Well after 3 days in Brasilia I’m sure I’ll come back , I had a very good time I’m very satisfied with my guide I met a lot of nice people and tomorrow I’ll fly to Sao Paulo .
Day 4
Sao Paulo what a big city !! my hotel name is Hotel Sao Paulo Hilton , situated in the city centre , 30 km from the airport Guarulhos.
I arrived at 10 am ,I wasn’t tired because I slept very well so I made up with my next guide to start right away.
His name was Manoel Guedes, very handsome man about 28 years old and really funny.
Day 5
Nobody comes to Sao Paulo for the nice and beautiful city and its surroundings. The ugly urban sprawl that sprang up in the late 20th century has destroyed almost all vestiges of the colonial town proceeded it, not to mention the Atlantic rainforest that once covered this and neighbouring states.
There are no historic buildings you would regret having missed, and the museum are generally feeble with a limited range of exhibits , poorly labelled if at all . The city have several good art galleries.
As I had planned I arrived at 4pm at the hotel I was a little tired so I went for a short siesta .
After I walked around Avenida Paulista and went to Museu da Casa Brasileira.
I came back at 8 pm , I had no guide because there is not to much to see so
I stayed just 2 days and tomorrow a friend of mine , her name is Luciana , will meet me at the hotel .
She’s going to show me Sao Paulo by day and night .
Day 6
Luciana arrived at 10 am she was very nice . She met me in Marbella 3 years ago and stayed at my home for a week so she said when you arrived in Sao Paulo I’m going to take good care of you so we started visiting the city centre.
Big City!! Just 16 millions inhabitants has this huge city . The third in the world
after Mexico D.F and Tokyo.
We went to Museum de Arte de Sao Paulo at the well-known Avenida Paulista , good but not special . Then to Museum de Arte Contemporaneous and after for lunch .
Beautiful terrace at the penthouse of the hotel , then siesta again to get prepare for the Party.
My friend Luciana arrived as planned. We went first for a drink with a couple of friends and then for dinner . In Brazil you eat, lots and lots of meat something that I like but not as much as Brazilians do.
And after to a Discothèque called Sambara , I stayed until 1 am after Luciana drove me to the hotel .
Tomorrow im flying to Belo Horizonte.
Belo Horizonte the first modern Brazilian city to spring from an architects drawing board . was especially designed for its role as the capital of the states of Minas Gerais . its wide landscapes avenues and carefully planned residential suburbs have , however , suffered the impact of the country’s high rate of urbanization . Belo Horizonte is the distinction and processing centre of a agricultural and miming religion and the nucleus of a burgeoning industrial complex . Its drief manufactures are steel , steel products , automobiles, and textiles . Gold , manganese and gem stones of the surrounding region are processed in the city .
Belo Horizonte is also a leading cultural centre , with and sports stadium . Because of its attitude (850m) the climate is refreshing and cool.
Day 7
I arrived at Belo Horizonte after a very nice flight with a Brazilian airlines Varig at 2 pm as already planned my guide expected me , but this time I was not alone there were 3 more people and myself .
The guide was a lady very nice she was about 50 years old , she was Brazilian
but her father English and because of that her name was Maria Steward Horto.
She brought us to our hotel a beautiful hotel Inter continental in the city centre of the city then she said we are going to have a welcome dinner at 8 pm and we’ll pick up at 7:30 pm at the lobby.
Belo Horizonte is Brazil’s third largest city and architect Niemeyer had a hand in building Belo Horizonte at a the beginning of his career . Twenty five years later he designed Brasilia .
The restaurant was great , great food , meat and a lot of vegetables and different kinds of beans.
It was a show with music and dance . I was a little tired so I went at 11 pm back to the hotel .
Tomorrow we start visiting Belo Horizonte . the capital city of the State Minas Gerains
Day 8
I woke up at 8 am we started our tour at 9 am the City Park and Art Museum were the first two places we visited . After we walked through the City Centre
Then we had one hour time for lunch I took a tuna sandwich and an apple with me. So I didn’t go to the restaurant .
Then we went to the city craft fair , it was an interesting place to be . I bought a nice pullover hand-made. Founded at the turn of the century Belo Horizonte still keeps the place of days gone .
Day 9
I woke up at 8 am as usual and made me ready to meet my group at 9 am downstairs . We went to Ouro Preto , a city declared a world monument by the Unesco .
Founded in 1698 , Ouro Preto is the masterpiece of colonial architecture in Brazil . Visiting the church of St. Francis of Assis was a great experience because of the Brazilian religious architecture , the church was designed by Alejandrinho , with wood and soapstone , school chairs by the same artist , we visited the museum of the school of Minas and church of our Lady of the Pilar .
The visit and tour of the city and surroundings was fascinating . Because of its famous winter Festivals in July this usually peace loving town, becomes a bustle of activities youngsters take over the city and turn it into a happy centre of music and play.
Day 10
I think I like the way Brazilians live they are very happy and friendly . The weather comparing to other cities is cooler . After a Breakfast - Buffet I flew back to Rio de Janeiro where the real fun begins.
Day 11
I arrived at 12 am at Rio de Janeiro. My 3 next days in Rio de Janeiro are planned as usual .
Sightseeing , adventures and lots of fun !!!!
Don’t know how to start . Rio de Janeiro is different I’m on my eleventh day on my tour in Brazil but I must say this is totally different .
Rio de Janeiro is a picture postcard perfection the Guanabara Bay , Sugarloaf , Christ the Redeemer , the legendary beaches , enchanting heights , music , people and tropical heat . In Rio the intense pursuit of pleasure , the nightlife and the Cariocas (people from Rio) casual lifestyle will leave the visitors excited.
Its about 4 pm so I met my next guide Cristovao Peres . Flamenco Park , reclaimed from the sea in the early 1960s , the park is a haven of lush green lawn , sport facilities , palm trees and museum . Open from 10 am to 5 pm
After 9 pm I had seen enough plants and trees and Mr Peres thought we can go back to the hotel have dinner and get prepared for the next day .
After this we went to Jardin Botanico , there are over 5,000 varieties of plants , like the giant water lilies , Victoria Regar . But please don’t forget to take insect repellent.
We started at the Parque National da Tijuca , the last remnants of Rio’s tropical rain forest can be found in here. Located in the center of Rio . This vast natural area is crowned by 3,000 feet high Tijuana Mountain and is brimming with waterfalls and abundant fauna the forest is also home to several species of birds and animals including iguanas and monkeys . Ther are several good days hiking.
Opened from 7 am to 9 pm.
Day 12
After breakfast at 9 am we met at 9:30 am at the lobby today’s tour including :
Maracana:
The largest soccer stadium in the world seats 200,000 people . Attending a ``Futebol´´ game is the closest you will come to a carnival atmosphere .
There is a national obsession with soccer. Games are held on Saturdays evenings or Sundays afternoons .
Sugarloaf Pao de Acucar
From the top of this celebrated peak , the city Baia de Guanabara , and the winding coastline are stretched out dazzling below .
To reach the summit at a lofty 1,325 feet it is necessary to take two cable cars .
Sunsets on a clear day will supply the most spectacular of views : the uncurling arch of the Praia de Copacabana , its miles of tiles glistening in the sun last rays.
From the top you’ll see Corcovado mountain with the massive statue of Cristo Redentor with his arms extended in mercy and blessing . The two stage cable
cars leave about every 30 minutes from Praca General Tiburcio at Praia Vermelha in Urca . Daily they operate from :8:00 am -10 pm .
Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer
The celebrated Corcovado mountain rises a sheer face of granite 2400 feet above
the city the statues stands another 120 feet and weight over 1000 tons . Built with help the Vatican in 1931 it is national monuments commemorating 100 Parque Nacional da Tijuana . To get there go by taxi , car or take the cog train which departs every 30 minutes from 8 am - 6:30 pm expect a wait during high season .
Beaches
Rio is synonymous with beaches , bronzed bodies tanga-clad beauties , surfers , volleyball , a whirl of action and colour that that is the carioca backyard . Different beaches at different times of the day vary greatly for the beaches are where the residents of Rio live and play . Find the long sweep of the famed Copacabana , the sophisticated Ipenema . Further along is Leblon then Pepino and Sao Conrado beaches where you can watch the hang gliders float down from the heavens . The beaches are why most tourist visit Rio leave valuables in your hotel safe and your worries behind . You will find beaches are a way of life in Rio .
After visiting these beautiful attractions we had lunch and a free afternoon to do wherever we fell to do I decided to repite my experience at the Concorvado it was so stunning that I wanted to do it again !!
I did so and afterwards I was so tired that I went back to my hotel . I don’t know if I mentioned the name of my hotel it was the Ipanema Plaza at Rua Farme de Amoedo 34 brand new 100 mts from the beach and 5 minutes from Copacabana Beach . Very nice service and the hotel very modern with sauna , fitness centre Barra, satellite city outside Rio. New city about 1 hour away from Rio. Safe city,new and well planned.
Day 13
I woke up very early 7 am because I had my next trip to de Iguaçu Falls I’m so excited I wanted to go to the Iguaçu Falls since I was a little girl . So I think its going to be incredible , Iguaçu means great waters in the language of the local guarana people .
We arrived at 11 am had lunch at the hotel Recanto Park and after we met at the lobby to take the bus to Iguaçu Falls is one of the most spectacular sights in the world.
Honeymooners, school children and their families, visitors from faraway lands who want to ride over the falls experience the power and grandeur of these mighty falls each year. Sensational.
After the most incredible experience of my life, I arrived at the hotel and slept until the next morning. Before I forget near the falls is one of the world´s biggest dams, Itaipu, built jointly by Brazil and Paraguay.
Day 14
I was very excited again. Today is my last trip and it is going to be to the beautiful Amazon Rainforest. I flu to Belem. From Belem I took a cruise from the “Amazon Clipper Cruises” to Manaus. The name of mine was “Selly Clipper I” for just 8 passengers
We arrived at Manaus and a nice little man waited for me his name Carlos Mendoza and he said to me that the best will be to drive to the hotel, because I was a little tired. Distances in Brazil are huge, so sometimes you need to relax.
My lodge “Pousada das Guanavenas” is situated in the heart of the Amazon just 30 Km from the airport.
Has 26 rooms divided into three beautiful cottages.
I slept 10 hours after a great dinner, fish and exotic vegetables and fruits.
I had read a lot about the Amazon River but to be here is just one of my dreams.
The Amazon River, is a river that sets many records. High in the Andes Mountains of Peru, the Amazon River begins as a series of small streams and rivers. As they flow down through the lands once farmed by the ancient Incas and across the South American continent, these rivers are joined by others to become the largest river in the world.
Almost twenty-five percent of all the water that runs off the Earth’s surface is carried by the Amazon River.
During the course of the Amazon’s journey, it travels through the world’s largest tropical rain forest.
It floods large areas of this forest every year, providing fertile soils in which multitude of trees flourish.
Muddy and rich, the waters of the Amazon are home to 3,000 known species of fish, including the pirarucu-the world’s largest freshwater fish- electric eels, and giant catfish that weight several kilos. South American crocodiles called “caiman”, manatees, and pink dolphins also swim in its waters. Giant anacondas (the world’s largest snakes), monkeys, anteaters, and exotic tropical birds all live in the trees on the Amazon’s shores.
As you can see, the Amazon is a wonder in its own right.
Its also magnificent place to see many of nature’s most amazing plants and animals.
Forest people
The Yanomani are the largest forest tribe, and they are among the last to give up their traditional ways of life. They live in villages in the Amazon rain forest. Their numbers were once much greater but only about 19,000 are left.
Many died from diseases brought to South America by Europeans.
In 1998, fires swept through many parts of the Amazon rain forest, destroying large areas of Yanomani lands.
A child growing up in the Amazon experiences a very different life to a child growing up in Western society. A boy or girl learn to paddle a dug-out canoe rather than ride a bicycle. Everyone swims and soccer is played everywhere.
A child might have a parrot or a boa for a pet. Rice and fish are staples at the meal table and most children known nothing about fast-food. GOOD for them!
Amazon handicrafts
Shopping in the Amazon is a lot of fun! Most handicrafts are made from sustainable harvest products such as palm fiber (e.g. hammocks, bags, etc) or calabashes. However, some products are made from rare woods or animals parts. These should not be bought as they encourage exploitation of non-sustainable natural resources. Certain products, such as skins, skulls, feathers, etc. made from endangered species are illegal to import into most countries.
So I took good care to buy normal handicrafts, and legal ones. Like bags and hand-painted T-shirts.
As I said about the aborigine people, traditional ways of life among Amazon people are being gradually lost as indigenous cultures are assimilated into the dominant Spanish and Portuguese speaking culture.
Most visitors to the Amazon can get a glimpse of the aboriginal traditions through staged dances and locals in native dress. Purists argue that these demonstrations are a travesty and demeaning. On the other hand, the occasions offer local people the opportunity to earn much need cash, and to maintain ancient rituals and celebrations.
Without the interests of paying tourists, it is likely theses vestiges will be lost forever.
After all these I must said that the experience has been great. Next year I’ll come back!!!
Day 15
At 9 am we met at the lobby of the “Pousada” and drived to the airport about 1 hour to take my flight to Rio de Janeiro.
After I arrived in Rio de Janeiro at about 4 pm I waited for about 1 hour to flight back to Madrid.
My holidays are over. Well after 15 days I must said that I had a wonderful time here in Brazil. Now I need the next week to relax from these 15 days, to look at my pictures and videos and think about my wonderful trip.
