Ipanema beach

Yes, anyone can wear a bikini here. I was the only person in one-piece

Main street favela

The main street was filled with all sorts of stores and bustling with people.

Street stall in the favela

Green favela

This section of the favela is encroaching on the national park Tijuka.

Favela rebuilding

The government intervened and took down many buildings constructing a road, access and rebuilding some units. These were painted bright colours reminiscent of Portuguese structures.

Favela lane ways

The overwhelming feeling in the favela was claustrophobia. There was very little light penetrating the narrow lanes between 3to 4 stores houses. The only rooms with air and light would be the very top. It was also damp and dank.

Favela shops

This fruit store looked quite good.

Favela electricity

The picture tells it all

Favela services

The favela had foul smelling open drains and the dodgiest electricity you have ever seen (except maybe in other third world countries).

Entrance to the favela

Favela Rocinha

Peggy and I went on a walking tour of the largest favela (of 700) called Rocinha. This slum houses 250 to 300 thousand people. They pay no rates or taxes, often have stolen electricity and water. They just build on the land on the edge of the favela.

Ipanema

Ipanema was buzzing with joggers and other people exercising on the tak beside the promenade.

Lagoa

We walked the 7.4km around the lake outside Felipe's house under the watchful eye of the Christ statue in the mountain.

Portogalo

After lunch we went on the boat back to the mainland, Portogallo. Arrived in Rio around 10 after a nightmare ride home with traffic jams.

Seco de Céo

After the divers returned and the surfers finished we went around to this amazing little protected bay. There was a wonderful restaurant going down to the water. Here we ate a traditional Bahian dish of seafood in a tomato and coconut milk sauce - Moqueca.

Departing Praia de Palmas

Back to Praia de Palmas for a snack

Lopes Mendes

This is a beautiful long beach and scattered along it were these makeshift stalls selling food and drink. Andy found a broken chair to sit on. We relaxed and watched the surfers while Peggy and Felipe were diving

Lopes Mendes surf

Lopes Mendes

Ilha Grande trek over the island

It took about half an hour to reach the other side

Path to Lopes Mendes

Ilha Grande -Praia de Palmas

Weekly start, drove to Portogalo west of Rio (Costa Verde) and then went by boat to Ilha Grande. Set off in fog and rain, but by the time we reached the island it had cleared. At the tiny bay of Praia de Palmas Andy, Chris, Loius and I disembarked. We walked over the island to a surfing beach Praia Lopes Mendes.

Toni's birthday

It was Toni's first birthday so Claudia baked a mince bone for him. It was presented to him with a candle and happy birthday song.

Toni and his cake with Claudia

Peggy and Felipe on Ipenama beach

Aquabike

We were entranced watching this man try to master this aquabike. He just couldn't master it and would launch into the water time and time again, only to sink. He then had to make his way to shore, get the bike up and set up again to relaunch.

The wall where we enjoyed the snacks

Local cafe near Sugarloaf

This place was packed. The food and drink was take away, although there was a dine in above. There were patrons sitting over the road on the wall overlooking a bay, enjoying the food and drink.

Felipe offering around cod fish balls

Sugarloaf Rock

On 29th we headed off to Sugarloaf rock. This rock has a cable car going up to it and offers spectacular views back over Rio. Unfortunately it was shrouded in mist so there was no point in spending hours in the line to get to the top. Instead we made our way to a nearby cafe with renown local food.

Peggy and .chris in the park

Toucan

We spent the whole time we were in the park hunting for a toucan and we were rewarded with a wonderful display. They were rather coy and difficult to capture on camera. This was a female, and we saw one male with an even larger multicolored beak.

Red flowers

Botanic garden flowers

All the flowers seemed to be red

The boys in the gardens - a contemplative moment

Jack fruit abounded

Squirrel int e trees

Botanic gardens - Jardim Botanico

On 28th we went to the Botanic gardens. They were set on the edge of a mountain with the dense jungle abutting them. Apart from the stunning trees there were beautiful orchids and other wonderful flowers.

Churrascaria

We went to a well known Chrrascaria overlooking the ocean. These are restaurants which offer many kinds of meat served on skewers. The waiters bring them around and carve the meat on to your plate. It was fun but altogether too much meat. The lamb was the best. - slow cooked bar-be-que.

Poinsiana

Outside my window overlooking the Lagoa is this wonderful Poinsiana tree in flower.

Ipanema bay

Rio is spectacular surrounded by high mountains and jungle. The mountains are all shrouded in fog.

Rio streetscape near apartment and Ipanema

Ipanema

Chris bought these rather strange snack rather like rice crisps or rice crackers.

Rio - Ipanema Beach

Arrived Rio late on 26th December and collected from airport by Felipe and Chris. Settled into a wonderful apartment at the Berliner's on the Lagoa. The next morning we had a lovely breakfast of fresh fruit juice, fruit and rolls, as well as Brazillian coffee.after breakfast I walked the 7km walk around the Lagoa with Claudia.
Later Chris Andy and I walked to the nearby Ipanema beach. It was overcast and threatening rain. There were not many people on the beach. All alongside the beach is a promenade and beside that an exercise path. This was being used by walkers, runners, skate boarders, rollerbladers and cyclists. The promenade extended the length of Ipanema then around to Copacobana.