Hello! Last night I got back from Rio!! It was an absolute wonderful time. Besides the 5:00 A.M. flight on Monday morning with a 3 hour layover, the trip was well worth it. When we got there on Monday it was rainy so the tour guide decided to post-pone a trip in 4 x 4 jeeps with our trip to the Christ the Redeemer Statue. We had Monday afternoon and night on our own where we did some exploring in Rio. I met a lot of new people from the ship and it was great hanging out with them. Some of the kids went out on Monday night but I decided to get some rest because I had been out late the previous night with some friends and the early flight did me in.
Tuesday morning I woke up to a beautiful sunshine and it continued while we ate breakfast. Our hotel was magnificent with an awesome view from the fourteenth floor of the famous Cococabana beach!!! However, later on it got rainy again but we still had to move on with our day. The first stop was a social program called “Manguiera” where there is this huge complex working to get kids off the poor areas of the streets of Rio. It reminded me of the YMCA, but they also had a school and lots of other different programs. We were able to interact with the kids and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed that.
After that we went to lunch that was delicious. We went to a Brazilian barbecue buffet where you go up and get your salads, sides, and appetizers. Then when you are eating the waiters comes along with different types of meats on a skewer or on a plate. I had chicken, lamb, and beef. Don’t worry though because I made sure everything was cooked on the inside!
As soon as lunch ended we proceeded to Sugar Loaf Mountain where they take you from one mountain to Sugar Loaf on cable cars. It was really really rainy so we didn’t see much on Sugar Loaf but I am sure that the view was breathtaking. I wish that I could put up pictures but I will waste all of my minutes and the data import is too big. Anyways maybe look up Sugar Loaf on google and you will know what I am talking about it was neat. That night we were all still full from an amazing lunch and went out to a Brazilian dance/karaoke club. We were able to dance and sing some Brazilian music, which was hilarious.
Wednesday we continued our trip thought Rio by taking 4 x 4 jeeps to the “Corcovado” or better known as Christ the Redeemer Statue. This was the highlight of my trip as it was spectacular and out of this world. The view from this statue was without words I can’t even explain how beautiful the city looked from this view. Wednesday was our day without rain -finally! It was a sunny and cloudless day enabling us to see everything from up top. As much as Rio definitely has some issues with their city such as crime and social inequality (like the rest of Brazil) this trip to the mountain was great!
Now I am back on the boat reminiscing about how much fun Rio was and definitely missing the city. Our boat leaves at 2000 or 8:00 but I have a Faculty Directed Practica that I need to attend on the boat this afternoon. Sometimes I forget that I actually go to school on the boat hehehe? Unfortunately I should go read and do a few things before my lecture and classes tomorrow. But first I want to thank my parents for talking me into Rio- I don’t know if I could have had a better time. I know that you heard it before but you mean everything to me and I thank you for letting me grow through these experiences that I will continue to make for the next few months. Obrigado! (thank you in Portuguese) Miss you!!! XOXO
With Love,
Kristen
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