Feb. 2 Rio

Today was the first day in a month that we didn’t have to be up early for a tour or a talk or a flight. Of course we were awake by 6 so we had breakfast and were on the beach by 8. It was fairly cloudy but 25C feeling like 30C. 
We spent the morning people watching from the shade of an umbrella and walking the beach. For such a hot country, the ocean water was quite cold. The waves were really crashing into the shore and bringing a fair bit of garbage with it. 

By noon we decided to go back to the hotel for a swim in the pool. That water was quite warm, slightly less than a comfortable bath but it did feel good. A nap was the next order of business. 
After we got up and showered, we went for a walk to find the girl from Ipanema. We found her and thousands of her friends. There was a festival celebrating the Afro-Brazilian sea goddess taking place on the beach between Copacabana and Ipanema. Women in white dresses entered the ocean carrying bouquets of flowers to offer to the goddess, Yemanja. 

It was a bit too crowded and chaotic for us so we returned to Copacabana Beach. We found a relatively quiet patio where we enjoyed drinks, a charcuterie board and shared a pizza. 


Back to the hotel to pack for our early departure from the hotel at 4:45 am. 

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