A Saturday.. full day of play.

We met for breakfast at 8, filled up, grabbed a taxi and headed out.

First stop, Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer).. This is Brazil’s most visited tourist attraction.  We wanted to get their “early” but the lines spilled out into the street already when we arrived.  It took us a while to figure out tickets, lines, procedures & such.

From the top of Corcovado Mountain, one can get 360 degree views of the city, ocean and mountains beyond.

I did manage to get Brenda to pose here.. I have the same shot of her when she was here last (March of 2009).

On to Jardim Botânico, the Botanical Gardens of Rio.  It was founded in 1808 by King John VI of Portugal. Originally intended for the acclimatization of spices like nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon imported from the West Indies.
It now has a collection of tropical plants from all over the world.  Everything you can buy from Home Depot in the indoor garden section grows wild here.

The rules were quite strict against stealing seeds, pods, roots & such to squirrel away and take home.  This cramped Brenda’s style.

Mid-Afternoon and we’re hungry.  I had read about a popular, local seafood restaurant and bar that is a must try… Being a Saturday afternoon, we had to wait a long time to get a table.  The restaurant was small, cramped, chaotic and served fantastic food.  All dishes were “family style” serving 2-3 people each.  The ladies had a caipirinha or two to keep things merry and moving along.

The views out the window from the restaurant (Bar Urca).

Back on Copacabana Beach for the four of us to walk up and down and see the sights.   Bars line the border between the beach and promenade and they are packed!  Live Samba music is performed every couple hundred feet or so.

Both Brenda and Meredith bought a decorative stone parrot. (Brenda now has two).

Called “Footvolley”.. it is just that.. Volleyball where you can’t use your hands.  These guys are good!

Soccer from dawn to dusk, from cradle to grave here.

Being hot and muggy, a cold coconut water drink hits the spot.  Vendors sell them on the street.. They use machetes to whack out a small opening at the top of the coconut; insert a straw and you’re off.  A lot more water in those than you might think.

Donny and Meredith taking photos to send home to their folks.

We finished up with gelato on the way back to hotel.  Then late night drink at the hotel and bedtime.