Rio Rio Rio!

So we finally arrived! We got in to Pier Maua where Aussie Central is around 8 pm and had our induction and got settled in.

We then went to attempt to find some dinner and wound up at the only place that was still open in the area, a dodgy little bar called Flamingo. I wasn't hungry so it was delicious mango juice for me! Then sleep. 

The Monday, our first day in Rio we had the day to ourselves so it was a trip to Copacabana Beach for a swim. It was a hot day and the water was cool but had a massive undertow so I didn't stay long.

I can tell you now, I was rather at ease lounging on the beach for a change. AND WE HAD FRESH GREEN COCONUTS!

We then had cold green coconuts and fried garlic prawns on a beach cafe. It was grand.

On the way down to the beach we stopped at this magnificent church the Candelaria. It is a Baroque Church but is uniquely Portuguese. 

 

The frescoes are amazing. I plan on going back after the Final Mass to grab some more snaps. I couldn't work out exactly how they were made. They seemed to be tempera but they had a glossy oil sheen. They were beautifully detailed which was visible from the ground. 

We had a fun adventure getting back to the Metro station at Copacabana, Doug, Kathryn and I nearly got hit by a bus! Think I'm joking? Rio is the only city in the world where you don't joke about that. 

Turns out that as we got off the train and began walking to Pier Maua, huge crowds came pouring out of nowhere into the streets. Turns out the Pope was arriving up the road in his pope mobile. We saw that on the news later that night. We cleared out after hanging around for half an hour. It was back to Aussie Central and then to hunt for some dinner. Which ended up being Bob's 'heart-attack' burgers.

So that was our first day in Rio! Tomorrow, the fun starts!