After a late night of drinking at the hostel, it's needless to say that the majority of the troopers failed to make it to breakfast and I soon realised that I was gonna do it alone.
Other than the gardens yesterday, I hadn't done any sites yet, so I headed out of the hostel, turned left and headed in to the centre.
I'm sure a lot of people would think of Rio as being a really dangerous place, but you have to remember that this is a place that has landed the next World Cup and Olympic Games, it's really changed and not for a moment did I not feel safe. For those that have been, it's very similar to Rome. Once you reach Lapa the architecture is like that of Barcelona - in all Rio is a very European city.
I started off by seeing the a Lapa arches and my first perception of it: 'why the hell is this 6th on the to-do list?' they just look badly kept. I learnt from the girls later that going through in to Lapa is a great experience and the art around Lapa is amazing, so I'll be sure to do that soon enough. Just to the right of the arches is Cathedral Metropolitana - do not miss it! This is definitely the most amazing thing I've seen so far, the outside is unusual but not in your face. When I was inside I was mesmerised, and for those that know Rome, it's just like the Pantheon. North, South, East, West is filled with a building high stained glass window and it's simply incredible. I could've and should've spent longer there. It is deliberately located so that you can see Christ in the mountains from it, and with a better camera, I'd have got some amazing shots.
I headed in to the city further and saw the Teatro Municipal, a fancy theatre that I couldn't enter but is beautifully designed. I then was on a slow moving process where I sat in a town square for a while as I looked around at the mountains and eventually I did as Neil Strauss quoted 'As any good PuA does and went sarging at the museum of modern art'. It's a good location, but the design is rubbish and thought I'd postpone a paid visit for another day and chose to walk along they the water instead. I was really happy at this point and looked forward to the future at all of the other cities and towns that I was destined to visit.
I got in that evening and decided that it was time for a run. For any runners that are reading this - Flamengo park is on the tourist list, run it. It's fantastic with a great cycle path that sees old men with shopping bags, kids, couples, adrenalin junkies and just your average runner pushing through the 30 degree temperature and looking up to the mountains as you listen to the sound of the ocean - it is easily one of the best runs of my life, and for my cousins, the park is just like Cairns. Also wouldn't reccommend bombing out at 6 minute mailing, the humidity gets you just as the heat does.
I was laughed at, obviously, for my white man shorts, but I was hardly gonna wear track suit bottoms. The night was very similar to the night before as it pissed it down and with zero zero being half-open, we decided to bring in 9 crates of beer (nine!! We had three people on the street shout at me and my mate - who were carrying 4 each - 'you crazy gringos!!) that was a highlight of my trip. Not as late as last night but there were more of us and just as enjoyable.
I want to go out in the night more though - I'm disappointed in myself for not venturing in, however hopefully when I next update this there'll be funnier stories from the nights and I'm sure Carnaval will be something like nothing else in the world!
I also met this freak last night who told me he cried when he watched the opening ceremony cos there were so many beautiful women... This is Rio.
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