Preparing for Carnaval

Friday is the first proper day of Carnaval, so we all set out on Thursday to get our outfits to prepare for the world's non- stop Party Weekend! We began by going back to Copacobana as Sassy and Tilda needed to collect their sambadromo tickets (something I oughta do before the football tomorrow) and were then off to Uruagayania, a crazy part of Rio which is loud and booming with bargains, BOGOFs and bogus products - it's Rio's market place.

It took me a while till i found anything. We had hoped to find a superman t-shirt that I could then edit to add 'super gringo' on it. They only had baby sizes and although I was all up for the fun of Carnaval a baby sized t-shirt was just a step too far for me.

As a result of a sexual remark on his first day, Jens picked up a pirate outfit as well as a beer helmet - such a good purchase for £6. The girls varied: Cindy, a nurse, got a nurses outfit. Sassy got yellow wings and a wig and I think Tilda got the same. I'm having to edit one of my own t-shirts to make a superman logo, but I did purchase a mask and Viking helmet - not to mention the greatest purchase of all: a two litre sized pineapple that is designed to cocktails, this baby is going to Machu Pichu, the gallopogos, Christ, the lot! 

When we arrived back at Catete we saw a pair of gringos in search of a hostel - with my 16-bed dorm having just me and Jens I told them there was most definitely a place to sleep after their 39/48 hours on a bus journey! They were really cool, Bart was a Dutch guy in his 20s who was the image of a south American traveller. He'd met Leanna ('it's Leanna, just remember Leanna-banana') who is from Texas and 23. She had quit her job to do all this. He'd been travelling with his girlfriend and the two met and decided to start travelling together as his girlfriend returned home in Peru.  Her last message to Leanna you ask: 'Just keep an eye on him!'

I spent the night at the cocktail bar upstairs after I made my dinner and was chatting with the two about their travels and they got me excited about it all. We had planned on going out with all the brazilians, and I am really gutted that I didn't in the end (I was pooped and when I was denied an energy drink by Luciana I was done for the night). Oh well, now I was charged for Friday - the day when Carnaval gets crackalackin! 

Also it meant I could Skype Nath on out anniversary which I'm sure put me in the good books. 

Venturing to Niterôi

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.

Doing Rio alone

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.

Making something of my time here

I may have said in my earlier posts that it's all very well and good going to the beach every day, but the cityboy inside was thinking 'well actually I should actually try and see the city that is trying to live up to London actually'.
So over breakfast I was discussing with Jens and Joyce what to do and it was decided that, despite the rain, a trip to the Botanical gardens would be great. What a decision, highly recommended for anyone who comes to Rio. It was number three on my tourist map behind Christ and Sugarloaf (I really think TOWIE should do Rio and they can start a petition to change it to Sugar Hut!) so it's not like it's Rio's secret or anything.
Anyway, we got the bus there and was easy enough to find, and for R$6 (£2) it's a real bargain. The garden is incredible and was very good for picturetimes. Unfortunately I'm struggling to do something with my pictures as I've only got an iPad which is difficult to connect with a camera, but when I'm in Sao Paulo (the business capital or Brazil) I think I'll be able to sort something out.

But yeah we got to see an amazing garden, one of the best I've ever been to. We were there for quite a few hours and got back to the hostel in the evening, where my iPad was down to about 10% battery so I revised some Spanish while it charged: 'Hola señorita, me hablo español muy bien! Que tal?' I'm pretty sure that was awfully written as I'm sure my mother will tell me. They don't speak Spanish in Brazil as anyone who has seen that Simpsons episode will know, but the rest of Latin America speak it (other than French Guyana which speaks Polish I think).

Anyway, got to know two of the girls a bit better, cooking got better and, after finding the local bars weren't open - probably hibernating for Carnaval which officially starts today - we got some drinks in, played Ring of Fire and had a really good night at the hostel! So yeah I'm starting to enjoy it here. I'm keeping a tally of all my expenditure and it's not THAT expensive, and seeing as Rio is the most expensive place on my visits, hopefully I'll be alright!
Oh yeah, and we ventured to probably the equivalent of BBQ Express (RIP chicken spot) and I had easily the worst burger I've ever eaten in my life, but for only two quid it wasn't the end of the world. The owner refused me a cuddle which was heart breaking. 

Probably more sightseeing today and apparently a club tonight (ZeroZero), gonna need a nap this evening for sure as i got to bed at 4 and was up at 9!
Thinking about lots of you, Tommy.

Being introduced to Rio

So I left you at sitting in the lobby before I set off to Copacobana.
Well I'm staying in Catete, a cool up and coming part of Rio - not quite the hip$ter centre like Shoreditch, but then again it's too hot to be wearing your grandad's old knitted jumper round here or to grow a beard. It's just south of the centre and we got the metro five stops to the beach. The metro here is very good - it's as efficient as London, cheaper and better air conditioned (for those that are wondering). The beaches are beautiful, and I immediately had to take some pictures when we made base, it was simply amazing.
The weather was scorching and I learnt the hard way the worst reason to travel alone - how your gonna put suncream on your back? I was soon burnt and now my back looks like some freak result of the Chernobyl explosion. But I guess it's not too bad, I got my charmander to level 12 on Pokemon red, learnt from the girls about their experiences in Rio and got to enjoy the sea, goodtimes. However every silver lining has an annoying posh 30 year old which saw her assume I wanted to have a conversation with her( Um hello? [knocks on table twice] I don't know you and your only wearing sunglasses that big cos your bun). She talked at us for a couple of hours about how she had travelled the world and been to the moon yada yada - we didn't even ask her about anything! However Joyce, the mickey mass, was very pleasent to her as she is always and the whole confrontation was over..... Or so I thought!

We got back and a pop-up cocktail bar was placed in the kitchen area/balcony place so I couldn't make my dinner. I took some inspiration from my university buddies and microwaved a lasagne which was beautiful. The cocktail bar was kinda cool, just barely anyone in the hostel was there, but that meant we got chatting to the workers and all was good. I made a new buddy, Jens, a Dutch 19 year old who loves Cusco (Peru) and was 3 months in to his journey. We enjoyed the night as Luciana, the Brazilian girl who works on the desk, came and sat with us and we chatted for hours which was very welcoming. Then the night began!!

I realise the post is long and don't want them to be this long, but it was a stupidly long day as you'll read. We were invited to someone's birthday do, they were celebrating it on the beach and we all gathered about midnight and made the short walknto the nearby beach. There was one surprising disappointment though - the annoying 30 year old from the beach, Tracy, had been in contact with Joyce and joined us! (get a life!) To be fair to her, it was fine as the atmosphere of the night was so memorable, it's just a shame that I became her target audience for the night as she continued to tell me about travelling as well as commenting on how I was so mature for my age (she was without a doubt a massive cougar) and also how she was fluent in pretty much all Latin languages, I replied that I got a B at GCSE German (even with the extensive work of Milan being responsibl for most of my grade) which interested her zero.
The atmosphere was literally amazing. There we all were, sitting on the beach chatting, some drinking with a big speaker playing Bob Marley throughout - with one less person it would've been bliss. As people began to leave, the core of my social circle, the 3 girls, Jens, Luciana and a few of the hostel workers stayed until sunrise. Got in at 7, showered, slept till 1045 to catch the end of breakfast, slept again and returned to the beach.

I started to think that maybe I should start to see Rio (so we rented out the film for a lazy Sunday night).

The first morning

I don't intend to be updating my blog every 12 hours as that is just rediculous, however I've made some associates and we're leaving in 30 mins so I thought I'd allow myself this one time.

I had a pretty crap night sleep, not gonna lie. Whenever you're in a new place you don't know how safe you are (not that I'm speaking from any experience) so when people were getting in soon after I got to bed, I always had the concern people may want to pinch something from my bag or break my locker, but I'm sure it's all pretty safe from now on - got a couple of Japanese travelling girls there now so I don't fear them.

I got up off a sketchy 5 hours sleep and felt fine, however I desperately wanted a shower  and when I found out the water wasn't gonna be working for an hour or so, I wondered what kind of hell hole I was in. But then 8am struck and all was el fantastico - breakfast is free! It was lovely, filled with bread, butter, fruit, juice, coffee, biscuits a balcony view and the sounds of Pitbull in the background what more could I ask for? For the first time (cos you know I've been here soo long) I felt like I'd made the right decision. I washed and came back as I stocked up on the buffet in hope it can last me till dinner. I met a 25year old girl from Liverpool who was on a photography course with a travelling company and a Dutch girl who, I believe is with the same company but is volunteer in an orphanage is rio.
They were friendly and the mickey mass (scouce) was very helpful in giving me confidence (she'd been here a week now) and gave me a lot of tips on where to go, what to do, how to act. It was nice.

I went on a walk to wolf in the atmosphere, found a supermercado, bought some water and ventured back to add a plastic bag to my rucksack. I have now been invited to Copacabana (hoping Barry Manilow might be performing a number when I get there) so I'm sure I'll let you know how it'll goes soon enough.

Hugs and kisses,
Tommy

Bidding farewell

For those who spoke to me on the night before or the morning of my flight, they would know I was very emotional as I waved away to my easy western lifestyle and embarked on a hot and sweaty journey around a continent that I didn't know the language of. Nath was my saviour last night in ensuring all was packed, and we were out of the house by 06.30am - getting to heathrow for 08.00am which was great as it was an hour before check in and allowed Nath and I to have a couple of hours together, pretty emotional to say the least.

 Flight was a bit late but all was fine. Rio is a very hot place - probably hotter now that I'm in town. It's very humid and it's currently one in the morning. The cab journey was pleasent but probably too expensive (I stupidly forgot to get a yellow and blue taxi and instead booked with radio taxis who charge more) but my driver was fine, he 'welcomed' me to Brazil and in his broken English he pointed out Christ as well as a few fervelaz, however towards the end her just gave up and spoke to me in Portuguese which normally resulted in me saying 'no comprende' or 'okay'. The hostel is not glamour but seems safe. Sorting everything out and hopefully see some young Brits tomorrow that I can annoy and feel a bit safer with. Speak soon, tommy.