RIO DE JANEIRO (13)
Back to Ipanema Beach
Destination Rio de Janeiro, the first travel to the former capital of Brazil.
Five students returned to Ipanema Beach, on day two.
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Overview of Arpoador and Ipanema
Day 3, 9 AM.
Breakfast
It was a quiet first night in the pousada in Rio de Janeiro. The powerful air conditioner was working at full speed. I had to use a blanket during the night. A woolen winter blanket, to make it clear. I awoke at 8 AM, and went for a refreshing shower. I left the room, while the other four in my room were still sleeping. I met Rodrigo in the corridor, he also was the first of his room to be awake. Rodrigo was already hungry and wanted his breakfast. There would be a breakfast for us at the pousada, but that was not ready yet. He proposed to walk around a bit, in search of a bakery, the padaria. We did not have to walk that far. There was a padaria in the street to Copacabana Beach. We ordered fresh coffee and some roasted bread with salty butter. A delicious combination. Our stomachs could agree with that. We then returned to our pousada.
Overview of Ipanema and Leblon
Biquinis, sungas
Our roommates had left the room one by one, and had the luck that breakfast was ready for them. They finished it quickly. The five friends, who walked at Copacabana Beach yesterday, wanted to visit Ipanema Beach. For a mineiro (inhabitant of Minas Gerais), ‘beach’ is something to enjoy as much as possible, when possible. Since I have to deal with mineiros, and that I have turned myself in a semi-mineiro, it is their intention to spend as much time as possible on the beach. The girls love to show the bikini marks to their friends: two thin white lines from the chest to the neck. Because it is not allowed in Brazil to walk topless on the beach. The bikinis are very small, but cover the intimate parts. What is very obvious, that the swimming trunk for men is larger than the European equivalent. I have no good explanation for this difference. The colors of the bikinis are very diverse, often with flower prints or fantasy prints. Only few few prefer tiger or leopard print. The swimming trunks are usually dark, with a line of a different color at each side. There are not many men who prefer the longer swimming shorts. Bath suits for women are very rare in Brazil. I have observed very few at the beaches.
At the beach…
Ipanema
At nine AM, everyone – to my big surprise – was ready to walk to Ipanema Beach. Since I had visited that beach yesterday, I was their guide again. We walked the same route that went to the Garota da Ipanema Park. And again, we climbed the Arpoador Rock. At this time, it was easier for me to take pictures, because the sun was not shining in the direction of my camera lens. I took the opportunity to take more images of Arpoador and Ipanema. Also Deborah wanted some pictures, including a few of her in front. No problem, quite easy for me to take more pictures. How sweet she appeared on these pictures! With her long hairs, moving by the sea breeze. She had a natural smile, with small dimples in her cheeks. We walked on the boulevard, along a number of vendors. Deborah and Joana could not resist to have a look at the jewelry, which appeared to contain invisible magnets to attract the two girls. But both kept their finely formed, tanned hands on their purses. They bought nothing. We did not visit Posto 9 this time, it was far enough to reach Posto 8. Other travel companions should be there, but we did not trace them on the beach. We sat on the warm sand and enjoyed the warm and sunny day. It was becoming high tide; high waves were beating the beach with brutal force. Some beach goers quickly collected their belongings, to move them farther away from the shoreline.
Prato feito: combination of rice, fries, spaghetti,
beans, and chicken.
Lunch
It was noon, when three of us wanted to return to the pousada. They had seen enough on the beach. Deborah, Rodrigo, and I did not want to spend the rest of the sunny day inside the pousada. It was lunch time, I guided the group to a small restaurant where I had my lunch one day before. One of the guys there recognized me, and quickly cleared a table for us. Everyone opted for the cheap prato feito (‘ready dish’). Instead of chicken, I opted for pork meat. The dish was completed with rice, beans, fries, and spaghetti. A Dutchman would not like this combination, but I already was used to it. You quickly get used to this kind of dishes, and with time you start to like it even. White rice, fried in oil and garlic, cooked Brazilian brown beans, fries are fries at any location in the world (except in the UK…), the spaghetti had nothing to do with Italian, but is a Brazilian variety. Regarding Italian food… Sometimes I miss it: Italian Lasagna, spaghetti, macaroni. We ordered a 2-liter bottle of coke, that was divided among us. This is also the Brazilian way.
Example of a salad: you need to flavor it by
yourself, with salt, olive oil and vinegar.
By Adriano Antoine Robbesom © 2007, 2015
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