Day FOUR

Hi muchachos y muchachas!




For most of us pale-skinned gringos, it's an act of utter insanity on the first day to set foot on the beach during the peak afternoon sunshine. So I went to the beach early. I enjoyed the clear air and an hour or so of tanning in the softer morning rays. Then I headed up to the Corcovado and saw Rio laid out below me in all its glory. I stopped in for a quick lunch at any of Rio's countless kilo restaurants, then in the afternoon went in to Centro to explore what I've seen from on high. I wandered old Rio, making sure to check out the Uruguaiana shopping district, and poked my head in any one of countless baroque churches. I finished my walk with a nice cold chopp (beer) at a sidewalk cafe in Cinelândia, or in the countless patios in the Arcos do Teles. I had dinner back in the Zona Sul, at one of the top-notch restaurants in Leblon. As it is a Saturday in pre-Carnaval season, I went to see a samba school rehearsal. Afterwards I found a botequim or restaurant that played music and enjoyed Rio until the wee hours.

ps: Only two more days of stinky-Mike for Hasselmann!!!