Last night we went for a meal at a smart restaurant up the hill. The meal was good. However just after our desert we had to retreat inside because a huge thunderstorm hit. In fact it blew the power of the restaurant and it was all quite chaotic. Very heavy rain ensued. I was getting a bit fed up as I had to wake up early the next day- but we eventually got a cab through the restaurant and arrived home.
This morning I awoke at 5, having packed everything the night before I was ready. I took hardly anything other than a towel, flipflops, bit of cash and glasses in case things got nicked. The taxi took me to Barra da Tijuica posto 5 which is a fair way from the city. The ride was smooth and interesting along some coast line. I arrived and sure enough there were waves but nobody in. SOmetimes some solid sets were coming through. I have to say I was a biut sceptical about paddling out at an unknown break on my own, plus I was cold (should have brought my wetsuit with me). Eventually met a guy who was paddling out. Had around half an hour surf caught a few waves- mainly just short drops. Was getting cold and then the wind got up and blew it out. I had found a guy to look after my stuff at the bar. He even gave me a coffee and wanted no money. What a nice guy.
Afterwards I got a bus back to Rio- I met the surfer again on the bus an we chatted a bit. Felt a bit wierd being on the morning bus in shorts with a surfboard. Was much cheaper than a taxi. I didn't exactly know where I was going and got off a bit early oin Botafogo thinking it was the centre. After 15 minutes of standing around the streets of Rio in shorts with my board I eventually found a taxi who would take me back to the hotel.
Luckily I was able to join my parents for breakfast and then had a swim. We headed into town but had a fairly slow taxi ride thanks to blockages and traffic- things in Rio can take a while. We did the MAR- Museum of Art Rio, which was short but interesting. Also had a lunch there of steak and chocolate mouse, along with the mandatory beer.
This morning I awoke at 5, having packed everything the night before I was ready. I took hardly anything other than a towel, flipflops, bit of cash and glasses in case things got nicked. The taxi took me to Barra da Tijuica posto 5 which is a fair way from the city. The ride was smooth and interesting along some coast line. I arrived and sure enough there were waves but nobody in. SOmetimes some solid sets were coming through. I have to say I was a biut sceptical about paddling out at an unknown break on my own, plus I was cold (should have brought my wetsuit with me). Eventually met a guy who was paddling out. Had around half an hour surf caught a few waves- mainly just short drops. Was getting cold and then the wind got up and blew it out. I had found a guy to look after my stuff at the bar. He even gave me a coffee and wanted no money. What a nice guy.
Afterwards I got a bus back to Rio- I met the surfer again on the bus an we chatted a bit. Felt a bit wierd being on the morning bus in shorts with a surfboard. Was much cheaper than a taxi. I didn't exactly know where I was going and got off a bit early oin Botafogo thinking it was the centre. After 15 minutes of standing around the streets of Rio in shorts with my board I eventually found a taxi who would take me back to the hotel.
Luckily I was able to join my parents for breakfast and then had a swim. We headed into town but had a fairly slow taxi ride thanks to blockages and traffic- things in Rio can take a while. We did the MAR- Museum of Art Rio, which was short but interesting. Also had a lunch there of steak and chocolate mouse, along with the mandatory beer.
Favela Exhibit
Later we wandered down to around Carioca which is a commercial area. I left my parents and had a wander around the market. This was interesting, but it also looked a pickpocket's paradise, Rio being Rio I did not hang around. However I actually walked back to the hotel up the steep hill, before grabbing another swim. I am slightly worries about picking something up from this mornings surf, last night it rained very heavily and we all know where the sewage in Rio goes.
No comments:
Post a Comment