Rio!!

Rio was a great port for us, thanks to H. Stern (the jewelers) and Suzanne and Glenn, our friends who have lived there for over 30 years. Stern provided a car, driver and an English speaking guide to show us some of the city. We went to Corcovado, where the statue of Christ is, intending to go up, but all three times we were there, it was too much in the clouds We saw the main neighborhoods of the city, the beaches, and Stern’s wonderful collection of gems at their museum/ factory/ store at Ipanema.

Suzanne and Glenn picked us up at the store and we walked and walked. They took us to the top floor of a shopping mall with an observation deck and a wonderful view of the bay, Sugarloaf and the beaches. We sat there for a while enjoying their company and a beer. We saw the fort and had a fabulous lunch at Vegan Vegan, a restaurant Suzanne and Glenn found in the Botafogo neighborhood. We ate a vegan version of Feijoda, the Brazilian national dish with black beans, brown rice and a side of kale and grated cassava. The meal began with a shot glass filled with a fantastic non-alcoholic version of a popular drink made from ginger. At the Hotel Copacabana Palace, we walked through the elegant lobby, around the swimming pool and then used the marble rest rooms. All very, very posh.

Back at Ipanema, we saw thousands of people getting ready for a big parade for Carnaval, a week early. I guess the party frenzy builds up too much to wait a week. Anyway there were thousands of happy people, loud music, some costumes, and a real party atmosphere.

On the way back to the ship, we had a perfect, cloudless view of the statue on Corcovado and one more ride around the lagoon. Since we weren’t scheduled to sail until 11 p.m., the evening entertainment was a performance by a Samba group from Rio. What a party that was, with incredible feathered and beaded costumes, gorgeous young bodies, and such an energy level. That kept us awake long enough to see the sailaway and to say good bye to a great city!