, tanned and attractive). Perhaps I’m past the mugging stage because my skin is not as ghost-like as when I first landed and my exhausted appearances may deem me as having nothing decent to take? Here’s hoping I don’t get mugged, my stupid insurance doesn’t cover me for that.

Very impressed with the amount of flip flops in the flagship Havaianas store in Copacabana.
Worn by 99% of Brazilians, what a product.

Note: whilst writing this diary entry I caught a mosquito, with my left hand. Impressed?