Brazil - Beaches and Beaches...oh and a Waterfall
Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Florianopolis and Foz de Iguaçu
01.11.2010 - 11.11.2010
81 °F
Hola!
We know it hasn't been too long since our last update, but we wanted to send along our thoughts on Brazil and pictures while we had the chance (we have several 20 hour bus rides ahead). Anyway, to sum up Brazil - GORGEOUS. Everything. The people. The beaches. The food (yummy feijoda and churrasco). The drinks. We loved it all.
Our first day in Rio we sadly fell asleep. Seriously, we arrived at 5:30am after a red-eye flight from Lima (post-Inca Trail) and ended up sleeping most of the day. We got our act together the next day and walked around Copacabana and Ipanema and a Lake near Ipanema.
Marriott was very sweet to us and surprised us with a honeymoon cake
Breakfast at Marriott on Copacabana
view from our room
Lake behind Ipanema
Ipanema
Pretty sure the JW Marriott hasn't seen many backpackers
We then spent 3 days/2 nights in Buzios (“the Hamptons of Rio”) and loved it. We, along with about 8 other people from our hostel, rented a boat to take us around from beach to beach with beers and caipirinhas and sandwiches. It was definitely one of the most fun days of our trip!
Our boat friends were awesome. Three guys from London, one guy from Spain, one girl from Canada, one girl from Ireland, and two girls from...LA (both grew up in Orange County)! One of the LA girls lives in Cordoba, Argentina now - we are going to see her Friday.
front of hostal
fishing boats
Pretty
Nature
Harbor
Boat Crew
We like boats
Happy
Snorkels...always good to wear them above water
the group!
the guys!
water
On a boat!
Floating
Sunset in Buzios
Breakfast view from hostal
Buzios fishing boats
Once back in Rio, we headed out to a local street party in Lapa with friends from the Buzios Hostal (featured above). Out on the street (in true Mardi Gras fashion) we drank caipirinhas and beer (and ate one of the best hotdogs ever) while rubbing elbows with local "Cariocas" (people from Rio) until 5am. Without much sleep, we finally completed tours of the must see attractions in Rio (Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf, etc) and then, sadly, made our way to the airport. Rio is an amazing city, one that both Tim and I seriously underesimated. If anyone is on the fence about visiting this incredible place (or Brazil in general) we highly recommend you do so!
Encountering Christ the Redeemer
Rio beneath the clouds
What should have been our view (Tim took this of a postcard)
Christ the Redeemer
Tim reflecting on our "view" of Rio
Chelsea, Nikki, Kate and Tim out in Rio
We spent a few quiet days on the beach in Florianopolis. We worked on our tans and read our books and had one of the most heavenly meals "sequencia de camarao" - sequence of shrimp - which is exactly what it sounds like...several platefulls of shrimp prepared in different ways served one after the other and then delicious fish, rice, salad, and french fries as a final course (though we already felt full afer the shrimp). As a side note, if you were wondering if Gisele Bundchen is a freak of nature...she´s not. She looks like every other girl on the beaches of Florianopolis. Tim was doing his best not to stare...admittedly I was staring, too. 
View of Ihla Santa Catarina (Florianopolis) from plane
Arrival
Happy OSU fan
We reached a private beach on this hike...turned out it was really private...no luck for us.
Hiking
Our victory hike over Praia Mole
Slug on the move...again Tim committed to his animal photography
Giant Slug!!!! Look at that thing!
So...ya...natural? By the way, mother of two.
Yellow tassles? Really, is that necessary? There is a child present!
We took a 15 hour overnight bus from Floripa to Foz de Iguaçu (Iguazu Falls). We arrived about 9 in the morning and headed to the National Park to check out the falls from the Brazil side. VERY impressive. We got soaked on one of the lookout points and then headed in for some super salty french fries. 
Our first view of falls
Beautiful
Jungle
Pre-shower in falls
Kate soaked
Tim wet
Kate and falls
Tim and falls
Took bus over to Argentina today. Tomorrow we visit the Argentine side of the falls and then overnight bus to Cordoba.
Happy day,
Kate & Tim
This is a GREAT read. So much fun to sort of share in this journey - and you know how I feel about beautiful beaches and clear, warm water. By the way, was the water warm. Tim was in so I would have to guess it was over 75 degrees...pushing 80 perhaps. xo to you both!
by lorian