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An unusually lazy morning. We did not set out to explore Rio until after noon. After a reasonably good sleep, I woke as usual at 6:30am, and did some internet browsing, photo management and blog updating until about 9am, when I checked out the little local minimarket and got eggs, coffee, coffee filters and milk. Cooked myself breakfast, whilst S & C organised theirs. Fernanda’s mother Fatima, came around at 10am to offer any assistance needed, and leave a contact number.
Our touring in Rio began with Copacabana, and a walk down Rua Figueiredo Magalhaes to Avenida Atlantica and the iconic 4.5 km strip of beach. It was a still grey sort of day, with fitful sunshine and the promise of thunder. Recognised the set up of the beach, with numbered stations on the promenade, with its famous mosaic black and white mosaic tiles. At each station is an open air snack bar/drinking place, and sometimes lockers to keep belongings, and autotellers. A broad flat stretch of white sand perhaps 40 metres wide, almost empty, separates the promenade from the business area of the beach. The gap is sometimes partially filled with soccer goals and beach volleyball courts, some games in progress as we walked along. Both the regular, and the ‘no hands’ variety were on show. After this curious wide space is passed, the beach slopes down to the Atlantic Ocean.
We bought tickets for the cog train to Corcovado for tomorrow at 1:30pm (62 Real each). We are hoping the weather is kind.
Lunch (skewers) at Espetto Carioca – good, with coconut for drinks Metro from Cardeal Arcoverde to Cinelandia, where after a walk up to the very grand Municipal Theatre via , we came to the volcanic shaped, ugly Metropolitan Cathedral, which in its interior, with 4 massive stained glass windows, forming a cruciform at the apex of the cone interior. Wonderful how an atheist architect Oscar Niemeyer, an atheist, could successfully capture the numinous elements of sacred spaces in his design.
Walked down to the old aqueduct, the Arcos de Lapa, which sadly, no longer carries tourists on the now discontinued Santa Teresa tram. Thence to the famous tiled stairway ‘Escadaria Selarón’, in decaying and graffitoed Santa Teresa. The stairway, covered in ceramic tiles, in the blue, yellow and green of Brazil’s flag was Chilean artist Jorge Selarón’s ‘tribute to the Brazilian people’, and the obsession of the final years of his life. Since his death in 2003, it has taken on a viral life of its own, with constant additions bedside the steps.
Metro back to Sequiera Campos, a spot of shopping at Extra Supermercado, where we spent what seemed like an hour in the checkout queue. After stocking up on supplies for the next 2 days. A thunderstorm struck as we has pre-dinner beer and chips. Went out in the heavy rain to find a place to have a snack – and chose Bibi Sucos, where only my mango juice was the slightest bit healthy. A plate of chips was very salty and fatty. Yum. Rain eased and stopped by the time we walked back to the apartment.
Our touring in Rio began with Copacabana, and a walk down Rua Figueiredo Magalhaes to Avenida Atlantica and the iconic 4.5 km strip of beach. It was a still grey sort of day, with fitful sunshine and the promise of thunder. Recognised the set up of the beach, with numbered stations on the promenade, with its famous mosaic black and white mosaic tiles. At each station is an open air snack bar/drinking place, and sometimes lockers to keep belongings, and autotellers. A broad flat stretch of white sand perhaps 40 metres wide, almost empty, separates the promenade from the business area of the beach. The gap is sometimes partially filled with soccer goals and beach volleyball courts, some games in progress as we walked along. Both the regular, and the ‘no hands’ variety were on show. After this curious wide space is passed, the beach slopes down to the Atlantic Ocean.
We bought tickets for the cog train to Corcovado for tomorrow at 1:30pm (62 Real each). We are hoping the weather is kind.
Lunch (skewers) at Espetto Carioca – good, with coconut for drinks Metro from Cardeal Arcoverde to Cinelandia, where after a walk up to the very grand Municipal Theatre via , we came to the volcanic shaped, ugly Metropolitan Cathedral, which in its interior, with 4 massive stained glass windows, forming a cruciform at the apex of the cone interior. Wonderful how an atheist architect Oscar Niemeyer, an atheist, could successfully capture the numinous elements of sacred spaces in his design.
Walked down to the old aqueduct, the Arcos de Lapa, which sadly, no longer carries tourists on the now discontinued Santa Teresa tram. Thence to the famous tiled stairway ‘Escadaria Selarón’, in decaying and graffitoed Santa Teresa. The stairway, covered in ceramic tiles, in the blue, yellow and green of Brazil’s flag was Chilean artist Jorge Selarón’s ‘tribute to the Brazilian people’, and the obsession of the final years of his life. Since his death in 2003, it has taken on a viral life of its own, with constant additions bedside the steps.
Metro back to Sequiera Campos, a spot of shopping at Extra Supermercado, where we spent what seemed like an hour in the checkout queue. After stocking up on supplies for the next 2 days. A thunderstorm struck as we has pre-dinner beer and chips. Went out in the heavy rain to find a place to have a snack – and chose Bibi Sucos, where only my mango juice was the slightest bit healthy. A plate of chips was very salty and fatty. Yum. Rain eased and stopped by the time we walked back to the apartment.