The Vagrant Gypsy Life

Day 7 Sunday Sept 5, Rio

My first brush with bad weather in Rio. Woke up to the sound of the wind blowing the windows shut. After breakfast, walked up to the beach. Had to turn back due to the wind a block away. The wind was so strong that it was blowing sand up the road.

Went for a walk around Lagoa Rodrigo do Freitas. A 7.5 km trail around a lagoon. I had a nice walk around the lagoon, passing the Jardim Botanico and getting to see various neighbourhoods in a different light.

Had lunch at the Hippie de Feria at Ipanema, a fair in a square in Ipanema. Artisans, painters, lining up the square with some lovely handicrafts, paintings; brushing shoulders with vendors selling trinkets, T-shirts, jewellry; of course, there was a food stall too with cuisine from the North east.

Returned to the hostel to a restful evening.

Dinner was a gyro from the local shop. It was a change to not have fruit juice and snack for a meal.

Day 8 Rio

My luck with the good weather was apparently over. Another rainy /cloudy day in Rio.

One of the many fellow rovers, working at the hostel for board had a day off. We had planned to spend a lazy day at the Parque Lage. Of course, by the time we left the hostel, the group had grown to 6. Allen is a suave charmer and managed to get 4 girls to join us. I knew the city best of all of us and ended up acting the tourist guide. Starting at the Candelaria, I took the girls and Allen on a tour of the city centre, pointing out buildings of interest – Camara Municipal, Biblioteca National, Museum of fine arts, Convento St Antonio, Teatro Municipal. The bus ride to Parque Lage took us through more neighbourhoods. It was quite fun fielding questions from Brasilians about Rio!

Parque Lage is enchanting. A mini-jungle in the city, a block away from the lagoon, it has an aquarium in a cave, a waterfall, lovely little paths. Overlooking the park is the ever present Cristo Redendor. Spent 2-3 happy, peaceful hours walking, sitting and enjoying the greenery and the monkeys leaping from tree to tree.

Walked back to the hostel along the lagoa. Views of the city at night. I enjoy walking around a city at night – it has a different vibe. The lights, of course, make a difference.

Dinner was at a self-service organic place (New Green?). Good food by the kilo. 36 Reals for a kilo, which is a fairly good bargain in Rio.

Being my last night in Rio, I was convinced by the girls to go out with them and another group of folks from the hostel. Folks who know me will surely realise that it took a lot of arm-bending for the girls to get me to go out with them. A coconut at the beach at 10:30 is not an experience one has often. Finisged the night at some bar where they played rock music and reggae. Home and in bed at 02:00! I’m certainly living it up.

Tags: Travel

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