Rio 2016 (Part-7)

Rio de Janeiro is a huge seaside city in Brazil, famed for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, 38m Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado and for Sugarloaf Mountain, a granite peak with cable cars to its summit. The city is also known for its sprawling favelas (shanty towns). Its raucous Carnaval festival, featuring parade floats, flamboyant costumes and samba dancers, is considered the world’s largest. The city is about 1,255 km² and founded in March 1565. This is how Google described Rio. 

Near Boulevard Olímpico

I would like to add few things here. People of Rio de Janeiro are called “Cariocas”. Although Carioca means anything related to the City of Rio de Janeiro. Most of the people of Rio are amazingly nice. They love partying, listening music with Bar-B-Que and alcohol.

Museum of Tomorrow

Although to some outsiders Rio is one of the most dangerous cities in the world and it has some bad reputation. Especially the slums are very dangerous. I happened to live very close to a slum and saw people (even very young age) carrying guns. Surprisingly I was not scared and fortunately never had to experience anything bad.

Fort Copacabana

There are so many places that you can visit while you are in Rio. Although most tourists know few places. People who consider themselves travelers, they always try and go beyond what others do.

Pizza Hut, Rio with WhatsApp Group. Cutest daughter of Paula

Before moving to Rio we formed a WatsApp Group and we (members of that group who were available) decided to catch-up near Ipanema Beach. We decided to meet at Pizza Hut on 24^th August 2016 in the evening. Razan Bhai was not a member of that group however I invited him to join us and he agreed.

Fort Copacabana

As the catch up party was scheduled in the evening we decided to utilize the whole day but we did not wanna go too far. Fort Copacabana was on my long list of places that I wanted to visit. We decided to pay a visit to the fort as it was closed to the Pizza Restaurant.

Fort Copacabana

Fort Copacabana (Portuguese: Forte de Copacabana, IPA: is a military base at the south end of the beach that defines the district of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. The base is open to the public and contains the Museu Histórico do Exército (Army Historical Museum) and a coastal defense fort that is the actual Fort Copacabana. This is such a fascinating place where you can spend the whole day.

Fort Copacabana

 The fort is built on a headland that originally contained a small chapel holding a replica of the Virgen de Copacabana, the patron saint of Bolivia. In 1908 the Brazilian army started to build a modern coastal defense fort on the headland to protect both the beach of Copacabana and the entrance to the harbor of Rio de Janeiro. The fort, completed in 1914, consists of two armoured cupolas, one holding a pair of 305 mm (12 in) Krupp cannons, and the other a pair of 190 mm (7 1⁄2 in) Krupp cannons. - “WIKI”

Fort Copacabana

The hours for the Museum are 10 am to 6 pm and the fort are 10 am to 8 pm, Tuesday to Sunday and holidays. Admission for adults is R$6 per adult; there are discounts and free tours for the elderly and children. I paid half as I used student card however Razan Bhai had to pay the full price and he was not happy about that. At the entrance to the base there is a guard in the uniform that was current when the fort was opened in 1914.

Pizza Hut, Rio with WhatsApp Group

We sent almost the entire day at the Fort. Pizza Hut was about 15 minutes walking distance from the Fort. My lovely friend from Turkey Pelin knocked me on WhatsApp. She said he is on her way and should arrive at the restaurant by 6 PM. Me and Razan Bhai decided to go and join them.

Pizza Hut, Rio with WhatsApp Group

We were super excited as we were about to meet with people from different countries with whom we chatted years in WhatsApp. By 7PM almost everyone came in and the non-stop eating and conversation begun. We were about 20 people and stayed there till around 10 PM. This is where I met Lu (the admin of the Group) from Brazil, Pelin from Turkey, Sharan from India, Matheus from Rio, Paula from Rio with he mother and 2 beautiful daughters, Laurent from France, Anne from France, Michelly from Rio and some other lovely people. A day well spent.  

< To Be Continued >