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This is my second trip to
the carnival as I have contemplated
after the first visit in 2005 with some
friends. It is always that by the time
you are ready for the next trip, it
trickles down to a very few who will
finally join you for the projected trip.
My cousin and best friend from Paris
ended up joining me for this 2008 trip.
A month before the trip her brother
which also my cousin also in France came
to join us. They flew from Charles De
Gaulle straight to GIG, Rio while I have
to transfer at New York, Sao Paulo then
to Rio.
When I boarded another plane in New York
I placed a call to my friend in
Montreal, and after I hang up the person
who sat in front of me showed his face
between the 2 seats and asked me in
French if it bothers me if he lowers his
seat down a little bit during the
flight. It was a start of communication
of a friendship.
Daniel is his name, living in Sao Paulo.
He studies at the University in Montreal
on his way home for few weeks. He
invited me to drop by if I have a chance
to visit Sao Paulo during my stay in
Rio. We will touch base once we will be
back in Montreal. I continue my trip to
Rio and while waiting for my cousins and
a friend in GIG I made friend with
Alfred from LA who is waiting for his
friend that will be coming from Chile.
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The waiting seems forever but finally
the "French Alliance" arrived. We took a
taxi to our rented apartment in
Copacabana. Remember
Serge, the fellow I
meet in Rio in 2005, well he is now in
Real State business in Rio associated
with his partner Ricardo.
( Read more here )
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This year I rented an apartment
from a friend I met during my previous Carnival in 2005...
(
Read more here ) |
 Our stay in Rio was so pleasant but time
flew so fast that we didn't have to much
time to accomplish anything. I was
planning to fly to Iguazu Falls but we
never had that chance. The pre-carnival
street parade in Central was fun. While I
walked in the crowd with my camera, the
Rio TV reporter saw me and asked for an
interview. This is funny because in
Montreal I am the one asking interviews
to be published on my Montreal Festival Webcast.
I have no choice but to accept the
invitation. He is Nicky of Rio TV News
and the fun begins. A reporter asked me
about my impressions of Brazilians.
They are very warm people, very friendly
and understanding. Two thumbs up-
they are a bunch of friendliest,
hospitable and accommodating folks on
earth.
After
the street parade we met one family who
welcomed us into their group. One
more occasion and opportunity to
meet the local Cariocas. I kept
their contact so we can touch base
via Internet.
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A small incident came to us when we took
a cab (taxi) to Bara shopping center. My
friend brought 2 cellular with her. One
is for her to use so she can get calls
from Paris and the second one, so she
can place a call to local numbers with a
SIM card. When I answered a call I
must have left it on the seat while I
was busy taping or I might have put it
in my pocket. I don't remember. Only
later on during the day when I realized
I don't have the phone with me. We used
the second cell. The phone was placing a
call from Paris to the lost phone.
Someone answered in Portuguese. I tried
to explain the situation but at the
other end the person doesn't speak
English. I called Ricardo to help. We
gave appointment at our apartment.
Shortly after we gathered together and
Ricardo tried to call the number again
but there was no one answering. He asked
me if I have recorded the Taxi driver
name and license but I did not.
Just by reading his facial expression I
knew that this story ended there because
according to Ricardo, it is very rare
that someone will return the phone. Well
in Montreal, I lost my Treo once and the
person called my office number and left
a message for me to pickup the phone.
It's a shame because it is a very recent
phone that my friend has. I tried to
order online, the same one I lost to be
sent to my friend but she hesitated me
not to do it. Well I will see whether I
can solve this little inconvenience
although it did not ruin our trip at
all.
The trip to Ilha Grande is the second
best in this journey. The hereby video
will tell you. Enjoy the video. In that
trip I have another occasion to make
friends with the tour guide.
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Ilha Grande Tour is one of the tours you don't want to miss if you are going to Rio de Janeiro for vacation ...
(
Read more & View Video here
 )
Just the 1st day on YouTube Views: 7,830
Rate: 4/5 Favourited: 1 time
Honours: 6 Links: 5 |
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Our Ilha Grande tour guide |
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Now the parade in the Sambadrome. It is
great but it is some sort of "Dejΰ Vu"
for me. First my cousin left, then later
on my other cousin and her friends fell
asleep because of the six hours advance
in comparison with Paris time. In Paris,
it is already morning, but Brazil is
still in the wee hours of the morning.
The parade is halfway finished. They
wanted to leave but finally decided to
stay and close their eye. I
insisted for them to leave but they
didn't want. I have to lie by telling
that I ran out of batteries. My friend
read my mind by asking if I lied to her
but we decided to leave after all. There
were 2 schools left to complete the
parade. Leaving earlier will give me an
opportunity for me to tape the behind
the scenes. My friend occasionally take
pictures with the carnivalers in
costumes so it is a happy decision for
all of us. We took a cab back to our
apartment. I noticed at that time no
drivers stopped at the red light even
just in front of the police cruiser. I'm
wondering if it is customary for Rio
drivers to ignore red lights at certain
time of the evening- like early morning.
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Sugar Loaf at sunset &
Rio de Janeiro Helicopter Tour...
( View Video here
)
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Here is the Botanical Video. It is
a serene place to stroll around...
(
View Video here
)
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We also visited the Corcovado Christ
statue but by taxi this time. I took the
lift in 2005. Different way to go up
there...
( Read more & View Video here
)
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- $ Tips - Do not
carry excessive cash when you
travel in Rio...
( Read more
)
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- Tourists
transportation - Hire a driver...
(
Read more
)
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Here is the place I got the feather hat
for my "web cast reporter".
The
Bijou Box in Ipanema. When I went
there in 2005 it was close for the
Carnival Holidays. I only got it the
last day before I took my plane. It is
the same this time. We went there and
found out it was close during the
carnival. In fact this time happened
exactly like before which means that my
friend got it few hours before she flew
out of Rio. She bought her mask for our
next carnival trip. Yap! you guess
right, we decided to register for the
Venice Carnival next year. Well one more
time you are invited to join me, my
friend and my cousins to the
Venice
Carnival that will be held in February
2009. I will be sending you information
in details about that Venice Carnival in a
next couple of months for your early
planning should you decide to join us.
Cheers,
Nicky
Rio 2008 Index
Street Parade
Sambadrome Parade
Get in & out Sambadrome
Ilha Grande
Sugar Loaf
Corcovado by taxi
Botanical Garden
Apartment/Flat
Tourists transportation
$
Tips
Rio 2005 Index
Venice Carnival 2009
Guestbook
Penthouse vacation
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