Saturday, January 5, 2008

Antiques in Rio!

We spent a lovely day wandering in the outdoor once a month antique fair. Along the route we came accross my new favorite store with some of the best examples of mid-century modern peices I have even seen! www.mercadomodernobrasil.com.br Then we went to the indoor antique fair which was interesting but not as good as the first one.

The weather is very overcast today. Tommorrow is our last day and I am hoping for lots of sun. Our flight leaves 10:45pm Rio time. So we'll hang out at the pool for the last day :)

Friday, January 4, 2008

Rio at night

I hope i am not jinxing it but Rio does not seem nearly as dodgy as all the reports I hear. I of course would not venture to isloated areas. However we just came back from a crepe place and it is now 11:20pm and it was fine. I suppose seeing many big cities with a variety of issues has helped. So we survived the evening in Rio ;)

Tomorrow it is all about antiques!

Rio

So we have been in Rio for 2 nights (we fly out on Sunday night). Everyone wears the teeny tiny bikinis.... everyone, grandmas, big girls. it is quite the phenonmenon.

as for veg meals it is rather uninspiring but at least there are options. much of the veg stuff is like pasta, pizza etc. we went to one veg restaruant but it was quite bland

the weather is great 34+ it is a little hot for me actually :)

Today we went to the museum of modern art. Quite a nice building and exhibit. http://www.mamrio.com.br/

We spent some time in the pool and had a nap. I know our adventures are so legendary. I just don´t move that fast in this heat.

tommorow we are off to a once a month antique fair and a antique mall :)

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

New Year´s eve

I forgot to mention that we spent NY on a large 2 story wooden boat on the river, arranged by the lodge for everyone. it was complete with a DJ and drinks. Before this we had a lovely dinner at the lodge. Nice way to ring in the new year!

Amazon Update

Well it has been a fantastic few days. We did so many things! A jungle trek in which we learned about local plants for food and medicine, a snake refuge where they breed and release snakes back to the wild, many many boat trips on the river negro, canoe trip, swimming with the wild pink dolphins, visit to a village and a town, caiman (alligator) spotting and learning to shoot bows and arrows (which gave me a nice burn on the wrist from the string). I have some photos holding the little alligator (they catch them in the river and then let them go) and a picture with the snakes at the refuge. The lodge was lovely and they had terrific food with lots of veg options. The only thing missing was a laundry service and we did not want to trek to the nearest little town to find one. (So later tonight locating a lavanderia/laundry is the #1 priority in Rio).

The weather has been good with sun and warm rain. There have been no major upsets other than some scratches and bug bites. There was a minor set back this morning when the strong Brazil coffee disagreed with me. But I am feeling better and grossly the fish in the river ate all the evidence!

On the way out we took a small float plane, just with us and the pilot, for a 30 minute flight over the river and to Manaus. In Manaus we went to the Amazonian research centre in which the research local flora and fuana. We saw the manatees that are brought in when injured or weak and then are rehabilitated. It was not like a zoo (which i don´t generally like) but more like a preserve. There were some man made lakes with fish, caimans, turtles etc. And running loose all over are these giant guinea pigs! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavia_aperea

I am now at the Manaus airport internet cafe and we are off to Rio soon. As luck would have it the first Saturday of the month in Rio has a huge antique fair so I will be there!