WANDERLUST: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Hey guys, I am back again! This time I am with my awesome boyfriend, Pedro, who helped me shoot, edit, and choose the photos.  We have a WANDERLUST post for you.  Part II of our Brazil trip - the amazing Rio de Janeiro!  

After 10 days in beautiful Salvador (read about Part I of our trip to Salvador, Brazil), Pedro, Sonia (Pedro's lovely mom), and I headed out to Rio de Janeiro for some sightseeing, and to visit with Pedro's grandmother.  Rio is an amazing city full of history, culture, and of course - some very famous beaches!  

Unfortunately it rained almost every day for the whole 10 days we were in Rio...  So the dreams I had of getting a tan on the beaches of Ipanema were pretty much shattered.  Haha.  But don't worry - we managed to occupy ourselves and have a great time!  

We visited the Sugar Loaf ("Pao de Acucar"), where we took two cable cars between neighbouring mountains and went on a nature walk.  

We tried to go up  another mountain to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer ("Cristo Redentor"), but once halfway up - decided the 4 hour wait was no way to spend an afternoon (and to be honest, you can "see" the statue from literally anywhere in the city).

We also visited the Botanical Gardens (Jardim Botanico), and enjoyed some of the local nightlife.  We listened and danced to samba and bossanova - and heard the samba schools practicing for Carnival. 

I disappointed myself as a photographer in Rio. Most of my photographs were of jackfruit or in Portuguese, "jaca", the world's largest edible fruit (which I thought were amazing looking, but apparently nobody eats), AND of monkeys.  And that was it.  Oh well, next time  

Rio de Janeiro.  We walked, we saw, we ate, we drank, we absorbed, we learned, we tanned (or tried), we swam, we danced.  Rio rocked us.  It was a trip I will remember for the rest of my life.  I could go on forever, but I won't :P

 Rio de Janeiro is such a vibrant city.  If you ever have the opportunity to visit, I urge you to take it.  I can't wait to see more of the country, and explore other parts of South America.   Thanks for letting me share a tiny bit of my first South American adventure with you!

Check back next Wednesday for more of my travel adventures!  Who knows where I will stop next. 

 

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DESCRIPTIONS:

View from the cable car at the Sugar Loaf (Pao de Acucar). 

Christ the Redeemer Statue (Cristo Redentor) through some trees, Pedro & I in an old cable car at the Sugar Loaf (Pao de Acucar).

MONKEYS!!!!  With their tails touching! I died (@ the Sugar Loaf). 

Mama monkey with a Baby monkey on her back :D (I believe this was on the road back down from the Christ the Redeemer statue), Crazy flower in the Botanical Garden (Jardim Botanico).  

View from the restaurant called, Apazivel (apparently Amy Winehouse ate here when she spent time in Rio - so I thought that was pretty cool), in the Santa Teresa neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro.  Wish I had gotten to spend more time in this lovely little area.

Jardim Botanico/Botanical Gardens, We stopped on our drive through the mountains, and I snapped a quick photo. 

GIANT PALM TREES!! 

Pedro making goofy faces. 

Me enjoying a caipirinha (cachaca + lime + sugar + ice) at Rio Scenarium, Live band at Rio Scenarium. 

Street art near the Botafogo subway station! There was so much AMAZING street art in Rio.  I am so sad I didn't take a million photographs of it.  

WANDERLUST: Salvador, Brazil

Hey guys! So I have a new feature for you - and it starts today! I don't know about you, but I absolutely LOVE to travel.  WANDERLUST is a feature in which I will share my travel stories, photos, rants, raves and adventures.  Or maybe it's just picking a locale I would love to visit, and am seeking your insight.

I feel super lucky because 1) I now have a job that allows me the flexibility to travel whenever I want (provided I can afford the trip), and 2) my boyfriend loves to travel too - PLUS, he has lived all over the world, was born in Brazil, and has family spread across quite a few continents. 

And so, my first WANDERLUST feature will take us to my partner's homeland, the South American nation of Brazil.  On December 26, 2012, I boarded a plane to Sao Paulo, Brazil by myself (my final destination being Salvador, located in the Bahia state).  After a few hiccups - first with my travel visa, then a delayed flight, chaos at the Sao Paulo airport, and a major freakout in the Salvador airport (somehow I walked into Departures instead of Arrivals... don't ask me how this happened.  I have no idea.  Luckily there was one passenger in the airport who spoke English and came to my rescue) - I made it to Salvador a long 24 hours later.

But it was worth it! I promise! I was greeted by Pedro and his wonderful family, and I spent a glorious 10 days on the equator.  There was perfect weather (which was AMAZING, because I literally left a snowstorm behind), tons of food, good times, great company, and lots of beer and cachaca.   Pedro's family rented a boat for a day too, which was so much fun (even though I got a pretty awful sunburn).  And best of all, I got to spend New Year's Eve with Pedro for the first time in 4 years.  It was so special.  There were even fireworks (and they were really good fireworks too).  I also had some of the best sushi I have EVER eaten.  I'm talking amazing sashimi.  And this is coming from a girl who has also been to Japan.  And the samba! AH the music.  Who knew I would love to dance so much (haha.. maybe it was all the cachaca)! 

I got to see so many wonderful and amazing things.  So many colours, so much life.  And I got to meet Pedro's extended family - who were truly the warmest, most inviting people! They made me feel right at home :) Which is really nice when you're halfway across the world...

Check out some of my photos below!  Visiting Brazil was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything (even if I had to abandon my pup for 3 weeks)!  I really can't wait to go back.  There are plans in the works to visit again this December for Pedro's cousin's wedding.  And I am so excited!

Ready for more WANDERLUST? Check back next week for Brazil Part II, Rio de Janeiro!

 

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Map illustration by Migy

Map illustration by Migy

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DESCRIPTIONS (FROM TOP): 

Colourful buildings in downtown Salvador

Downtown Salvador, Staircase in a Catholic church

Catarina, Laura, Pedro, Me and Debbie being tourist-y, Palm leaves and the Chapel in Pedro's Aunt & Uncle's backyard

Bonfim

Ribbons at Bonfim (when the ribbons fall off, your wish will come true) 

PEPE LUIGI!!!!! The cutest pug ever.  He's Catarina's pup. 

View from the boat! 

Pedro and I, in our cabana at Praia do Flamengo.  We never have nice photos together, but I actually like this one.  

Crabs and coconuts on the beach, Pedro sipping coconut water from a coconut. 

Coconut lady (me).