Saturday, January 1, 2005
We were very tired from the evening before so we slept pretty late and just lounged around for a bit before deciding to head back to our spot on the beach. Marcelo and crew on Ipanema Beach were happy to see us back. They set up our regular spot and proceeded to wait on us hand and foot like we had become accustomed to.
We lounged around most of the day just recovering from the night before. We taxied back to the Marriott Copacabana. Once at the hotel we made a bee line for the churro cart and each had a yummy churro. These tasty treats are definitely addicting! We cleaned up and took showers, checked email, sent texts, etc. then finally made our way down the beachfront shops in search of dinner. We found a nice little outdoor café. The food was uninspiring but we had a great view of the table next to us. Seated at the table next to us was a young Brazilian girl and a college age American boy. They proceeded to “talk” with the assistance of a Portuguese-English dictionary. The best part of the conversation though was when he pulled out the room key and showed it to her and proceeded to put his hands in a prayer position beside his ear imitating sleep, for some reason I don’t think sleep was on his mind.
After dinner we made our way back to the Marriott bar where we enjoyed several more cocktails and finally called it a night early since we had plans to wake up early the next morning.
Sunday, January 2, 2005
Our plan today was to get up early and enjoy the complimentary breakfast that our room rate included along with finally making a trip to the Christ the Redeemer statue. We got up around 9am and headed down to breakfast. The breakfast was pretty good and they had an assortment of fruits that neither of us had ever had.
After breakfast we headed down to the concierge to inquire about a car or taxi to take us to the statue. He informed us that today was a holiday and that the lines would be terribly long and that it was probably a bad day to try and visit. A little dejected we decided to change plans and head back up to our room to put on our bathing suits and head back to the beach. It was still a little early for beach time so we walked around Copacabana for a bit. Almost everything was closed. This was quite a change from just two days before when nearly every shop in the city was literally bursting at the seams with people. Lisa & I did find a grocery that was open and we proceeded to buy a few local grocery items to bring back home.
It was finally late enough to head to the beach and once again we headed to our favorite spot on Ipanema Beach. By this point we had pretty much stopped negotiating with Marcelo, even his gouge the American prices were still SOOO cheap in comparison to the service we received.
Tonight was going to be our last night in Rio and not once had we gone out to a traditional Brazilian steak house. Upon arrival back at the hotel we stopped by the concierge desk and asked him to make a reservation for us and he made us a reservation at Marius’ steakhouse which was at the end of Copacabana Beach.
We went back to our room and got cleaned up and decided that since it was our “nice” night out that we would go have pre dinner cocktails at the famous Copacabana Palace Hotel, which was walking distance down from our hotel. This apparently was not a good idea. We headed to the bar and they asked us if we were hotel guests. They then stated that the bar was for hotel guests only. I have never heard such absurdity! A bit dejected we headed back to our own hotel bar for pre-dinner cocktails.
We had a late dinner reservation at Marius’ so we hopped in a taxi for the short ride. There is a huge salad and sides bar that is help yourself. The meat is brought out on huge skewers and served tableside. The salads and sides were okay but the meats juicy and yummy. They also had a large dessert bar. I don’t remember what Lisa had but I remember having a creamy caramel custard.
Sufficiently stuffed we called it a night and headed back to our last night at the JW Marriott.
Monday, January 2, 2005
We woke up somewhat sad that it was our last day in Rio but also happy because we had such a great trip. Our flight was later in the evening and we had scheduled late check out so luckily we had enough time for one more beach day, although it would have to be a cut a bit short so we could pack up and leave.
The beaches were a lot less crowded since it was a Monday and many people had returned to work. Our beach service though was still wonderful. Sometime late afternoon we returned to the Marriott to shower and pack.
I was totally amazed at how my stuff had exploded. Somehow I managed to leave New Orleans with my regulation size roll-a-board and my computer bag, but now seemed to have acquired a ton of stuff over the previous seven days. My rollie was now the expansion gusset fully stuffed, which now meant I had to check that. I always carry an extra fold up duffle in my case which was now packed with the stuff, and I had borrowed Lisa’s beach tote bag which would now serve as my carryon. I have no idea what was in all those bags!
Packed and showered we still had about an hour before we needed to head to the airport so we went out in search of the churro guy! Churro guy was not in his usual spot. We were women on a mission however! We started roaming the streets of Copacabana and came across just about every other vendor BUT the churro guy. We both settled for a piece of corn on the cob, a bit disappointed that we weren’t going to have one last churro. We decided to take a different route back to the hotel and low and behold we spotted the churro guy! Since it would be our last churro we both had two. Thoroughly happy and now deliriously full from the sweet treats we dashed back to the hotel to take a taxi to the airport. Luck was on our side and there was station wagon style meter taxi just outside the hotel. I don’t think all of my luggage would have fit in a regular taxi!
The ride to the airport was in afternoon traffic but it moved fairly well. It was little astonishing to see vendors on the highway hawking Globo chips, soft drinks, etc. My other addiction while in Rio was Globo chips. Our cab driver did not speak English but he understood Globo and I handed him $R2 so he made a rather death defying move on the highway and flagged down a vendor to sell me Globo chips.
Checking in at GIG airport was pretty painless. The airport was hot and humid but luckily we didn’t have a long wait. Continental uses someone else’s lounge which was crowded and didn’t have anything special so we didn’t sit in the lounge. Instead we made our way to a small bar in the airport and had one last caiparhaina before leaving Rio.
Our first flight was a short hop from GIG to GRU (Sao Paulo). We were still in vacation mode so we each had a glass of champagne and split the Globo chips. Once we landed in GRU it seemed like an eternity before we would finally leave for the long haul from GRU back IAH (Houston). We both were really tired by the time we left GRU so we each ordered the executive meal option, which means they serve you the entire meal all at once on one tray. I didn’t want to have the problem of falling asleep before the entrée was served like on the outbound.
We both slept almost the entire way to Houston. I don’t recall having breakfast upon arrival but I am sure it must have been served. We land just before 5:30 in the morning. It took a few minutes for my bag to be delivered to baggage claim but they did make it with no problems. My short flight to New Orleans left at 6:15am, and of course it was in a different terminal. Lisa’s flight was also out of the other terminal so hopped the monorail to the B terminal, where I said a quick goodbye to Lisa and proceeded to run to my flight. They were calling my name for a last call just as I reached the gate. I plopped down in the nearly empty ERJ Express Jet and snoozed for the short 50 minute flight to New Orleans.
There is certainly no rest for the weary. Upon arrival in New Orleans I hopped in a cab to my house and visited with my dad for a few hours while I unpacked the heap of dirty clothes from my suitcase. Unfortunately I wasn’t home for long. I quickly threw clean work clothes in my suitcase and caught a five o’clock flight to SJC via DFW for work that evening! The travel never ends!!!!
Prologue:
It was a great trip with a great friend. Luckily she is still my friend.
I know I can be a PITA sometime but she put up with me and all my high maintenance princess moments. Rio is fabulous and I highly recommend it if you have never been. I hope to one day use my Brazilian visa again and go back to the wonderful city. If you have specific questions ask away!