Friday, 10/11. There was almost a sunrise. But the sun didn’t appear until about 8. I’d realized that today is probably my last chance to sleep in for a while, so I did. Left at about 11.

The beach was busy, on a Friday! (Jumping ahead, it’s now 9 PM and there is a band playing. Good time to have a deaf ear.) I did a slow walk until 4. Visited Fort Copacabana, which has a fine army museum. Gorgeous view of the beach. Nicely placed cafe along the coastline.

Ipanema Beach is obviously newer and better arranged. Had a snack at a very nice beachfront cafe. The Cop’s aren’t as fancy.

There aren’t any cigarette butts around, but there are certainly a lot of butts in view. As advertised. Pick-up soccer ball bouncing circles are common too. I thought they were groups of friends, but realized that anyone walking down the beach could join in. (I Did Not Know: Three of the four football teams in Rio are also rowing clubs. I bought a “Clube de Regatas do Flamengo” cap.)

Allowed a guy to “shine” my rubber beach sandals. Persistent, and he spoke English. I had too much cash anyway. Even paid the musicians.

I’m glad I got one day of sunny weather here. It’s a different city with the sun out. I need an Uber at 4 AM. I’ve asked if that’s a problem and the reaction is “why would it be a problem?”.

Thursday, 10/10. Full day tour. 20 people from various countries. Spanish and English. First was Christ the Redeemer statue. Just as we arrived at the final climb, the skies opened up. It stopped just as we were getting back on the bus. I noticed that it’s big. Beyond that, no impression.

The football stadium. Apparently, if you’re a big football fan, this stadium means a lot. There were several people visibly thrilled to get photos of the entrance, holding faux World Cup trophies. The carnival parade site. It’s a dedicated 1 km stretch with stands on both sides. Another huge deal that I couldn’t appreciate. The production of being a team in the parade is impressive. The Rose Parade it is not. The same steps I saw yesterday. I walked around the lower shopping area. The cathedral I saw yesterday. This time we entered. It is very very pretty. If only they could have made the outside less pedestrian.

Lunch. Fantastic. Salad buffet, then you sit while servers bring out a variety of meats on skewers. They slide pieces onto your plate or slice chunks off. So many carving knives flying around gave me pause. But it was all very good.

Sugarloaf Mountain. Look it up in Google, because I have no photos of it or its surroundings. Low clouds. The cable ways were fast. At some point the cable car just disappears into the clouds.

Not a spectacular day. Tomorrow it’s supposed to be mostly clear. I’m planning to walk the beach extensive, but my feet are pretty sore from the sidewalks. They are mostly made of broken tile pieces, meaning they aren’t smooth. But I’ll see.

Wednesday, 10/9.  Steady Rain, with a few gaps.  4 hour walking tour with one other.  Excellent tour guide from Intrepid Urban Adventures.  Couldn’t stop the rain though.  Who can?  Subway is better than some.  Lines 1, 2, and 4.  Line 3 is an urban legend.  Center city would have been pretty except for the rain.  Opera House was beautiful even in the rain.  Old Tram to the top of one hill.  View at the top would have been nice except for, well, you know.  Artist studio/gift shop was excellent, though I feared dripping on the items. Another gift shop. There is style here that uniquely Brazilian. I liked it. (I am continuing to detect little English, but not the “attitude” that one senses in France. They just don’t learn it. That’s fine. But now that there is no $450 visa fee(!), they may start seeing more Americans.)

Tiny monkeys with long tails.  (No birds; odd.)  Snack of cheese bread and semi-solid fruit juice.  Famous Selaron Steps, covered with tiles from around the world, is an impressive example of international unity. Hanshin Tigers have a tile, to illustrate how diverse the tiles are.

Returned to the Beach, had lunch of beef shish kabob and a glass of Caipirinha, made with their national whisky, Cachaça.  Fruit additive is your choice. I had passion fruit. Returned to the room early to dry out.  Stayed.  No great interest in the nightlife.  Beach cafes are still open after 10.

I was soaked for most of the day. My waterproof cork hat isn’t. My waterproof Columbia jacket also isn’t much. But my wetness might have been from sweat, though it wasn’t too hot. Today in the moment was less than wonderful, but in memory it’ll be excellent. Tomorrow I go on an 8 hour tour. On a bus thankfully. (As I type this, it’s pouring. Sigh.)

Monday/Tuesday, 10/7/8. On Monday I drove down to George Washington’s Grist Mill and Distillery.  Nice easy tour.  Wouldn’t buy the product though.  “Making it like the father of our country used to” is not advised.  They have low production and high demand, so the price is excessive if your intent is to drink it.  If your only goal is to stick in on a mantlepiece, then it’s a fine souvenir.

Lunch with old co-workers.  We’re all getting old together.

I paid for a fancy credit card which gets me into many airport lounges.  How the 20(?) percenters live.  Free food and drinks, comfortable chairs.

I’ve long considered Boeing 767 to be the worst plane.  Flight to Rio de Janeiro confirmed my opinion.  I did my civic duty and traded my empty three seat row with an empty two-row.  Family of four, one a crier, all got to sit in the same row.  Even with an empty seat, the plane stinks.  Five inch screen?

I don’t know if I’ve ever walked further to get out of an airport.  Uber was fine.  Hawkers on the highway.  Driver actually bought a bag of puffed rice from one.  We weren’t moving much anyway.  Surprisingly few Japanese cars.  Good number of Chevys and Fords. I think I saw an Olympic venue falling apart. The velodrome? Now a shanty town or farmers market.

Airbnb’s view superb.  But today was muggy, cloudy, windy.  Huge waves.  Had a beachside snack.  Not third-world cheap. Massive beach.  I was just wandering waiting for the Airbnb to be ready.  Overdressed.  No one mugged me, so that’s a plus.  Haven’t found a single person outside the airport who speaks English.