Breakfast today was this:
This is guava – it is amazing.
Around 10am I decided I would quite like to see the
rainforest, which is ironic considering the forest creeps down into the foothills
upon which Rocinha is built, but shhhh! So after trying, and failing, to get
the bus to the Tijuca Forest, I took a walk along the beach in Sao Conrado
instead; – the surf was up to two metres high today, as the wind was absolutely
crazy. (I also really need to figure the buses out at some point... And, yes
mother, I do have a timetable for all the good it’s done me!)
Giving up on the wild forests, I decided to try tamed ones
instead – and so it was off to the botanical gardens, the back of which does
border the Atlantic cloud forest (jungle for the uninitiated). The gardens-
especially the forest walk - was amazing, and definitely worth the six reais
(£2)!
You can just see the statue of Christ the Redeemer from the park:
The best part of today had to be this though (however the
carnivorous plants are a close second!), look, wild monkeys!!!
There was even one in the picnic area!
Aren’t they sweet!?
After I’d finished up at the gardens I actually managed to
get on a bus going back in the right direction, (though that may have had
something to do with the help provided by my new friend the policeman, Manolo -
who was incredibly nice after I got past the fact he had a Russian issue
Kalashnovik (AK47 assault rifle) strapped to his chest... )
After I returned to Rocinha I just had time to head up the
hill on a mototaxi – with bags of shopping balanced, so no holding on (eeek!) -
before I had to hike back down the mountain to go to the surf school, where I
taught my first English class with the other volunteers. It’s so laid back and
there’s a fantastic atmosphere – halfway through everyone stopped so a few of
the guys could play guitar, have a bit of a sing-song, reminisce about life
etc.
Crossing back over Via Apia after class:
Tomorrow I’m going to try for Tijuca again... Wish me
luck...
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