Cristo do redemptor! I had to find my way to one of the seven wonders of the world. Here in Rio, there’s this statue called Cristo do redemptor (christ the redeemer) and it’s at the top of this hill. I had taken a walk yesterday and seen it and early, it was early, very early in the morning on Friday that I took that walk, actually. And I saw it and I was like, Oh, I definitely have to make sure that I see it up close, because this is one of the seven wonders of the world. 

I’m staying right here—I definitely have to make sure that I see it. So I decided that I was going to go there, yesterday. Yesterday I got up, it was still a little foggy, still terrible weather. When you’re in a place where you may not have a lot of time, you have to push yourself. You have to get yourself up out of the rut and say, all right, let’s go. So I went up there. it wasn’t very hard; I just took the bus. Um, to get to the last little part up, you took a little escalator.

And then there were a lot more people up there than I thought in this weather, but somehow I made my way there. This was just another part of the tour that I was taking, we went to the steps, we went to the different areas. I think in the four hours that we were driving around, we went to the stadium that they had the Olympic game, at least thats what I think it was the guide said. 

I can’t remember what they told me. They told me so much information. Some of it just kind of goes in and out.  You know how things go, but I have the pictures to prove it. I was there. I went to the steps!  They tell you not to go too far up the steps. You know, it’s really only safe for tourists up to, I think the second elevation.  After that they—you know—they warn you not to go up past there because it’s the favelas. If you go up there, you are putting yourself in danger and all sorts of stuff, which I’m not trying to take my chances. 

I’m not here for that. I have travel insurance, but I don’t think travel insurance covers doing that kind of stuff. Next stop was the stadium, I saw the different things and one of the last stops on it yesterday that I really wanted to talk about was the, um, the cable car ride and going all the way up to Pao de Azucar (loaf of sugar)  or, the Sugar Hill.

It’s more of a very beautiful scenic view over the Harbor.  You’re taking this cable car up, right? And it’s going slowly. The weather wasn’t so great. So, you can’t see everything very clear. When you go up there, you see a panoramic view of the entire bay. There’s so many ships and all these buildings. A lot of them are also white, which is a cool aesthetic, by the way. If you’ve been to mykonos you know. The aesthetic of it—oh my gosh—top notch, top notch!

It’s more of a very beautiful scenic view over the Harbor.  You’re taking this cable car up, right? And it’s going slowly. The weather wasn’t so great. So, you can’t see everything very clear. When you go up there, you see a panoramic view of the entire bay. There’s so many ships and all these buildings. A lot of them are also white, which is a cool aesthetic, by the way. If you’ve been to mykonos you know. The aesthetic of it—oh my gosh—top notch, top notch!

So the Pao de Azucar, it’s a very big hill. I think it’s famous just because the, the way that it sits, it looks like a big, very big bun, like somebody’s butt. There’s also  two of them. We take a cable car from one, from the shorter side to the longer side. And I got to meet some really great friends on the journey.

Part of the wonderful part about being a nomad is being able to be in these spaces where you can meet really cool people that you may not have had the chance to meet in your day to day life. I got to meet this guy (Thembyi).  It was a happenstance kind of meeting. We were both up there and we were just out.   You know me,, I’m taking pictures of me all the time. As I’m taking pictures, some other the guy noticed that, I’m alone. And so he was offered to take my pic.

He took a picture of me, well, a few pictures of me. And then another, the girl, came over to me and said: “Oh, I love you!, I love your style.” And I said:  “Ooh girl, I love your style too”. Then we started talking and we instantly to vibed.

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They were visiting from South Africa. So me and Thembyi started talking.  We all agreed how this is sort of a great trip to be in a space like this. It may not be the best weather, but you have to make the most of life and you just have to take  life by the horns and really enjoy every moment as it comes. So we’re there! It was so good to make these friendsp; and being able to speak English.  A lot of the people here in Brazil so far, they haven’t really been speaking English to me. I don’t think it’s a very English friendly place.

So it hasn’t been happening. But then after the tour was over, and the bus dropped us back to where we were going.  His hotel isn’t as far away from mine. 

So I said: “Hey, you know, what are you doing after this? what are you doing this evening?”  

He said: “I’m not really doing anything.” 

I said: “Why don’t we go get dinner and you know, see what’s going on afterwards?”. 

I was determined, I’m here to enjoy my life. So we met up  for dinner.

We went to this place called, churrascarria place, palace. We went there because Thembyi. he Thembyi had read about this place. It’s supposed to be a really good, Brazilian steakhouse and they have the best. All the reviews saying the best things about it.

Obviously I wanted to try it out. Hell yes!you count me in, let’s go. We went and we had an amazing dinner.  We chit chatted about our history. We chit chatted about our, common goals. And then we went dancing, we was drinking, we was vibing. It was a great night—last night. I was out till so late. And back to that Brazilian pop,, I’m here for it.

Another day in Brazil. So just wanted to keep the up to date on my travel journal, signing off on a nice Sunday morning after a long Sunday night. All right. 

-Tall Black Nomad

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