DAY 5

We flew from Foz Do Iguaçu to Rio!

We checked into our hotel, America’s Cococabana Hotel. It was beautiful, top to bottom of marbel, really nice showers and a comfy bed with beautiful bed sheets. We were given a room with two single beds again so were moved to a queen. The room was a bit squishy but it was still nice.

Fernandes showed us around to the main shops we’ll need, laundry etc. Then took us to an all you can eat place where you get a ticket, grab a plate, fill it as much as you want and get it weighed at the end, that’s how you pay for it. After lunch we went back to the hotel to change for the beach.

We had free time FINALLY! We went to Cococabana Beach with Kat, Steve, RJ and PK. It was so beautiful. The beach is so long, the backdrop is of mountains and the left hand side of the beach you can see sugar loaf mountain. You sit on the beach and people come around selling food, drinks, bikinis, sarongs, peanuts, EVERYTHING. The boys grabbed some beers, Kat and I had THE strongest fruity cocktail, even the boys cringed when they tried it.

After laying on the beach for almost two hours, we went back to the hotel to get ready for the Football game. A little pre drinking, showers and we were ready to support the local team, the Flamangos. Our transfer from our hotel to the game was through Urban Adventures, our guide was so passionate about his team playing tonight. He taught us songs on the way in. There were a few other people on the bus from different hostels that we picked up on the way. We were sitting towards the back where some Germans were and we got chatting to them. We stopped of to pick the last person up and someone handed a bottle of 52 alcohol in a 2L bottle and we passed it around all having a swig. We made a stop off to go to the bathroom before the stadium, we waited in the line for about 15minutes. It was a shady service station bathroom with a big line of people about to go to the game. The area put us on edge a bit. It looked like a street from the Bronx you see on the movies. Thankfully, after that we were on our way to the game. There were so many people. We tried to stay huttled in our group but it was so busy, we made little stops on the way. Our seats weren’t the best but they were in the middle of the field so we could see clearly. Everyone was full of passion. We stood the whole time, everyone was out of their seats yelling and chanting for their team. You didn’t need to get out of your spot because they bought over everything you needed, beers, snacks, anything you wanted. We got back at the hotel around 1am, went to the corner shop takeaway called Big Bi to get some food to eat back at the hotel. It was horrible but it was something to eat before I passed out because I was so tired. Shane went with RJ to have some more beers. I had just enough time to get some sleep before the early start of our tour tomorrow.

DAY 6

We had such a fun tour guide today, her name was Ju-Ju / Juliana and she showed us around Rio! We went to the Christ the Reedema statue which was out of control, I couldn’t believe how big it was. We had 180 degree views of the town below and could see the Sugar Loaf mountain from the shore side. We went to the very famous Selaron Steps to see artist Jorge Selaron’s gift to the Brazilian people. For lunch we went to an all you can eat in Santa Teresa, where you fill your plate up and pay according to the weight. We finally had some free time in the afternoon so most of us decided to go to the Sugar loaf, one of the highlights I’ve been really looking forward too! It was amazing. The cable car takes you from ground level up to the first mountain where you get out, take some photos and catch the second cable car up to the highest mountain on the top. Stunning views looking down on Cococabano beach and the city of Rio. We had enough time for a nap at the hotel before our last dinner as a group 8pm. We went to a restaurant recommended by Fernandes at Carretao. We had sangria jugs and Brasilian meat slow cooked off a big squer. Everyone was given a little poker chip looking thing each that had YES on one side and NO on the other so the waiters know if you want more meat or not. They come around so quickly with so many options our plates were piling up. Shane and Steve got into some Tequila shots and were recommended a particular shot from our funny waiter which was a lot stronger than tequila. After our mouth watering dinner and a few drinks we headed out to a Samba club and drinks at Rio Scenarim. It was the funnest club we had been to. As soon as you walk in and hear the live band and see everyone dancing it’s as if you instantly feel like you can do the same. Everyone was dancing and singing their hearts out. In the day it is a cute vintage art gallery and at night it’s turned into a club. There are about 3 or four levels. The club started closing around 12 so we were back at our hotel about 1am before our early flight the next day.