After walking through a very diverse food market in Ipanema and sampling a tasty but unknown purple fruit, we jumped on the metro and took it all the way to the Maracana – the Brazilian national stadium which some say is one of the most significant stadiums in football’s history. It has held 2 World Cup Finals, both in 1950 and 2014 – this stat only equaled by Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. We signed up for a guided tour but first took in the various displays on some of the greatest Brazilian footballers and their impressive goal scoring records as well as significant visits in history from the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and even the Pope!
The tour took us first up to the journalist/VIP area for a superb view of the stadium and the guide gave us an interesting talk on the history of it, explaining that before it was rebuilt, it held over 200,000 fans… Mental. The improved stadium now has an amazing roof construction and holds around 78,500 fans. We then went down to the changing rooms and saw the facilities as well as where the manager and players get pumped up for games. Walking through the tunnel, we ended the tour pitch side and marvelled at the sea of blue, yellow and white seats that rose around us, the colours combine with the green grass to form the Brazilian National colours. The pitch was looking a bit worn as the season just ended in December. I guess there will be further improvements before it hosts both the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics in 2016, which will add yet another landmark of sporting history at the Maracana.
We headed back to central Rio and had planned to go up to Christ the Redeemer, but it was sold out by the time we got there. We decided to go back to Ipanema to cool off at the beach, but first I headed to a Bossa-Nova record shop and bought an LP by Antonio Carlos Jobim, who is regarded as one of genre’s pioneers.
That night we got a gang together at our hostel, including 3 girls from Buenos Aires and a guy from DC. We prelashed at our hostel then headed to a club called 00, where we met our English pals Charles & Grace. We bought a bottle of cacaçha and made our own caiprinhas, which got us smashed FAST. The club had a live samba band which played until the early hours, and a few local guys who gave us our first look at the samba dance, and even got me up to have a go. Its fair to say I delivered then swaggered off to an applauding crowd!!! I’m not sure it was a true samba but God loves a trier. The night continued as we left for a bar, closer to our hostel. When we arrived, it felt like a street party as hundreds of people spilled out across the pavement. We grabbed another caipi from a street-stall and joined the party!
The next morning, New Years Eve, we rose with thumping headaches. We booked our tickets to Christ Redeemer in advance this time, so after breakfast we headed back to the plaza with the queues. After some confusion we found our way into a minivan with a super friendly Brazilian family, who helped us navigate through various ticket offices and queues, and up to the top of the city for yet another gob smacking view. From there you could see back to Sugar loaf, Copacabana, Ipanema and also the Lagoa. Rio is a truly gorgeous place and it’s hard not to feel closer to heaven up there, as the outstretched Jesus watches over the city. It was bloody boiling and both nursing fairly stern hangovers, we headed back to the Mango tree for some food and a sleep, ahead of the most important night of the year. The hostel bar was getting busy as we woke up so we got ready and went downstairs to join the fun.
Working through various drinking games with some new friends, the drinks flowed and it was soon time to walk to Copa where the main party was heating up. Our gang of about 8, included Charles & Grace, two Aussie couples and a bro/sis from Texas. We had to keep a close eye on the person in front, as the crowd persisted to separate us. Eventually, our group in-tact, we found a spot in the sand near the second stage and settled down for the main event, the world famous firework display! Brazilian beats floated across the beach and the crowd danced, the backdrop the ocean and the various cruise liners that were docked and lit up around the harbour. As midnight came, the fireworks began and went on for at least 20 minutes. The millions on the beach jumped and roared and we embraced our gang, all in awe of the fireworks which were easily the best we’d ever seen. After the show, we went along the beach to the main stage to catch some more of the party. We stopped off on the way for some BBQ street food and a couple of beers. The main stage was massive and further than we thought or at least it took longer due to the mass of people! We caught the last hour of the music then headed back along the beach for more food and beers before getting to our hostel circa 5am! A superb night and one that we will never forget. Thank you Rio!
New Year’s Day arrived and it was time to check into our Christmas present, 2 nights in the 5-star Pestana hotel on Copacabana beach. Our room was amazing, huge with a gorgeous bed and a lovely finish. We had a partial view of the beach, but it was the rooftop pool where we spent most of our time. It has probably one of the best views in Rio, slap bang in the middle of Copacabana. We spent the first day by the pool, recovering then had room service for dinner!
Breakfast was amazing, coconut water on tap and enough food to sink a ship! We headed back to the pool for another day of sun but had to go back to room to chill out as it was ridiculously hot. Our 2nd night, we ate at the hotels self-service restaurant which was tasty! We watched some movies in our room after dinner and enjoyed a lovely nights sleep. Our flight to Iguaçu was mid afternoon the next day so the last morning was spent eating well at breakfast followed by the pool again, soaking up the final rays in what was a great hotel and special gift from our parents!
We had the most amazing week in Rio and might go as far as saying it was our favourite place of the whole trip! Onto the falls…
If you like Piña Coladas... 