Red hot blue sky day. Nice after the tropical storm yesterday. After being followed and shouted at by a zombie mad man with a limp we headed to the famous Ipanema Beach (as in the song The Girl From Ipanema). The Ipanema area is totally different to the rest of Rio. The young, rich and fashion conscious come here to show off. Enter Ry and Rach...Seems like half of Rio make a living on the beach. People selling everything from drinks, sarongs to chicken hats (hats with chickens on the top). Dunno what's more weird. People selling them or people actually buying them! The beaches are a way of life here. Not just tourists and holiday makers but full families and communities transcending from the favela's (shanty towns) to have fun.
One of Rio's favela's - Home to 2 million people
Loads of kids playing football on the beach too. The ball never touches the ground. Spent around 3 hours on the beach. Even with cream on I (Ryan) got burnt. There is just no way this gringo is ever going to blend in. Better get used to it.
[Lads - Sincerely apologies for the lack of photos on Ipanema Beach.
I didn't want to get sand in my camera - Honest - Ry]
After the beach we headed to Santa Teresa near the hostel. Santa Teresa is the bohemian area in Zona Norte (north side of Rio). It's the place where all the artists hang out. Home to the only exising tram line in Rio, it's located on a huge hill filled with bars, restaurants and studios. Much more quiet than nearby Lapa.
Tram in Santa Teresa - If you ride outside on the foot board you ride for free!!
Burnt and cooling off with a beer
Stumbled across this - It was a scrapyard, an artists studio, a gallery and a bar all in one. No seats, no tables, just a few bottles of spirits, loud dance music and a really dodgy makeshift timber terrace overlooking Rio. Fantastic!!
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