Rio
Trip Start
Feb 11, 2010
1
3
31
Trip End
Ongoing
Where I stayed
Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Carnaval is basically an excuse for Brazilians to dress up like mentalists and act like eejits for four days and nights as a kind of last hurrah before the sobriety of lent. Sleep is for the weak and good times are guaranteed. First though we had places to go and sights to see before partaking in the revelry so we were off on our next adventure. This time to Pao de Azucar ( The Sugar Loaf ) which is one of the best places to get a feel for the natural beauty and sprawl of this great city. Up we went on the cable car and the views did not disappoint. They were spectacular and everywhere you looked was another potential postcard picture. We were finding that the sun was taking it’s toll on our energy levels so after we came down we made our way back to the hotel for a power nap. We got up and after getting ready went down to the hotel restaurant for dinner and a Caipirinha ( Brazilian cocktail similar to a Mojito only stronger and even more delicious! ) . After we wandered through the crowded square beside the hotel where music was blaring from the stage that was set up and thousands of people were dancing in the streets. We bought cans of beer for about a Euro each and as the beer flowed the beats began to take over. We were having a ball. As we walked down the street, beer in hand, we soon found ourselves in the middle of a street parade, literally! We stayed for a few hours enjoying the spectacle as all the floats went by. Not an Artane Boys’ or Garda Band in sight! Again some of the locals were more interested in looking at us Gringos but we didn’t let that stop us having the laugh. It was great to experience our first night of Carnaval amongst the locals and an experience we’ll never forget
