Cand ai de ales intre atat de multe destinatii de vacanta, este greu sa iei o decizie. Initial hotarasem sa plecam la scuba-diving in Bali ( ma refer aici la mine si colega mea de apartament, Raluca ) insa in ultimul moment, am zis ca este mult prea romantic locul pentru 2 fete singure si in loc sa ne distram, ne-am fi deprimat vazand numai cupluri de indragostiti. Rio de Janeiro a fost marele castigator. Inarmndu-ne cu multa resemnare in fata zborului lung pana in Brazilia, pernute de voiaj, carti, Ipad-uri si alte prostioare care sa ne tina "busy" cele 14h20, am plecat ca fetele in vacanta. Bineinteles ca am zburat cu Emirates si bineinteles ca a fost un zbor minunat. Nu vreau sa fac reclama ( inca nu au ajuns astia sa ma plateasca pentru asta ) insa cele 14 ore si ceva au trecut pe nesimtite. Nu am apucat sa deschid cartea sau sa ma joc pe Ipad..fiind colegi, ne-am imprietenit cu crew-ul care opera pe acel zbor si am fost tratate regeste - vin, Baileys, ciucalata. Nu e de mirare ca eram singurele persoane care radeau cu pofta dupa vreo 8 ore de zbor.
Intr-un final am ajuns la destinatie- Rio de Janeiro, Brazilia. Ce fericita am fost! Niciodata nu am crezut ca voi ajunge atat de usor, atat de departe! Spiritul meu nelinistit care negociaza orice, la orice ora, a fost activat inca de la iesirea din aeroport, unde a trebuit sa luam taxiul pana la hotel. Imaginati-va asa : 2 fete cucuiete, 3 bagaje, o harta, o adresa de hotel si 150397 de avertizari despre cat de periculos este orasul. Eu, ca de obicei, senina si fara niciun stres, Raluca, cu o falca in cer si una in pamant inca de cand ne-am urcat in taxi. Eu- binedispusa si zambareata; Raluca- serioasa si usor disperata.
" Daca ne rapeste asta acum" imi zice ea preocupata; "asta-i viata" , am raspuns eu. Dupa un drum de vreo 20 de minute, am ajuns la hotel, in Lapa ( aveam sa aflam mai tarziu ca acest cartier este centrul vechi al Rio-ului, si chiar in seara aceea ca strada noastra era plina de curve ). Eram putin ingrijorata de hotel, pentru ca am platit destul de putin in comparatie cu celelalte hoteluri - pentru 5 nopti cu mic dejun, in jur de 500euro pt 2 persoane. Hotelul il puteti vedea aici. Am fost placut surprinsa de hotel si camera. Era mai mult decat suficient pentru cat aveam noi nevoie. Stabilisem sa mergem la cina cu crew-ul cu care am zburat iar locul de intalnire era hotelul unde erau ei cazati. Mica problema ( care intre timp a devenit mare ) a fost ca eu erau cazati exact in partea opusa a orasului; oras care nu este deloc mic. Si uite-asa, ne-am urcat noi, cica intr-un autobuz care merge inspre locul acela. Adresa hotelului nu o aveam, stiam doar cartierul. Habar n-aveam unde mergeam, Raluca mai mult ca mine, era constienta si insista sa-mi reaminteasca cat de periculos este orasul si din linistita si "zen" am ajuns si eu sa fiu stresata si sa ma intreb "ce dracului cautam noi aici?". In autobuz am inceput sa vorbesc cu o cucoana, intr-o spaniola-portugheza dar cu care am reusit sa port discutii destul de interesante, care s-a oferit si ea sa ne mai panicheze putin, spunandu-ne sa nu cumva sa luam autobuzul noaptea, sa avem grija cum mergem pe strada si alte fatalitati de genul asta.Trec vreo 30 de minute si coboram in sfarsit la Copacabana, unde trebuia sa schimbam autobuzul. Cu chiu cu vai am ajuns la hotelul lor, dupa o ora si jumate de chin si inghesuiala. Dar a meritat osteneala pentru ca cina a fost delicioasa.
A doua zi am mers sa vizitam centrul vechi. Stradute mici si ticsite de oameni, magazine si baruri specifice; muzica braziliana, sucuri naturale de fructe; case colorate, vanzatori cu megafoane; turisti si..noi printre toate acestea. Atmosfera de sarbatoare ma indemna sa dansez samba pe strada. Ne-am indreptat apoi spre faleza...si am mers asa, purtate de frumusetea peisajului vreo 14km de-a lungul oceanului. Este de prisos sa adaug ca nu ne mai simteam picioarele ( am parcurs literalmente jumatate de Rio in ziua aceea ). Cu ultimele forte am reusit sa savuram in noaptea aia o caipirinha, bautura traditionala braziliana. Trebuie sa adaug ca brazilienii nu se chitrosesc la alcool atunci cand iti prepara o bautura si nici la portiile de mancare - mereu este mut alcool si multa mancare. Dupa doua bauturi, ne-am intors la hotel, pe jos, printre curvele de pe strada noastra, in toiul noptii, lasand frica in paharul de caipirinha.
Corcovado, sau Cristo Redentor a fost destinatia pentru urmatoarea zi. Dupa 2 ore de asteptat la coada, ne-am suit in vechiul trenulet care te duce sus pe culmile muntelui Corcovado, acolo unde Iisus se inalta deasupra orasului. Statuia este considerata a fi una dintre minunile noii lumi, avand aproape 40 de m si fiind a 5-a cea mai mare statuie a lui Iisus din lume. Privelistea orasului este superba. Desi erau foarte multi oameni, am reusit sa ne strecuram si sa facem cateva poze. Cel mai potrivit moment pentru a vizita acest loc este o zi senina, clara, pentru a te putea bucura de frumusetea orasului vazut de la 700m inaltime.
Dupa ce ne-am delectat privirile, am plecat spre un alt loc faimos: Pão de Açúcar sau Sugarloaf Mountain. Este un munte de 396m care se ridica din oceanul Atlantic, chiar in fata portului. Pentru a ajunge sus, am luat o telecabina facuta numai din sticla. De fapt sunt 2 culmi, una mai joasa si alta mai inalta. Prima culme este o platforma cu restaurante, 2-3 magazinase, un heliport si o priveliste de nedescris. Pentru o plimbare cu elicopterul trebuia sa platim 250 de reali, cam 500ron care presupun ca ar merita. Exact cand am urcat, am avut placerea sa asistam la o cerere in casatorie...balonase in forma de inimioara, si doi tineri la inceput de drum. Cat de frumos sa fie?! Admirand natura si vegetatia, am dat peste o maimutica , foarte mica si draguta. Avea un cap de elf..asa ca i-am dat o banana pe care a mancat-o incet, fara sa se grabeasca. Luand al doilea teleferic am ajuns acolo unde se afla adevarata minune - panorama Rio-ului la asfintit. Pot spune cu mana pe inima ca nu am mai vazut ceva mai minunat in viata mea. Statuia lui Iisus undeva la orizont, iar la poalele ei, orasul luminat. Nu pot sa descriu..sau poate as putea daca m-as chinui, dar e imposibil sa descriu acea frumusete. Desi era un vant rece, am stat acolo pana s-a lasat seara.
Noaptea fiind tanara, am plecat la hotel sa ne schimbam si sa petrecem in stil brazilian la unul dintre cele mai cunoscute localuri cu muzica samba - Carioca da Gema. Caipirinha si miscari de poponet toata seara ;).
In cea de-a 3a zi am zis sa ne plimbam cu bicicletele, asa ca am inchiriat doua si am pedalat cu spor si placere pe langa ocean - Leblon, Copacabana, Ipanema. Este o adevarata placere sa faci sport in Rio. Exista atat piste pentru biciclete de-a lungul falezei ( in jur de 14km de pista ) cat si pista pentru alergat. Acum, fie vorba intre noi, nu am mai vazut atatia barbati frumosi pe metru patrat in viata mea....toti sunt ca si sculptati. As face jogging in fiecare zi cu asa priveliste. Dorind sa analizam mai de aproape fenomenul acesta de barbat sculptat, am zis sa mergem la plaja. Problema era ca nu aveam costumele de baie la noi asa ca am zis sa mergem sa ne innoim cu cate unul. Nu am folosit cuvantul "problema" degeaba...ci pentru ca in Rio este o adevarata misiune sa iti gassti un costum de baie. Nu ma intelegeti gresit, ele (costumele ) se gasesc peste tot, dar au o cantitate foarte mica de material. Partea dorsala, sau fundu' este menit sa se rumeneasca la soare in totalitate. Celebrii bikinii brazilieni..sunt sigura ca ati auzit de ei..pana si pe cele mai mari balene le vezi purtand acesti chilotei. Si am incercat noi 2-3-4 perechi de chiloti dar fara succes. Imi inchipuiam eu cum ar fi sa apar ca o floare, pe plajele din Dubai, cu chiloteii mei. Cred ca ar face toti arabii atac de panica si infasuratele m-ar linsa.
Seara am iesit la un drink cu niste romani, prieteni ai unui verisor de-al unui prieten de-al meu ( stiu ca n-ati inteles ). A fost o seara foarte reusita! Tot la Carioca da Gema ne-am proptit, tot cu Caipirinha si muzica buna.
Ultimele zile le-am petrecut la plaja...la Peer 10, acolo a vrut Ralu sa mergem. Romanii ne-au zis ca acolo sunt "bunaciunile"....frumos..n-am ce comenta :).
All in all, a fost o vacanta foarte reusita. Imi pare rau insa ca nu am ajuns sa vedem celebrele favelas ( am avut eu niste tentative, am ajuns pana la inceputul lor, dar ne-a fost frica sa mergem mai departe ). Cu siguranta data viitoare nu le voi rata. Drumul de intors a fost la fel de "scurt" ca la dus - 13:30h. 7h am dormit ( am fost epuizata ) si restul de 5 am baut Baileys, Don Perignon din First Class, si altele. Ca de obicei am fost rasfatate de crew :) Urmatoarea excursie-vacanta va fi in februarie, cand voi merge cu fetele la ski ( inca nu ne-am hotarat ) si in aprilie, vrem noi in Cancun. Om trai si-om vedea.
Pentru poze, click aici.
English
When you have to choose between so many vacation destinations, it is hard to make a decision. Initially, we decided to go scuba-diving in Bali ( me and my flatmate, Raluca) but in the last moment we said that it is too romantic for 2 single girls and instead of having fun, we would be depressed by seeing so many couples in love. Rio de Janeiro was the big winner. Being mentally and physically prepared for the long flight to Brazil- with travel pillows, books, iPads and other nonsense to keep us "busy" the whole way, we left on vacation. Of course I flew with Emirates and of course it was a great flight. I do not want to advertise it (they haven't payed me for it yet) but the 14 hours and something went stealthily. I didn't get to open the book or to play on my Ipad .. as colleagues, we became friends with the crew who worked on the flight and we were treated royally - wine, Baileys, chocolate. No wonder we were the only people who laughed heartily after about 8 hours of flight.
Finally we reached the destination, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. How happy I was! I never thought I would go so easily, so far! My restless spirit who negotiate anything, at any time, has been active since we exit the airport, where we had to take taxi to the hotel. Imagine this: two crazy girls , 3 pieces of luggage, a map, an address of the hotel and 150,397 warnings about how dangerous the city is. I was, as usual, without any stress and happy, Raluca, with a scared face ever since we got in the cab. I had an amazing mood, Raluca-serious and slightly desperate.
" What if we're being kidnapped right now," she tells me concerned, "that's it", I replied. After a journey of about 20 minutes, we arrived at the hotel in Lapa (I had to find out later that this neighborhood is Rio's old center, an that our street was full of prostitutes). I was a bit worried about the hotel, I paid less compared to other hotels - for 5 nights with breakfast, around 500euro for 2 persons. The hotel we staued in is here. I was pleasantly surprised by the hotel and room. It was more than enough- clean and tidy. We agreed to go to dinner with the crew that flew with us and the meeting place was the hotel where they were staying. The small problem (which meanwhile became big) was that we were staying in the other part of the city; city which is not small at all. And just like that, we got on a bus that was going towards that place. We didn't know the address of the hotel, we only knew the neighborhood. I had no idea where we were going, Raluca more than me, was very conscious in reminding me how dangerous the city is. Eventually, al my "zen" mood flew away and I've became stressed also wondering "what the hell are we doing here ? '. In the bus I started to talk to a lady in a Spanish-Portuguese language, but I managed somehow to have an interesting discussion with her. She scared us a little more by telling us not to take the bus at night because it is very dangerous. After 30 minutes we finally reached Copacabana, where we had to change buses. We reached their hotel after an hour and a half of ordeal in the crowded bus. But it was worth it because the dinner was delicious.
The next day we went to visit the old town. Small streets packed with people, shops and bars, traditional Brazilian music, natural fruit juices, colorful houses, sellers with megaphones, tourists and .. us through all this. Festive atmosphere prompted me to dance samba on the street. We then turned and walked towards the waterfront ... so, we walked about 14km driven by the beautiful landscape. Needless to add that we no longer felt our legs (we have literally traveled half of Rio that day). With my last strength, we did enjoy that night one caipirinha, a traditional Brazilian drink at some local bar. I should add that Brazilians are not stingy when serving alcohol and food - is always a lot of alcohol in the drinks and a lot of food on the platter. After two drinks, we returned to the hotel, walking among the prostitutes on our streets, in the middle of the night, leaving our fear in the glass of caipirinha.
Corcovado, Cristo Redentor was the destination for the next day. After 2 hours of waiting in line, we went to the old train that takes you up on top of Corcovado mountain where Jesus rises above the city. The statue is considered one of the wonders of the new world, nearly 40 m tall and is the 5th largest statue of Jesus in the world. The view of the city is superb. Although there were many people, we managed to sneak and take some pictures. The best time to visit this place is a clear day, sunny, so you can enjoy the beauty of the city seen from 700m high.
After we admired the view, we went to another famous place: Pão de Açúcar or Sugarloaf Mountain. It is a 396m mountain that rises from the Atlantic Ocean, just off the harbor. To reach the top, we took a cable car made only of glass. In fact there are two peaks, one lower and one higher. The first peak is a platform with restaurants, 2-3 shops, a heliport and an indescribable sight. For a helicopter ride, you had to pay 250 reais. Just when we got up there, I had the pleasure of witnessing a marriage proposal ... heart shaped balloons, and two young people beginning a new life together, up on cloud no 9.
Admiring the nature and vegetation, we came upon a monkey, a very small and cute one. .. so I gave it a banana, which it ate slowly, without hurrying. Taking the second cable car we got where the true miracle was - Rio at sunset. I can say that I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life. Jesuss' statue somewhere in the horizon, and at its feet, the city of lights. I can not describe .. or maybe I could if I struggle, but it's impossible to describe the beauty. We stayed there until the evening came.
The night was young, so we went to the hotel to change and spent the rest of the night in a Brazilian style at one of the most famous venues with samba music - Carioca da Gema. That meant only two things -caipirinha and shaking our booties all night ;).
On the third day we decided to ride bikes, so we rented two and cycled along ocean - Leblon, Copacabana, Ipanema. It is a pleasure to do sports in Rio. There are not only bike lanes along the waterfront (about 14km of track) but also running tracks. I have never seen so many beautiful men per square meter in my life .... all are like sculpted. I would jog every day with such a view. Wanting to analyze more closely the phenomenon of these beautiful men, we deided to go to the beach. The problem was that we had no swimsuits with us so we said "let's go and buy one". I used the word "problem" for a reason ... in Rio is a true mission to find a swimsuit. Do not get me wrong, they (the bathingsuits) can be found everywhere, but they all are very small. The back side of the body, or the ass is meant to burn in the sun completely. Famous Brazilian bikinis .. I'm sure you've heard of them .. even the biggest female- whales you see wearing these panties. We've tried 2-3-4 pairs of pants but without success. I imagined myself appearing lies a flower, on the beaches of Dubai, with my tiny panties. I think I would give a heartatack to al the arabs and the women with abaya would kill me.In the evening we went for a drink with some Romanian friend. It was a very successful evening! Carioca da Gema, Caipirinha and good music.
We spent the last days at the beach ... at Peer 10- Ralu wanted to go there badly. The romanians told us that all the"hotties" are there .... nice .. no comment :).
All in all, it was a very successful holiday. I am sorry that I did not get to see the famous favelas Definitely the next time I will not miss it. The way back was as "short" as the one going- 13:30 h. We slept 7h (I was exhausted) and the remaining 5 drank Baileys, Don Perignon in First Class, and more. As usual we waere spoiled by the crew :) Next-vacation trip will be in February, when I'm gonna go skiing with the girls (we have not decided yet where) and in April, we want to go to Cancun. We'll see...
For pics, click here.
