Leaving Brazil in Style: A Jaunt to Maresias and Rio de Janeiro

A few days after coming back from Bolivia, I went with my cousin Lisa to Maresias. i had translated a website for her so we got free lodging at the Maresias Beach Hotel. Maresias was still calm, as holiday travellers had not yet arrived. Although the waves were great for surfing and I wanted to take lessons, time didn't permit.



We had dinner with some friends of Lisa that night.


The next day, I rode back to São Paulo, and got dropped off at Congonhas airport to board a flight to Rio de Janeiro.


During the five months I have been in Brazil, I had not yet been to this wonderful city; and what a feeling of regret I had once I arrived. Rio is so cool...much prettier than São Paulo, and the people are much better looking. The weather is also great, not cold like São Paulo. It was 40 Celsius that day and only about 18 in SP. the down side is that Rio is very humid, and there are often thick clouds or fog, and that was the case most of the time I was there.

I stayed in Ipanema, which is less touristy, safer and has a younger crowd.



The sidewalks in Ipanema look like this

Going past Arpuador, you get to Copacabana. The famed Palace Hotel is there. It was a hot spot during the 50s and 60s and foreign movie stars used to hang out there. The hotel was recently restored to its original beauty.

The sidewalks in Copacaban look like this
All along Copacabana and Ipanema, guys with porno bodies are playing sports in sungas. They play a type of handless vollyball, which reqires amazing agility and strength.


A friend I met named Bruno took me to Corcovado and Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf).







Next time I'm in Brazil, I will be sure to spend more time in Rio. Saudades!!!