The museum is at the southern end of the Copacabana Beach, and where the Colombo and Cafe 18 do Fort are. I think most people going there is for the cafes and meals.
The Fort charges a nominal fee to get in and they don’t take credit card. When we asked if USD would do, the guard kindly let us in. Thank you.
The ground is neatly kept. We walked around briefly after lunch. It’s scene.
It’s inside of the Fort Copacabana, with both indoor and outdoor seatings, looking out to the famous beach. It’s a 93 degrees day and we’re very comfortable by the water, with a strong Atlantic Ocean breeze.
The Fort charges a nominal fee to get in and they don’t take credit card. When we asked if USD would do, the guard kindly let us in. Thank you.
(Again, we’re going to survive on credit card here.)
Service is really good but slow, which is fine. The food, oh my, Huge portion and they taste good. We’ve Salmon and pasta salad – look at the size! The green rice is well cooked and yummy (a little saggy tho).
There are many airport lounge networks, most of them run by airlines itself, like Delta, while others run by credit card, such as Amex Centurion, and lounge access program such as Priority Pass.
Many credit cards give you free access to PriorityPass locations. During my younger days, I won’t leave a minute early than necessarily. Now, I’m early by the hour (ok, not the hour, but just leave early, to not have to deal with the stress of running late.) So airport lounges seem a good place to check it out.
Amex Centurion Lounge at Buenos Aires‘s eze is my first, when we’re waiting to take our flight up to Rio de Janeiro.
What has gotten to me today? Little Irene wants a burger 🍔 are u kidding me?
Guess not.
At Burger King, I don’t know how to order with the machine. A little frustrated, I said, what the hell, why don’t I go to the Centurion Amex Lounge instead?
The Centurion Lounge is, as usual, decent with all the drinks (soft and hard) and cold food, with a couple of hots. The two tv monitors are showing soccer games. Their policy for Amex users are 3 hours prior to departure.
BUT I’m on connecting flight, which doesn’t fell under this 3-hr rule. The young man repeated his verdict: 3 hour rule, even it doesn’t apply. Poor training, is all I can say.
We’ve a long layover @ eze, so I checked out the other lounges:
Latam @ eze, $45 pp, stay as long as you want (can go in and out)
2024 festival is in February, from Fri 9th afternoon to Wednesday midday, 14th.
The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro / Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro can trace back to 1723. Nowadays, revelers, floats, and adornments from various samba schools (about 200) put up the show at Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, to compete to win. During our stay from 9th to 11th, the streets are filled with dressed up or dress down people (depending on your definition … wink wink ), all in festival moods.
We purchased the tickets online but have to go to a hotel in Copacabana (Copacabana Mar Hotel @ Rua Ministro Viveiros de Castro, 155, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22021-010, Brazil) to pick up the physical one, as if digital tickets couldn’t be issued or produced 脱裤子放屁. Given the fact that even the smallest street vendors, with a few bottles of water have a credit card readers, it’s beyond my believe that The Carnival can’t issue digital tickets.
Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí (Passarela Professor Darcy Ribeiro or simply the Sambódromo) was built in 1984 (renovated in 2012), specifically for the carnival: a narrow and long stadium with seats on either sides.
Uber can’t get to the entrance because of the closed roads. It’s just like any big events, with people, food vendors (definitely less, much less than the major league stadiums in the US), special events areas, securities, garbage removal, …
Sitting there watching the parade, I’m wondering if the stale costumes are made in China. We didn’t go for the Sunday and Monday, which are the most important days because I’m not all that crazy for the carnival. We left during the first intermission. The ultimate winner is Viradouro.
… the gathering on the streets, actually aren’t bad at all, starting from our hotel at Ibis, on the mornings of 10th Saturday and 11th, Sunday:
My first impression of Brazil’s Rio is very green, eye-catching green 养眼的绿. Hills and waters make the city attractive.
We’re there for the carnival after the Antarctic trip, stay for five days: Feb 9-13. Fly in from Buenos Aires on British Air Boeing 777, taking off at 1:56 and arriving at Rio 4:30pm; and leaving the city on the morning of Tuesday Feb 13. It’s their holidays weekend, everyday has carnival crowds by our hotel and on the streets.
From GIG airport to Ibis hotel downtown we use Uber. As soon as we entered the luggage collection area at GIG, there are at least two taxi services, one with Official title, which charges more than double the price of Uber.
We survived entirely on credit card, and getting around with Uber and taxi. Perhaps it was holiday, dressed up and half naked crowds are everywhere. It’s crowded.
Safety: this is an odd topic. Many friends have warned us to be careful … but I feel very safe at Rio. My philosophy is, travel and life in general should be fun and enjoyable. IF I’ve to wear money belt around my waist and use old iPhone to take photos to avoid being snatched, then that destination isn’t for me.
Language: they speak Portuguese and few people in the service industry speak passable English, with my hand signal and Google translates, it works out just fine.
People: these we come in contact, like in restaurants, cigar bars, are friendly and eager to talk.
Food: large portion, and mediocre quality.
Overall, the city feels third world. Copacabana Palace @ Copacabana Beach is their best hotel. But neither the hotel nor its immediate vicinity feels posh, nothing special… the feel is more like 23rd Street in New York.
The carnival: in 2024, is Feb 9th to 14th. The last Sunday suppose to be the cumulation. We’ve ticket on the last Saturday – I’m not too crazy about carnival to begin with. We went only because our Antarctic ends at the right time – Diana disembarks on Feb 8.
San Diego, California … what’s the fixation or fascination with SD? Three Brazilian young men claimed their good English came from their American girl friends, from San Diego, CA. Coincident or they just love/know SD?
Santos Dumont Airport SDU is the 2nd airport in Rio de Janeiro, named after Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont (1873–1932). It opened in 1973; operates by Infraero since 1986.
Bossa Nova Mall is connected to it, that hosts many shops, eateries, Xian, WeWork, and a hotel. When we got there at 7:30pm for dinner, it was relatively calm. By the time we were leaving around 9:45, it came to live with music and crowds.
Alberto Santos Dumont (1873–1932) was a Brazilian aviation pioneer. Near the hotel is Rio’s 2nd airport SDU that is named after him.
We booked this in early January and by then, not many hotels were available, due to the carnival, which runs Feb 9th to 14th.
The glitters remain in the lobby, as we’re leaving on Tuesday, Feb 13
It’s in ‘central’ but the surrounding area is rather desolated; except every morning, the dressed up or down carnival crowds gathers by the hotel.
The room is small but functional. The bed and pillow are ok. Shower water pressure is pretty strong, which is good. It provides a mini refrigerator and a safe. Same dirty plates are often left in the hall way for extended time.
condensation fm the air conditioner drips, and they never provide an extra towel to absorb it
slow elevators
room isn’t cleaned every day – no biggie
The bar in the lobby is ok. I didn’t visit restaurant on the first floor. We used Uber or taxi to get around.
… the Carnival starts from our hotel – on the mornings of 10th Saturday and 11th, Sunday by our hotel:
Pretty surprised to find an Asian restaurant for the Chinese lunar new year eve in Rio. Lunar NYE is when families all gather together to have a huge hearty meal, like the Thanksgiving in the USA.
Xian is in the Bossa Nova mall that’s connected to Rio’s 2nd airport SDU. isn’t far from our hotel Ibis. But it doesn’t seem to be walkable. So we took Uber.
The view out to the Enseada da Gloria is beautiful, especially at sunset. The restaurant is huge, with many sections. We got there at 6:50, must be too early, the restaurant was empty. We sat near the bar, as the sun went down. The service is good. We’ve
The ox rib
spicy tuna
The big chunk of ox rib is tender but salty. The mushroom rice isn’t fully cooked, and they added some cream. Please pretty please, don’t mess with my rice, just fully cook it with water. (Guess this is hard …). The tuna isn’t fresh. The rice they used is better than the side – the mushroom rice.
This indoor market has NO air conditioning, or it wasn’t on when we were there on a 90° afternoon.
The immediate area is charming, with many little shops, eateries, most of them don’t have air conditioning.
There are many vendors selling stuff door to door (presumably illegally but no one does anything). But I saw this one selling mirrors! Really? Someone will buy a mirror from him?
This is Buenos Aires‘s major square, in the heart of the city, founded in 1884, replacing the Recova building. We passed by here a few times because all the roads lead to it -:). Compare to Tiananmen Square in Beijing, this seems a sesame. But there are many notable monuments and structures around the square:
the headquarters of Bank of the Argentine Nation wiki
…The most notable one is their Ministry of Economy / Ministerio de Economía @ Hipólito Yrigoyen 250 / building Palacio de Hacienda modern BA, which is at a corner. I didn’t do any research on it, so don’t know if it’s the office for the country’s current Ministry of Economy … can’t imagine the minister goes to work there every day, it’s like a slum 贫民窟!
