So, we’ve come to the final stint on what has been a truly epic trip.Flying over Rio in the evening after sunset was a good start, a patchy sea of flickering lights obscured by the many mountain tops.
A 2 hour coach journey from the airport and we arrived in Leblon, which is considered the nicest place in Rio, just 3 blocks from up from Ipanema beach.
After an average nights kip in the flat we were staying we took to the streets to grab some breakfast and go for our general wonder to scope out the place. We noticed how well it was maintained, plush buildings overlooked wide roads with trimmed palm trees lining the streets. Spent most the day on Ipanema beach, immediately took in the fantastic view of Sugarloaf mountain and the favela’s that occupied the bottom third, it was much more visible at night when the favela’s lit up the bottom half of the mountain and the dim light causing the rest of the mountain to stand out against a ‘starry blackground’. Stunning.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ipanema+beach&sa=X&rlz=1C1WZPF_en-GBGB457GB475&espv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=xEDOU6_0MOX9ygOWqIKoCQ&ved=0CC4QsAQ&biw=1119&bih=712
The same night we hit the main area in Leblon, about 4 blocks back from the Copacabana, felt like we were in London, just a lot warmer! Quite a classy place with loads of small boutique wine & cocktail bars. Jumped into a big one that was busy, got straight on the shots and caipirinha’s, a popular cocktail in Brazil similar to a mojito.
Was a top night, mingling with the locals and other internationals. Walked or should I say staggered back along Ipanema beach around 3am, could have taken a cab but was nice to enjoy the view.
Feeling rather sensitive we left the flat around 9am and went to Corcovado mountain and upto Christ the Redeemer, took 2 minibuses up there, cost around £25, including entrance.
The pictures says it all really, the statue was extremely impressive, only beaten by the views over Rio. Could have spent hours just taking it all in, was absolutely stunning. Only negative thing were the amount of people there, quite a small area and frustrating knocking past people stretching their arms out for picture every 5 yards. Goodtimes though.
Decided to spend the rest of the day on the beach again, really going to miss it, it’s one of the favourites in Brazil I can see why. This last evening we had was spent enjoying a 400g Uruguayan fillet steak and a few cold ones.Got up early next day and had a last minute sunbathe on Ipanema, few coconuts later we had to go back, pack and hail a cab to the airport.
Rio, Madrid, London, home. Writing this a few days later, still whacked from not sleeping for 30 hours, but nothing will halt the feeling of knowing what an incredible experience it all was. It’s only going to be something to look back on now, I know there are millions of people that have experienced similar to what I have but it doesn’t make me feel any less lucky.
I think it’s safe to say I have the travel bug. Only thing to do now apart from all the clothes washing is to think of where I can explore next!
Thanks for reading! J
Alex
