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Another lazy morning. Breakfast (eggs again) and coffee lasted until nearly 11am. I have an incipent cold, and am trying to ward it off with voodoo medicine. The day is hazy and grey after some fleeting blue sky in the early morning. We hailed a cab to take us to Parque Lage, on the shore of the Lagoa, under the shadow of Corcovado. Unfortunately, our taxi driver misunderstood and took us to the Botanic Gardens. Which were closed until midday.
Had to get another taxi to take us to the small park, containing a dark and brooding mansion, now used as an Art Space. Some works were on display around the interior courtyard and pool of the old building. Spent a short time there and took a taxi back around the Lagoa, to the canal which runs from the coast to the lagoon. After a short walk around the shore of the lagoon, we walked on down the canal, which was not all that salubrious. Additionally, work to extend the Metro to Leblon is proceeding, making the area a construction zone. There was a colourful fruit market to walk through, and we made our way finally to the beachfront at Leblon, which unlike Copacabana was somewhat sterile and unwelcoming. It did not help that it began to rain.
Headed back inland and on to Ipanema. Restaurants for lunch were hard to find along the way, even on the streets heavily marked with symbols for food on a Lonely Planet Map. There seemed to be no malls with Food Courts, nor anything other than juice and sandwich shops, or all-you-can-eat buffets. In one mall we lucked upon a shop (called Sobral) selling souvenirs and articles made of coloured resin. Including stylised Cristo Redentor (and Pão de Açúcar). The tasteful version of the felt Jesuses we saw up at Corcovado yesterday. I bought a turquoise one for 58 Real, whilst S & C chose a small cat with blue eyes. The polychrome set of 3 stools was unfortunately, too big to carry.
Advice from our vendor led us to lunch at Barzin, where grilled meats were chosen for all. Very tasty too. Mine had chicken hearts, chorizo and meat pieces, whilst S & C’s meal for 2 had onions, potatoes and sliced beef on a sizzler. Both smelt great. Both were very filling. And by now, the rain had ceased.
The big lunch was followed by a walk (not long enough given size of lunch!) down to the beach at Ipanema, so toes could touch the fabled sands. The eponymous girl was nowhere to be seen. Back to the main street, to grab a tasty sorbet at Vero, then cab back to the apartment just as the rain began again.
Still full from the big lunch, so substituted evening meal for beer and peanuts. Are we jaded or what?
Had to get another taxi to take us to the small park, containing a dark and brooding mansion, now used as an Art Space. Some works were on display around the interior courtyard and pool of the old building. Spent a short time there and took a taxi back around the Lagoa, to the canal which runs from the coast to the lagoon. After a short walk around the shore of the lagoon, we walked on down the canal, which was not all that salubrious. Additionally, work to extend the Metro to Leblon is proceeding, making the area a construction zone. There was a colourful fruit market to walk through, and we made our way finally to the beachfront at Leblon, which unlike Copacabana was somewhat sterile and unwelcoming. It did not help that it began to rain.
Headed back inland and on to Ipanema. Restaurants for lunch were hard to find along the way, even on the streets heavily marked with symbols for food on a Lonely Planet Map. There seemed to be no malls with Food Courts, nor anything other than juice and sandwich shops, or all-you-can-eat buffets. In one mall we lucked upon a shop (called Sobral) selling souvenirs and articles made of coloured resin. Including stylised Cristo Redentor (and Pão de Açúcar). The tasteful version of the felt Jesuses we saw up at Corcovado yesterday. I bought a turquoise one for 58 Real, whilst S & C chose a small cat with blue eyes. The polychrome set of 3 stools was unfortunately, too big to carry.
Advice from our vendor led us to lunch at Barzin, where grilled meats were chosen for all. Very tasty too. Mine had chicken hearts, chorizo and meat pieces, whilst S & C’s meal for 2 had onions, potatoes and sliced beef on a sizzler. Both smelt great. Both were very filling. And by now, the rain had ceased.
The big lunch was followed by a walk (not long enough given size of lunch!) down to the beach at Ipanema, so toes could touch the fabled sands. The eponymous girl was nowhere to be seen. Back to the main street, to grab a tasty sorbet at Vero, then cab back to the apartment just as the rain began again.
Still full from the big lunch, so substituted evening meal for beer and peanuts. Are we jaded or what?