I nearly missed breakfast in the morning which sucked, but I still got to enjoy some fruit so all was not at an end. I'd been told by Joyce on my first day that there was a fantastic art gallery in Niterôi that was free on Wednesdays, so I knew from then that this would be the day's adventure. Niterôi is a town just east of Rio, very pretty and looks to be quite an affluent area. I got there easy enough, there's a main road by the hostel where I hailed a coach and was told the journey would be less than an hour.
I knew beforehand it would be R$6 fare, and the fact it said it on the front of the bus meant I wasn't gonna have this bus driver claiming I owed him 10 - geezer was heading for a slap. The coach was packed which wasn't too bad as it was well air-conditoned (as everything is in Rio) and I got to see the city demographics with a front view. When I arrived I was like 'wow darling'. The art gallery, Museu de Arte Contemporânea, looks like a spaceship that has landed conveniently on the coast that can over look all of Rio. Actually no, it looks more like a beyblade. I loved it there, the art was well, modern if that floats your boat and I got some good pictures and most importantly some Tommy time.
When I was done with the gallery I walked along the coast for a few hours as the weather was beautiful. That was arguably my most enjoyable part so far. The whole walk I overlooked the city and could see Christ in the distance. I can't wait to see Christ, however it's been cloudy so I'm postponing my visit to when I get back to Rio for my flight back in July. I only stopped my long walk as I stumbled across a Brazilian military base that I was not prepared to walk any closer to!
So after turning back I found the bus stop and saw a bus going to 'Centro'. When I was charged R$2.75 I thought i was a top don and that I would get the metro back when I arrived in the city centre... It was a local bus, going to the town's 'centro'.
I was told to get off the bus in a bus station where no one spoke English and I spent a good 30 mina rushing round, pointing at my map and being screamed at in Portugese of where to go - 'no comprende' was not the response they would have appreciated. Eventually, after crossing a road so busy it should be in India I hailed a bus going to 'Botafotogo which is a bit further from where Im staying and eventually I got home. Ah well, I'm R$2.75 worse off, 40 mins gone but I do have a story and an experience.
As soon as I got in I watched the mighty England conquer Brazil which is brilliant, and I let the workers here remember that score everyday. We finally went out to a club, and we were joined by Frnech Jerome who's in his 20s. I found out that it was a hostel party and should've realised it would be full of gringos (western white travellers). I didn't make any buddies there but I did enjoy it, I just wish I could have experienced a proper club in Rio, which locals attend and there's a greater 'ambiance'. However I'm sure all the street parties for Carnaval will make up for this!
I got to enjoy the sounds of Rihanna We Found Love three times, Nickie Minaj twice and sadly Danza Kudoro only once :( The paying system is so stupid in Brazil, you get given a card and you pay your tab when you leave. They had an entire dance floor in a queue where one person was sorting out the payments, crazy brazilias.
Got back about 6am and the next day began at 10... I was getting in to a routine.
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