Copacabana

Wow Wow WOW!!! Our new residence in Copacabana is absolutely fantastic - mostly due to the people. We came over on Thursday night to meet Michel, Gabi and their friend Miguel who lives here, and from the moment we stepped through the door we had a good feeling. It seems almost impossible to meet 3 more friendly, relaxed, and genuinely NICE people! They welcomed us so so much, inviting us to stay for dinner (which we ate sat on the floor out of wooden bowls surrounded by their 4 cats) and we ended up staying for hours playing the piano and drinking beers etc. It's difficult to explain how lovely these people are! And incredibly talented too. Michel is an artist (Google Michel Groisman) and Miguel is a photographer (currently working on a set of photos involving ink falling through a tank of water, very good!) and Gabi teaches and practices the Alexandra Technique. Very hippy -especially considering the hammock in the front room -but amazingly interesting!

We've been here for a couple of days now. We moved in on Friday which was a bit tough seeing as we went out on Thursday night and didn't get home until 5am. And got up for work at 6am!! It was our last day at project though, so very worth going. I was surprised how much I've gotten attached to those kids!! Unfortunately it wasn't the big 'carnival party' we'd been planning because half of the kids have gone back to school, but it was still a fun morning. After saying goodbye (and holding back the tears, literally!) we went to the restaurant down the road for one last time. Our waiter, chef and friend: Julios, was very sad to hear that we wouldn't be coming back.

So on Friday afternoon we moved house for the first time on our travels. It was quite a sad occassion, and pretty epic! We totally had to do the gringos on the Metro with a rucksack-baby, and matters were made far far worse by my dodgy stomach! There was one point where I wasn't sure if I'd make it, but rest assured: I did!!

The weekend was pretty chilled. On Saturday Miguel gave us a tour of the local area. It was really really useful: he showed us an amazing ice cream shop, bakery, nut shop (note the food theme... oh dear!), the best place to drink Acai, and an amazing music shop which has live music scheduled for every day. We have been so so grateful to him. Michel and Gabi are not living here at the moment - they have gone to a new EcoCommune being set up 5 hours away by 3 of their friends. Like I said, hippy but interesting!! So Miguel has really taken us under his wing. That night we wanted to go out for a Valentine's meal (just 5 ladies :( although apparently Brazilians celebrate Valentine's day in June, so that obviously explains our lack of dates...hmmm!), and Miguel took us on a mini restaurant tour to choose our favorite. And if all that isn't enough: this morning he cooked Danni and I waffles with home made apricot jam and fresh coffee. Seriously, this guy is a legend! I want to bring him home!!

We spent most of Sunday on the beach (as per usual!). In the evening I headed up to the favela near Santa Theresa with a few of the other volunteers. The community was  having a Carnival party for all of the local families (didn't stop some of the men bringing guns, scary stuff!). We somehow got ourselves involved with the Batteria (drums etc). The samba beat is surprisingly difficult to keep up with. We were all a bit shocked by the dancing going on though. People can say that Western children grow up too quickly, but when you watch 3 year old Brazilian girls dancing Samba like that you begin to wonder...

After the party a few of us decided to head up to Santa. Someone told us that there is amazing live Samba there every Sunday night... it appears that was wrong!! We did manage to locate the most 'happening' bar of the evening where we bumped into Olivia (our project leader) and her new boyfriend, exciting stuff!!

Monday was another chilled out day involving the beach. We went out in the evening to Emporium: our favorite bar (so far...!). It was totally filled with gringos, but it was actually quite nice to be able to have proper conversations (involving sarcasm: Danni, especially, was ecstatic!!). We spent most of the night with some Ozzie boys (or 'dudes'!) and ended up watching the sun rise over Ipanema beach with them. It was incredible. You could look to your left and see the sun peaking orange over a few clouds, and then turn to the right and there was Sugar Loaf and the glittering houses next to it in total darkness, and with all the stars and gradations of colour in between...! Wow.

It turns out that we also watched the sun set today. This time from Cristo!! 

This morning, Danni and I braved it and (ironically!) had Brazilians in Brazil!! Haha. It was my first experience of waxing so I was pretty scared (shaking, restricted breathing etc!) but it was actually fine. Apparently much better than the way it's done in England!! From there we headed on to Uruguaiana to do some Carnaval shopping!! The 4 of us girlies got matching outfits: 4 for each big night of Carnaval!! We have: Hawaiin; cow girl; ravers; and Brazil lovers!! Fun times.

We then headed up to Cristo (after a mahoosive cup of Acai, my new favorite! Seriously, can't stop thinking about it.. wonder if it may be addictive!). We went with some French guys we met yesterday. It was incredible up there. We got a taxi this time to save walking and to be a bit safer (thanks for the heads up Felix!) which meant that we could stop off at various other view points and spend longer at the top watching the sun set. It really was very momentous. It's not often that something can so totally stop you in your tracks. It's a very humbling place to be: looking out as the sun sets over Rio and Cristo looms over you. Incredible!

Not much else to say. It's been a almost surreal 3 days living in Copacabana!!