On our final excursion, we headed to Rio De Janiero, the old capital of Brazil. It is the future host of the 2016 Olympics as well as the 2014 World Cup, so we wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Rio did not let us down! First of all, its like being in a 360 degrees panoramic postcard. Copacabana and Ipanema are the two most famous beaches, and they are astonishingly gorgeous! Raw coconut water, a Brazilian flag sarong, and you've got yourself the most refreshing and relaxing atomospheres in existence. In Rio, its really lame/gringo to bring a towel to the beach, so everyone sits on gigantic sarongs instead, just like the locals do.
Also, we had a big Brazilian dessert indulgence while we were there. The Acai sorbet and coconut cake are to die for! They seem to sell it on every street corner. Make sure to order it with granola, and don't forget the extra whipped cream. Mmmm. In addition, they have the wildest tropical fruit mousses. Light, fluffy, and beyond sweet: it was so sugary it felt like we had taken drugs due to the sugar rush we experienced after a sampler plate of these whipped delicacies.
The Pao de Azucar (Sugar Loaf) Mountain is one of the wonders of the world, and we took a cable car to the summit for some breathtaking views of then entire city. Its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf of sugar. The Pao is the most recognizable landmark in Brazil, and they even have an entire chain of grocery stores named after it. You may recognize it from the 1979 James Bond movie, Moonraker!
Rio also has one of the largest "Urban Rain forests" known as Tijuca Forest, and it was teeming with Brazilian flora and fauna. The hotel we stayed at backed right up to it, and our favorite part was encountering the most adorable monkeys, the Saguis! You know the movie, The Gremlins? Well Saguis look just like Gizmo! However, the cuteness was short lived after we had a crazy Sagui ambushing during breakfast. I guess it wasn't smart having a bunch of bananas and jam next door to a rainforest. Those little gremlins were so sneaky and persistent and they would just not leave us alone. Luckily, I've watched plenty of episodes from the Dog Whisperer, and went all Ceasar Milan on them. That sure got their attention haha. The little guys knew who was boss by the time it was all said and done!
We can't wait to come back to Rio De Janiero! Its a definite must for everyone who comes to Brazil.
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