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Road to Belo Horizonte

Monday, June 27th, 2005

25 June 2005 (Saturday) – Rio de Janeiro to Belo Horizonte, Brazil

My last day in Rio de Janeiro today. Yep, it is time to move on. I had really enjoyed my time here, wandering around and absorbing the interesting street scenes here.

I spent my remaining hours today walking around the central part of Rio de Janeiro from Uruguaiana metro station through the banking district to Cinelandia metro station, then taking the metro to see a quirky little folkloric museum near the Catete metro station. I will be very careful with anything with the word ‘folkloric’ in the future. What a strange experience there… on the first floor were many little ceramic figurines, doing all sorts of regular things in life, like giving birth. There were even buttons you could press to make the figures go into actions, like, er… pounding grains. Well. But at least it was free and the second floor with some loud Candomble costumes with the strange implements for the Candomble rites made it worthwhile. Then, I bussed to Copacabana beach for a peek and found myself grossed out by the terribly touristy Saturday feira in Praça Lido before heading home to pack.

Amazing street graffiti around Rio de Janeiro

A typical street stall around the city

The interesting-looking cathedral of Rio de Janeiro

Hmmm… something happened between the time I arrived in Rio and now, when I am packing. Sheesh, shopping!!! The curse of packing. I really had to coax gently and shove harshly to get everything in.

By evening, Carol and Nando very, very kindly dropped me off at the rodoviaria which was excellent of them. I had had a more interesting experience in Rio de Janeiro this time round, because of them, as I had learnt a lot more about the Brazilian culture and their little quirks. They both have been studying hard for their respective exams and I really wish them all the best.

I had paid for the cheapest bus to Belo Horizonte and at first, I thought, wow… for its price, it was really a great-looking bus. Later, someone climbed onboard to collect me as I had inadvertently boarded the wrong bus. He escorted me to the right bus, and there stood my true bus – a little old metal box with wheels. It even proclaimed it had ‘Air Suspension’. That made me totally disbelieve that this bus had any air suspension!!

I don’t know if it was the route or the bus, but the entire ride to Belo Horizonte, gosh… the road was bumpy and curvy, rocking me to and fro on my seat; someone crapped in the toilet right at the beginning of the trip and released the ‘aroma’ on board for maybe, 10 minutes!!; there was no insulation, so freezing air was blowing in through the gaps of the window. I refused to open my eyes, just keep them closed and I would fall asleep, I figured.

Winter in Rio

Sunday, June 26th, 2005

24 June 2005 (Friday) – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Today, it seemed really bright and blue. Finally, this was perhaps my last chance to get it right by heading to one of the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. At Ipanema beach, I rented a beach chair from Fatima, a lady permanently decked out in bikini, sitting near Posto 8, who makes a living renting out beach chairs and selling drinks to beach-goers.

Fatima, permanently at the beach, renting chairs and selling drinks

Ah… great to be in Rio! I soaked in the sun for maybe 1 hour before the relentless wind set in, blowing a series of clouds across the morros (round mountains) in the distance. While it was still sunny, soon, the wind was proving too strong. Several people left the beach. But I was determined to wait out the wind. So, I sat there, cocooned in my sarong, and continued to read. To be honest, my book was very interesting as well. Brrrr….

Macho men braving the atrocious wind on Ipanema beach

The beach still had some brave determined souls who were determined to lie out there in their beach-wears, goose-pimples notwithstanding. It seemed to be a tacit contest to out-lie, out-tan, outlast one another. Several then grudgingly put on their T-shirts to protect from the wind. Even Fatima, gosh, she and her colleagues (or competitors) are truly the kings and queens of the beaches, aren’t they? Finally, totally dishevelled, I surrendered to nature, packed up and left. What do I expect? This is the wrong season to be in Rio, today is officially the start of winter, afterall.

I took pleasure then, in walking along the avenue of Ipanema until I came upon the canal that connects to Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Then, I walked one half of the huge lake, that I learnt used to be part of the sea. There were many people here on some leisure activities, like tennis, rowing, cycling, jogging… I stood on a platform jutting into the lake, admiring the view in front of me of twinkling lights from the houses under the Corcovado mountain, as the sky turned a brilliant blue after sunset.

Guns or not, this is truly a beautiful, beautiful city. Many times, as I take buses here, I couldn’t help but pop my head out to check out the views all around me. Imagine, playing beach volley-ball at Praia Botafogo with the Sugar Loaf mountain as the backdrop… Or walking a couple of blocks straight out from your apartment to the famous sand of Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon… Or gazing up to the mountains in front of you, and catching the Christ Redeemer gazing back at you from the distance…

City of Gods

Friday, June 24th, 2005
23 June 2005 (Thursday) - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil I heard about a square called Largo do Boticario that is just a stone's throw away from where I was staying. It is a square that apparently had some really old and ... [Continue reading this entry]

Celebra-drink Life

Thursday, June 23rd, 2005

22 June 2005 (Wednesday) - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

There was a cold front that set in since last Sunday and it caused some rain yesterday. Yes, I now learn that Rio de Janeiro does rain! Time to adjust the picture-perfect ... [Continue reading this entry]

Girl to Ipanema

Monday, June 20th, 2005
19 June 2005 (Sunday) - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil My intention is to go to Ipanema today, for the hippie fair and then later, to the beach. But instead of the warm and sunny weather we had had for the ... [Continue reading this entry]

To Market, To Market

Monday, June 20th, 2005
18 June 2005 (Saturday) - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil We had collapsed into our mattresses immediately upon our return at 3+am last night. But by 9am, I still woke up automatically and crawled outside for breakfast. I was soon joined by ... [Continue reading this entry]

Cachaça If You Can

Saturday, June 18th, 2005
17 June 2005 (Friday) - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Carol's apartment is on a hilly slope very near to the Corcovado. Sarah, the other guest at her place, also from Germany, Melanie and I wandered down Rua Cosme Velho and Rua ... [Continue reading this entry]

Rio de Janeiro One More Time

Friday, June 17th, 2005
16 June 2005 (Thursday) - Rio de Janeiro Upon arriving at Rio de Janeiro's rodoviaria, I searched for an internet place to check if anyone had responded to my plea. Well, Carol did, which was wonderful, so I gave her ... [Continue reading this entry]

Buffet Por Quilo

Friday, June 17th, 2005
15 June 2005 (Wednesday) - Porto Alegre, Brazil to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Michele and I left the apartment together. She, to her office, and I, to the rodoviaria (bus station). She had been really apologetic for not being able to ... [Continue reading this entry]