Fire at Copacabana metro station

At around 8.30 this morning on the way to our Rio volunteering job, Marju and I were treated to a bit of excitement in the form of a fire at Cantagalo Metro station in Copacabana.

Thick brown smoke was pouring up the escalator at the main entrance to Cantagalo on Xavier da Silver. Several dopey Brazilians were still using the escalator, which brought back memories of watching the Kings Cross fire on TV when I was young. Rather pensive to enter the metro at all, Marju and I walked around to the other entrance which is conveniently located opposite a fire station. A gaggle of Rio’s finest were hanging around the entrance, so I went over to do my duty

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June 8th, 2010 | Tags: , , , | Category: Living in Rio | Leave a comment

World cup showing on Copacabana beach

Last week I noticed there was quite a lot of activity going on at the Sugar loaf end of Copacabana beach – with workmen building some kind of stage. It turns out the area is set to show Fifa Fan fest Rio, with all of Brazil’s world cup football games, plus highlights from other games with the goals in 3D!

I took a walk along there today and the area is really big. Sony and Coca Cola are sponsoring the event, with a giant Coca Cola bottle playing some kind of pivotal role in the show. It’s a shame they have only confirmed they are showing Brazil’s games, although i’m sure they will show them all in the later

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June 7th, 2010 | Tags: , , | Category: General travel fun | Leave a comment

Never help a Brazilian across the road

It’s happened to us all right? You’re standing at the edge of the road waiting to cross, when an old lady with a bunch of shopping bags looks at you forlornly for an arm across the road. You help yeah? It’s the natural thing to do; help an old dear across the road. Forgives you for your sins yeah? If you are in Brazil, here’s a tip. IGNORE THEM!

A few hours ago, I was sitting at a small red-rooved Guanavita bar on Copacabana beach, just outside the Othon Hotel having a caipirinha, when I heard the screech of heavily breaking car tyres. Marju had been cheekily using the facilities in the Othon and was due back any second so I turned

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May 26th, 2010 | Tags: , | Category: Brazil | Leave a comment

Reflecting on my time in Lapa

We returned from our rainforest retreat last Thursday and, after a hectic bus ride back, picked up the keys to our new sea front pad on Copacabana, Rio.

I’ve had the weekend now to gather my thoughts on the last two months living in Lapa, and decided that, overall, the experience was fantastic. I learnt a lot about the real Rio, and not just the bits that tourists see. It’s not all beaches and favelas in Rio; clearly there is a third side. Whilst the wealthy live in Copacabana, Ipanema, Botafogo and Barra, and the poor live in the Cidade de Deus, Vila Canoas and Rocinha favelas (amongst 500 others!), there is this ex-glamorous yet dangerous semi-wealth living in Gloria,

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May 11th, 2010 | Tags: , , , | Category: Brazil, Living in Rio | Leave a comment

Red Bull air race Rio

This weekend is the Red Bull air race in Rio. The race is on Flamengo beach, but the pilots have been practicing over Copacabana in front of my flat. I thought i’d stick up some pictures of the view from my window:

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