January 6, 2006

• Christmas & New Years Eve in Brazil

  
  

  Flew out of LAX on Friday Dec. 23rd to Sao Paulo on COPA airlines...flight was about 16 hours.  Got there early Saturday morning and was picked up from the airport.

  
  

  

  
  

  Paulista Avenue...the main street in Sao Paulo on the way from the airport.

  
  

  

  
  

  I went with my friend Susan and we stayed at her friend Leo's house.  He was so nice and friendly...he even made an excel spreadsheet organizing our itinerary.

  
  

  

  
  

  We had Christmas dinner at his uncle's house where I got to sample Brazilian food and try Itaipava, a brazilian beer.

  
  

  

  
  

  The next day we went on a walk to the Ibirapuera Park by his house.

  
  

  

  
  

  Drinking Skol, another Brazilian beer at a bar in Sao Paulo with John and Mariana and their friends.

  
  

  

  
  

  The next day we drove to Brotas, a small town about 3.5 hrs from Sao Paulo.  We stayed at the Pousada de Sol.  Went hiking to see some waterfalls and go swimming.

  
  

  

  
  

  Taking shots of 51 after dinner

  
  

  

  
  

  The next day we went whitewater rafting.  Class III-IV.  We did one rapid where everyone got out of the raft and went down with just a lifejacket.  It was interesting because we had to listen to all the commands in Portuguese!

  
  

  

  
  

  Us with all the guys after dinner at a pizza rodizio...all you can eat pizza which the servers bring around to you.  They have very interesting toppings like Palmito, chocolate, strawberries, hot dogs and small fries, etc.

  
  

  

  
  

  Wednesday morning we drove to Ubatuba, a beach town about 3 hours from Sao Paulo.  We stayed at a friend of Leo's beach house.  Here we are at one of the beaches.

  
  

  

  
  

  The next day we drove to Rio de Janiero.  This is the sunset at Sugarloaf Mountain.  We stayed at the Grande Hotel Canada, 2 blocks away from Copacobana beach.

  
  

  

  
  

  In front of the Christ Redemptor...the largest art deco statue in the world

  
  

  

  
  

  The view of Rio from the top of Corcovado

  
  

  

  
  

  In front of Copacobana Beach

  
  

  

  
  

  The fireworks for New Year's Eve at Copacobana.  Everyone dresses in white and then you jump through seven waves and make a wish.  Those brazilians are smart...think wet T-shirt contest, hehe.  Supposedly the color underwear you wear is an indication of what you wish for in the coming year, i.e. red for passion, pink for love, gold for money, white for peace, green for health, blue for hope, etc.  There are also a lot of people that throw gifts into the sea like flowers...if the sea accepts them then your wish will come true otherwise your gift will wash back to shore.

  
  

  

  
  

  After the fireworks there was a huge party at Ipanema beach.  There was a stage playing music and it was like a giant rave on the beach.  Brazilian men are extremely friendly and it is quite common to try and kiss girls.

  
  

  Overall I had a great time in Brazil.  I learned how to speak a little Portuguese and it was interesting to get to know more about such a wonderful culture.  I can't wait to go back for Carneval

  • 1:18 pm
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