Let the blogging begin!
Every long flight I seem to get stuck behind the video unit. The streak continues.
And we have arrived in Rio. Lost baggage = Thumbs Down.
A favela from afar as we head to our apartment. Police have little or no control over favelas which are typically run by drug lords. We didn't make it in for a tour.
Modern Warfare 2 screen? Nope, that's a real, live Favela.
Tati and Jeff grabbing a drink in the Leme neighborhood on our first night in Rio
The floating Christmas tree on Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas in Rio de Janeiro
Jeff, Tati and I by the floating Christmas tree
Local fish market in Rio near our apartment
Jeff enjoying his first serving of Açaí. Did he pack those clothes? Nope. Purchased in Rio.
Always a team player, Jeff picks up coconuts for the group.
The beautiful Atlantic Ocean
Ipanema Beach!
Ipanema beach from high above
We made our way out the 2nd night to see a live Samba Band. I have some great video of this.
Upon entry, the doorman thought I said my name was "Gog" and my nickname for the rest of the trip was born.
The most inefficient bar payment system ever. It only took 45 mins for us to leave.
Estádio do Maracanã - Home of your 2014 World Cup final
Catedral Metropolitana de Sao Sebastiao. Much more attractive on the inside.
Inside the Catedral Metropolitana de Sao Sebastiao
Our cable car arrives to take us up
Yes, some crazies were rock climbing up the mountain.
A view from the cable car. We're probably not yet 1/4 of the way up.
A view of Rio from Urca Mountain which is the first stop on the way to Sugarloaf. Christ the Reedemer is on top of the mountain on the right.
Making our way up to Sugarloaf
A view of Copacabana Beach from Sugarloaf
On our way down, Sugarloaf became completely consumed by the clouds. Good timing.
Christ the Redeemer - You can't tell, but he's there. I'm standing right at the base.
Yup, quite a view of the South/Southeast.
Wow, beautiful.
The clouds cleared for about 3 minutes for me to get this photo.
And on a clear day...
And this one which is about as good as I got of Rio from below. That's the floating Chirstmas tree in the lake.
Idiot
Garota de Ipanema or The Girl from Ipanema - The restaurant that inspired the song
Jeff and I had dinner there
And some gentlemen performed in the rain out in the street during dinner.
Tati, Marinha, Jeff and I took turns drawing each other's home countries. My efforts in the upper left (eyes closed) & bottom. Tati's on the right.
NYE - Jeff snuggles with Dorival Caymmi on Copacabana Beach
Flowers on Copacabana Beach on NYE. These are often thrown into the water as an offering to Yemanja in hopes she will grant their wishes in the coming year.
Amazing sand castle on Copacabana. Jeff and I think it's fake.
NYE dinner. GREEN LIGHT FOR ALL YOU CAN EAT MEAT.
The sun sets on Ipanema beach and 2009
Last of the light on NYE
Coconuts, Copacabana Beach and Thumbs Up for NYE
Help. One of the more popular discotecas in Rio for various reasons. We never made it in.
A few stages were setup on the beach providing entertainment up until midnight.
By midnight, the beach had a few people on it. About 2 million.
Beats me
This about says it all. Fireworks, guy dancing in the water and older couple embrace.
More of the fireworks
We visited Ipanema one last time before leaving. That's a favela on the hill in the background.
The beaches get quite crowded on the nice days.
Jeff, Tati and me
Ready to roll out to Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Rio from the air just after takeoff
Sunsetting on Rio from the plane
