In the city of God!!!

Finally in Rio!!  So so excited to be here!  I have had a great first two days.  After taking the bus from the airport, I checked into my new hostel, Discovery Hostel, in the neighborhood Gloria, near Lapa.   Last year when I visited, I stayed in the upscale neighborhood Leblon, right near the beach.   This time, I wanted to stay in an area with a less touristic vibe and be closer to the nightlife.  My personal recommendation is to stay closer to nightlife as I would rather travel to the beach during the day and not have to travel far at night.  I take the metro here in the day and it is very easy. 

The first night I went out with two guys from my hostel and we went for drinks in the cute bohemian neighborhood Santa Teresa.  We drank caipirinhas and listened to live Samba music.  After that we went to the Arcos de Lapa (Archs of Lapa).  Here is what it looks like in the daytime.  

At night, the street is full of food/drink vendors selling caipirinhas, beer, hot dogs, meat on a stick and a bunch of other things.  There is also usually a band playing music and people dancing.  Of course I was one of them.

Yesterday, I went and hung out in Copacabana and walked around a bit.  I am on picture taking overload here as last time my camera was stolen and I had very few photos. 

This is a view from the end of Ipanema.  The two mountain peaks are dois irmaos (two brothers).  To the left of it is a favela (slum).  Last year after being robbed, the owner of the hostel drove me up around the mountain for a great view of the city.  

Below is a photo of a favela.  You can actually see this favela from Copacabana beach.

Infamous Copacabana palace hotel.

Last night a group of us from the hostel went back to Lapa and drank and danced in the street until  around 2am. What I found so odd, was a Brazilian man came up to me and asked if his girlfriend could take her photo with me because I was American.  No, they didn't try to rob me.  I felt a bit like a freak/celebrity. I had no clues I stood out so much. My ability to speak some Portuguese has proven to be very useful.  I am able to meet many more locals and my experience has been that much better because of it.  Next place I visit, I will absolutely learn some basics before I go.  Also, it is much easier to haggle when you speak the language.  

Anyway, after some street dancing, we ended up at a club called Rio Scenarium.  It is a very cool bar that has a lot of antiques in it, live samba and a separate area with house music.  I came home at around 5am.  I ended up meeting a nice Brazilian man who paid my bill, which was sweet, as the entrance here was $35 Reals, not great on my traveling budget.  Here, when you go to a bar, you get a card.  Whenever you order a drink, they mark the card.  When you leave, you get in a line and pay the bill, including the cover charge.  I personally am not a fan of this.  I hate lines. But when in Brazil....

Today I went to the steps of Santa Theresa and then walked around a bit.  It was kind of a chill day because the last few nights were a bit rough.  I had to run some errands, buy supplies I was running out of and other boring things.  

 

Ok well, it is time for some dinner, so later!!