Free Weekend Back in Rio

Six of us decided to not venture to Iguazu Falls and hold the fort down at the Atlantis Copacabana Hotel back in Rio for the weekend. On our first free day, we started our morning off at the Hippie Fair a couple of blocks down from us.  You could easily spend an entire day there with so many talented craftsmen selling their unique artwork and goods.

Spontaneously, we decided to go hang gliding with a company through the hotel. We got picked up in a van and taken to the hang gliding office where we met our instructors.We split up into groups and went up the mountain in jeeps where we suited up in our special gear.  A few quick instructions were given by the guides and next thing we knew we were running full force down a ramp towards nothing but open air, mountains and a tiny beach shoreline in the far distance.  The flight was surprisingly peaceful, relaxing and calm with incredible changing views of the mountains and beach as we glided in turns towards the ground.  Luckily, all 6 of us made it alive *phew* Afterwards, they offered us pictures and a video of the flight to buy, which made for an awesome souvenir!

                     

On our next free day, Monday, we hopped on a 3-hour bus ride to Angra dos Reis, islands off the coast of Brazil. The boat was packed with tourists from all over the world lounging on the beds throughout the ship ready for take off.  For the next few hours, we sailed around island hopping to three different islands to swim, listen to the samba band on board and were also provided a big lunch. We got back to the mainland around 5pm and home around 8:30pm. By then, it's safe to say we were all exhausted.

                             

 

Tuesday, we decided to take it easy and relax a little. The six of us went to the beach for the day. Paul and Lindsay went paddle boarding and then the rest of us went up back to the hotel pool. After a long day of soaking up the sun, we went to dinner at a family-style Italian restaurant where they served big portions. We shared delicious sangria, two pastas and one seafood pasta dish where we all tried octopus! (We even got Colleen to try some!!) Then we topped the night off with a cup of refreshing acai and granola on our walk home :)

-Colleen, Jesse, Olivia, Paul, Paulina, Lindsay