Finally I found some time to blog! First I would like to greet all of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! I know I am like 2 and half weeks late. But, I just had the most amazing holiday and I am fully recharged and really excited to share with you all my adventures. discoveries, insights, thoughts and experiences in South America. Because I filled in my days with so much activities blogging took a bit of a slack and somehow I concentrated on instagram and twitter! LOL! Never the less I aim to get back in full force and get everyone up to speed.
Hello Robby Carmona! So happy to see you in Rio!
This is day 1 of my trip and after a desperately long trip 34 hours ( Door to door) Nix and I land in Rio de Janerio! Here we were to meet up with my new year crew! Each year my friends and I greet the new year together and regardless of where we are on the planet we gather together to usher the new year. Since most of my friends have never been to Rio and they all heard that Rio is truly the party place of South America it was a no brainer that this would be the choice. We all decided to rent an apartment literally 150 steps from the famous Ipanema beach and for 6 days this would be our base.
Robby Carmona was the first person in the apartment fresh from his Madonna experience in Cordoba, Argentina! We decided to do all the touristy things on day 1 and have it over with. The down side is that this time of the year there really are truly a lot of people and the lines to get to see anything was really scary. Imagine lining up to see things between 2 to 3 hours so that was not my idea of fun! However looking back at my photos I would think that it was really quite worth the wait. Enjoy the photos!
This is our home for 6 days!
I was a bit disappointed with the view as we had to really crane our necks to see the beach but I was still happy none the less.
Nix and Robby reunited! This is was our street called Vinicius de Morais. He wrote the lyrics of the iconic "Girl from Ipanema" that place behind us is where he sat most days and wrote his poetry. Read more about it here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_from_Ipanema
It's the summer season this time of the year and Rio is very very HOT!
Me and my style twins!
Pizza Rio style!
Later that evening most of our Crew literally started to arrive from all over the world! From Canada, Vietnam, USA, Indonesia and many other countries! We congregated at the Gringo Cafe which is owned by a friend who is American. Gringo in most latin countries mean foreigner of American.
Our contingent from Australia started to arrive!!!! That is Mark hugging Tai! Do you remember seeing them in my blog?
Leo, Jason & Mike also flew in for our "New Year's summit"!
The next morning Nix and I took a quick walk on Ipanema!
Taking in the local sights all over again.
It was a hazy morning but I was really happy to be in Rio.
It kind of reminds me of what Roxa Blvd could have been?
The Brazilians are very conscious of their looks and there were so many open air gyms on the beach.
Nix and Robby in their tropic style.
We booked a tour to see the sights. There were hundreds if not thousands of people doing the same thing and the lines were so very long. This was the line to see Famous Christ the Redeemer statue.
I remembered this abandoned hotel project from my last visit.
Robby, Jen, Nadir and NIx in line. I find it funny how some strangers look directly at the camera and make funny faces! LOL!
The view from the top.
My only wish was it was a clearer day.
I was really so happy to see the statue again as the last time it was all boarded up and being repaired.
It really is a majestic site.
Robby does his thing.
NIx and I tried to follow suit. LOL!
ICONIC!
Tried to get a panoramic view of Rio.
This is the lagoon of Rio. That is a giant floating Christmas tree looking like an inverted cone in the center of it.
I spotted some really beautiful flowers during this trip. Many of which I have never seen in my life. Can anyone identify this?
After the visit we headed directly to the next sites.
Passed by some Favelas. Looking very similar to Manila. NO?
The lunch crew!
Then we were off to the Sugar Loaf. The lines were again unimaginably long.
I love taking that cable car.
They are celebrating the cable car's 100 years of existence.
Inspiring color formations done by time.
Everyone huddle in!
If you have the extra cash. Flying by Helicopter is really the best way to see Rio.
More view!
Cute and colorful Souvenirs?
Was Carmen Miranda Brazilian?
En route down.
A view from the cable car.
Such a beautiful country.
HUGS,
RAJO!
hi rajo,
i am more than glad …. i wake up to ur blog n read while having breakfast…
happy new year too,
melinda
The flowers you showed in the picture is that of Ipil-ipil. We have a lot in the Philippines.
hello sir rajo! i love your travel posts! very excited to read your future posts regarding rio! my family and i are planning to go there on september… may i ask, what site did you use to book your apartment? or do you have the contact number or email ad of the owner/landlord? i’m trying to find us a place and so far, most of the apartments and sites i’ve seen online look dubious. hehe. thanks in advance!
Thank you for the comments! I truly appreciate it! Keep on reading.
Dear Kat, I can send you their link https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/65546 Please look for Ms. Roshni Thaker tell her that you saw the apartment in my blog. She is very helpful and quite sweet. Have fun in Rio! Thank you for the comments.
RAJO!
Dear Ferdinand,
IPIL-IPIL? WOW! Really?! How cool is that? Thank you for the information.
R!