I joined my tour with Dragoman last Friday. It's been bloody great so far. We've been on the road to Brasilia, the inland capital of Brazil.
Our first stop was in the small mountain town of Teresopolis and the drive up there was fantastic. The views were just stunning, gorgeous mountaintops and beautiful forest. Teresopolis is where the rich from Rio have little mountain holiday homes because it's close to Rio and so picturesque.
Our campsite was great, the set up with the tour is pretty slick- great tents, all the supplies and equipment needed, very organised. And the people I'm with are all pretty cool- a couple Brits, Kiwis and Aussies, being led through the countryside by a Scot and Italian. We've been cooking communally, playing Pataki (kind of like hacky sack) going for swims, traipsing around together and if course having a few beers, it's been delightful!
Our second stop was the old mining town Ouro Preto, where a lot of gold was mined early after portuguese colonization. Heaps of wealth was taken out of the place via these mines, which were worked by slaves, many dying young in the process. We visited a few of the mines and swam in an underground lake inside one!
The town if Ouro Preto was lovely and reminded me a bit if Cuba. Cobblestone streets, cute houses, lots of churches all set on the mountainside- a bit of work to walk around but gorgeous.
The night after we camped by a lovely lake on our way to Brasilia, where we are tonight. It's an artificial capital, kind of like Canberra! Yeah so not much to report there, a lot of government buildings...
Tomorrow we head out bush for about a week, taking in several national parks before we arrive back to the coastal city of Salvador, which should be awesome!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Rio
What a magnificent city! Mountains, beaches, so much to see... and boy do they know how to party!
I got to my lovely hostel last Wednesday and despite the long flight decided to go exploring the neighbourhood a little. Set between the loagoon and the beach, Ipanema is a beautiful neighbourhood. As I arrived to the lagoon the scene took my breath away. The granite mountains make for dramatic views from all over the city. After this I walked back to the beach where the locals were playing futevolei. Its a really impressive version of volleyball where instead of using their hands they show off their mad soccer skills, its so fun to watch.
The following day was spent exporing Ipanema, Copacabana and the City, looking at some rad art deco architecture and some ridiculously ornate churches. I saw an exhibition of paintings by a Brazilian artist Tarsila do Amaral which was brilliant. As I walked around the city there were stalls on every corner selling masks, crazy hats and silly glasses. The city was getting ready for Carnaval! That night I walked a few blocks from my hostel to a local bloco (street party) to see what it was all about...
It was crazy! Totally nuts! And bloody awesome:) There were people absolutely everywhere, decorated with feathers and aforementioned silly hats just singing and dancing and drinking and kissing. Smiles everywhere. The first bloco I went to was in a park. I think there was a band somewhere in the middle of the massive crowd but people were just dancing to their own songs, loving life, it was great. The next bloco I stumbled upon had a proper parade with sexy samba dancers and an absolutely rocking percussion section which whipped the crowd (myself included) into a joyous frenzy. There was a float of a giant smiling condom, which at one point was dangerously close to hitting the powerlines over the street. Twelve Brazilian guys in green pig hats carefully, and rather comically, guided it through but didn't stop drinking or dancing during the entire operation. The blocos are the lifeblood of Carnaval, but the highlight is the parade in the Sambodrome.
The Sambodrome, a purpose built stadium for this event, hosts a competition every Carnaval, between the many Samba schools around Rio. Each school puts on their own parade (each lasting over an hour) with hundreds of participants dressed in elaborate costumes, the glamorous Samba dancers in their feathery magnificence, crazy floats and a specially written song for the parade. The aim is to impress the judges which then choose the winner from nine schools, held over two nights.
I arrived to the Sambodrome and was immediately struck by the atmosphere, it was electric! I arrived about 10.30 pm and plonked myself down, solo gringa girl amongst hundreds of happy brazilians dancing, singing and waving the flags of the schools they came to support. Then the second schools parade began and in a short time my mind was blown. The costumes were nothing short of amazing. This first school had some strange historical theme, with kings and knights, boats to new lands, indigenous peoples (including bizarre aboriginals with boomerangs and koalas sitting on their hips?!?) then scientists with huge magnifying glasses and Newton´s with apples on their heads, through to Beatles with Yellow Submarine hats, finishing off with Alice in Wonderland for some reason. The themes were kinda random, but I liked that cos you never knew what to expect next! The school that ended up winning featured these incredible dancers in Slinky costumes, the Queen, Michael Jackson and Ronaldhino dancing on a plane, and some other weird and wonderful costumes and a catchy tune. I was there til 530 am and it was easily the most entertaining thing I have ever seen in my life. That day as I collapsed into bed I dreamt dazzling trippy rainbow dreams...
Other highlights of Rio have included: favela kids drumming on bins and dancing their little hearts out; the panoramic views from the giant Jesus statue; sitting on the Lapa steps at 4am discussing the practical applications of Pythagoras´ theorem with cute Argentinans; hanging out by the pool with the hostel cat, Lilu; and laying under an umbrella on Ipanema beach being served coconut water...I kinda love this town!
I got to my lovely hostel last Wednesday and despite the long flight decided to go exploring the neighbourhood a little. Set between the loagoon and the beach, Ipanema is a beautiful neighbourhood. As I arrived to the lagoon the scene took my breath away. The granite mountains make for dramatic views from all over the city. After this I walked back to the beach where the locals were playing futevolei. Its a really impressive version of volleyball where instead of using their hands they show off their mad soccer skills, its so fun to watch.
The following day was spent exporing Ipanema, Copacabana and the City, looking at some rad art deco architecture and some ridiculously ornate churches. I saw an exhibition of paintings by a Brazilian artist Tarsila do Amaral which was brilliant. As I walked around the city there were stalls on every corner selling masks, crazy hats and silly glasses. The city was getting ready for Carnaval! That night I walked a few blocks from my hostel to a local bloco (street party) to see what it was all about...
It was crazy! Totally nuts! And bloody awesome:) There were people absolutely everywhere, decorated with feathers and aforementioned silly hats just singing and dancing and drinking and kissing. Smiles everywhere. The first bloco I went to was in a park. I think there was a band somewhere in the middle of the massive crowd but people were just dancing to their own songs, loving life, it was great. The next bloco I stumbled upon had a proper parade with sexy samba dancers and an absolutely rocking percussion section which whipped the crowd (myself included) into a joyous frenzy. There was a float of a giant smiling condom, which at one point was dangerously close to hitting the powerlines over the street. Twelve Brazilian guys in green pig hats carefully, and rather comically, guided it through but didn't stop drinking or dancing during the entire operation. The blocos are the lifeblood of Carnaval, but the highlight is the parade in the Sambodrome.
I arrived to the Sambodrome and was immediately struck by the atmosphere, it was electric! I arrived about 10.30 pm and plonked myself down, solo gringa girl amongst hundreds of happy brazilians dancing, singing and waving the flags of the schools they came to support. Then the second schools parade began and in a short time my mind was blown. The costumes were nothing short of amazing. This first school had some strange historical theme, with kings and knights, boats to new lands, indigenous peoples (including bizarre aboriginals with boomerangs and koalas sitting on their hips?!?) then scientists with huge magnifying glasses and Newton´s with apples on their heads, through to Beatles with Yellow Submarine hats, finishing off with Alice in Wonderland for some reason. The themes were kinda random, but I liked that cos you never knew what to expect next! The school that ended up winning featured these incredible dancers in Slinky costumes, the Queen, Michael Jackson and Ronaldhino dancing on a plane, and some other weird and wonderful costumes and a catchy tune. I was there til 530 am and it was easily the most entertaining thing I have ever seen in my life. That day as I collapsed into bed I dreamt dazzling trippy rainbow dreams...
Other highlights of Rio have included: favela kids drumming on bins and dancing their little hearts out; the panoramic views from the giant Jesus statue; sitting on the Lapa steps at 4am discussing the practical applications of Pythagoras´ theorem with cute Argentinans; hanging out by the pool with the hostel cat, Lilu; and laying under an umbrella on Ipanema beach being served coconut water...I kinda love this town!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Adios Amigos!
If you miss me like crazy (or maybe I should say when) and the facebook status updates and hipstergram photos aren't giving you enough of an Erin-fix, come here to get all the juicy details. I will endeavour to write a decent post once a week, depending on computer availability.
So the adventure begins! I fly out bright and early Wednesday morning and touch down in Rio about 24 hours later, and start enjoying Carnaval, the biggest party on earth, yay!
While this is obviously awesome, a part of me is a little sad to leave all you lovely people. Life has been getting so good lately, I've been having smashing times with some some fabulous friends who bring out the best in me. My family has been beautiful, especially the gorgeously cute Rafael and Malia - they're going to be so big by the time I get back! Oh well, I'll just have to have a super awesome time to distract me from how much I'll miss you all:) Keep you posted my dears...
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