The trip to Rio last weekend was amazing! The journey itself was hard, however, as Tiago and I drove more than 500 kilometers each way on his motorcycle. But the city was worth all of the pain and suffering. We stayed in a hostel in Copacabana, just a few blocks from the beach. We arrived late on Friday night, and went to bed early, to wake up and get out early Saturday morning. We ended up leaving the hotel around 9, and we headed over to the beach to see the ocean and have a breakfast chopp. The rest of the day was spent around Cobacabana and Ipanema beaches, as well as a trip up to Pão de Açucar, or "sugar loaf."
Copacabana beach in the morning
Tiago with Pão de Açucar behind him
The view from Pão de AçucarSunday was busy as we still had to see the Corcovado, where the Christ the Redeemer statue is, and go to the Pedra de Gavea, where I was planning on hang gliding over Rio. We went to the Pedra de Gavea first, only to learn that the wind was bad that day, making it impossible to jump. I was disappointed, but the views from the rock were beautiful, way high above the city and the beach. We then went to see the Christ statue, but we had to park the motorcycle 5 kilometers away and walk, since the road was closed. In the end, it was worth it, as I got to see the most iconic landmark of Rio de Janeiro. Then we went back to the hostel, packed up, and made the 6 hour journey home. More pictures are on Facebook, and should be on Flickr soon.
On top of Pedra de Gavea
At the CorcovadoAfter the Rio trip, I only had one week left before leaving for home. During this week, I spent Tuesday night at Rodrigo's house playing video games with him until 3 in the morning, Wednesday night at Tiago's house after washing my clothes and failing to get into a club because Tiago had track pants on, and Thursday night at Rodrigo's again after going to Outback for a happy hour with all of Rodrigo's friends for a sendoff party. On Friday at work, Rodrigo, Tiago, Rosana, and Alex revealed they had a gift for me: a Ponte Preta original jersey with my name on the back! I was really happy, as the shirt is beautiful and really comfortable. I even got to wear it to a Ponte game, as Rodrigo, Tiago, Fucho, and I went to the Ponte Preta game yesterday. Then Tiago, Fucho, and I went out at night to a bar to eat and drink before heading out to some funk party for my last weekend in Brazil.
Today, Tiago's mom cooked feijoada for me for a sendoff lunch with some of Tiago's extended family. It was delicious, but I'm sad that lately, all I've been doing is saying goodbye to people. I'll really miss the people here in Brazil who have so readily taken me in and treated me like one of their own. Rodrigo and Tiago's respective friends and families have really made these weeks pass by in a blur. I have rarely experienced a lonely moment here, and I really have them to thank.
Well, that's really about it. I'm almost done packing my suitcases, and I'll go to work tomorrow, say more goodbyes, pick up my bags, and get driven to the airport, hopefully by Tiago, Rosana, and Rodrigo. So concludes this chapter of Rollin in Brazil - I know I will be back to this wonderful country sometime in the next year, I just don't know when. I really want to thank all of you who have tuned in from time to time to see what I've been up to this summer, and especially those of you who have given me feedback. It's always easier to write knowing people are out there reading! I'll be arriving back in Newark Liberty Airport Tuesday morning at 6AM, and from there it's a fast track back to Duke in less than two weeks. I hope all of you are well - some of you I will see sooner than others, but I cannot wait to see you all again.
Bejos e Abraços,
Rollin
