Pao de Açucar

TO GO INTO THE CLOUDS OF PAO DE AÇUCAR IS AMAZING!   THIS IS THE MOST         SURREAL EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE EVER HAD.

This one is for Bridget.  If you look closely at this shot, you will see that the sun is setting behind the clouds on the left while the moon is a tiny crescent in the upper right corner.  Sun and moon in one shot!  Check it off.

                                                            RIO DE JANEIRO

Just one of the natives

MUITO BRANCO!  (VERY WHITE)

I was adopted by a tribe of locals on the subway.  Carnaval is a costume event, all the time.  Carnaval is a singing and dancing event, all the time.  I am doing my best to use my English to Portuguese phrasebook to interact.  I have found everyone to be helpful and gracious.  I have been told by my fellow, British, travellers  that I have the whitest skin of anyone they´ve ever seen.  The @$#*&% BRITISH!  I do need to get to the beach, but I´ve been so busy.  Here´s another shot without me.

                                               Here are some additional costumed shots.

TELETUBBIES!!

Watch out Bridget!

Not Really sure what this outfit was.

Luis (in front) is a Brazilian who studied  in Canada.  He took us to a wonderful Bloco Party.

How you doin?

Luis is the man!

Sambadromo!

As you may or may not know, Brazilian Samba schools prepare all year for their performance in the Sambadromo.  Each school parades through a stadium built specifically for this function.  90,000 people are spectators.  I believe a similar number must be involved in the actual performance.  They are beautiful men and women dancing very well.  It is mind boggling sensory overload.  It makes the mummers look like a bunch of drunken cops and firefighters (well, yeah.).

Finally, I call this Snoop Jonny Jon on the Lapa steps.  Tchau.

Bloco!!!

Awesome Bloco on the Parkway today!  Costumes and themes are everything!

                                                                             Tchau!!

Really?!

So, I travel all the way to Brazil to hang out with James and Derrick from Detroit.  Watch out Brazil, PHILLY AND DETROIT!!!  (HA!  Jon Brown is representin´Philly - The first night Derrick asked if I was planning on throwing any batteries at anybody.  Nice.)  We are the only Americans in the hostel.  Great guys!  They leave for Barecelona tomorrow.

Bom Dia!  Here is the view from my hostel.  I am having a great time and meeting some wonderful people.  Humility and patience are the lessons that I am learning each day.  Take a look at some of my photos.

                                      This a view down on a portion of the city from Santa Teresa.

                                                       Cristo Redento on top of Corcovado.

                                                 The view of Ipanema from the Corcovado.

                                                          Copacabana from Corcovado.

                                                               Some Carnaval Attendees.

                                                                  I am actually here!

With many, many others!

In interesting costumes.

I know you´ve got your eye on me.

A Carioica says oi!

I went out with a group from the hostel to a wonderful dinner in Santa Teresa last night.  I also navigated the public transportation system and picked up my ticket for the parade of Samba schools at the Sambodromo tonight which goes from 9:00 pm until 5:00 am!  Wish me luck.  ´brigado!

Hello all.  A ten hour flight from Dallas to Rio, after a five hour layover in Dallas, takes something out of you.  However, I am here, safe and sound.  I sat with Eduardo on the flight, a Carioca (Rio native), who praised my choice to stay in Santa Teresa.  Santa Teresa is a bohemian section of town where, I am told, the artists and intellectuals took hold years ago.  I took a walk around the neighborhood and clearly I am not in Philadelphia anymore.  I am out of my safety zone, which is good for me.  My hostel has Brits, Germans, and Brazilians in it and no one is here yet (Carnaval kicks off on Friday).  Fun.  I look forward to talking, as best I can, with all of them.  My Portuguese is bad, however I´m trying.  Once I get my bearings, I´ll share more.  Ate logo.