Rio de Janeiro, 18-23 de Enero

RIO DE JANEIRO! Another big pin (in your best NZ accent) in the map for our adventure, we were pretty excited about exploring the famous city over 6 days. Certainly the most iconic and spectactular landscape we have seen as a backdrop for a city - on further inspection we were not let down by this incredible place! 

Essentially, all we did over the 6 days in the exciting city revolved around feasting our eyes from different perspectives - 2 iconic landmark hills, several beaches, a boat, and a hanglider!

Atop Corcovoda - Christ the Redeemer

Clare couldn't believe we had finally made it up to see Christ the Redeemer,
it turns out, the largest Art Deco sculpture in the world at 40m high and 30m wide, there you go!



Up there with the most touristy spots we have been to in the continent, it was hilarious battling with other avid photographers to snap the knaff duplicate statue pose!

Sugar Loaf seen in the hazy distance, Copacapana Beach (where we stayed) to the right.

2 love-birds just coping in the stiffling 38 degree heat and humidity.



Expansive views.....Clare and I couldn't resist this more than buoyant opportunity. Our conclusion was that this local had a new pair of investments she wanted to show-off/tan. Something we have seen more and more of since!

Pao de Acucar - Sugar Loaf 

By boat...
We jumped at the opportunity of a party-boat cruise around part of Rio's harbour. A mix of all-you-can-drink beer and caiparinhas, a BBQ, and jumping off the boat to cool down!
Likely another activity/excursion you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else!

We have found in Brasil its the norm not to wear many clothes all of the time. Taking part in this cultural incling has done wonders for my t-shirt line.

Cringe pose, this was initailly a joke titanic/Rio photo that turned out OK!

HANGLIDING!
Another activity we had to fork out for, in this case an early wedding present of sorts to each other!

The launch-pad line-up.....every few minutes a glider would take off, popular!

The 30 seconds of training was intensive: one practice run on terra firma, holding onto a waist handle and shoulder of our awesome pilot Ricardo and running 10 metres or so flat out (that was it!). Fortunately I went first so had no time to consider what I was about to do; this combined with the knowledge that Ricardo had done this flight over 14,000 times since the 80's, I felt surprisingly at ease. Clare meanwhile took snaps and waited for our return back up in the truck.

The best part - running of the edge of the hill!

Cheeeeese.

Clare, making sure the harness is functioning correctly pre-flight.

Look Mum, no hands!

The flight was BRILLIANT, awesome views over one of the southern beaches of Rio, an absolute must. Really exhilarating going for the jump and surprisingly relaxing and peaceful when in flight.

Lapa - an old aqueduct which now transoprts the tourist tram. We had an awesome night grooving to african drums and watching Samba at its base - every Friday they close the streets to party here, for what to us was like a new years eve shin dig!



Clare taking it easy at Copacabana Beach.

I asked the sculptor if he added cement to the sand; his trick was spray-lacquer.

The quintessential image we have come to appreciate of Brazil. Ipanema Beach - and the same-sex-appreciation area of the sand in the foreground.

After all the reported heavy rain and flooding within the state earlier in January, we were lucky and only experienced one afternoon of drizzle and temperatures in the mid 30's all week. As it turns out the big Favela landslides were not in Rio, but in towns neighbouring the city.

From Rio we headed to Ilha Grande, only 2 hours south and a short boat trip away.