Brazil 2026 - Rainy but happy day (March 14)

Of course Giggio and Mary have also embarked on this adventure of seeking Copacabana sun!

You can have a feast on the beach with many options of food and drinks.
Sofia loves beach corn and the friendly Brazilian boys "Loirinho" and "Semente."

Unfortunately we couldn't swim because of the rough ocean. 

Still, we appreciated a nice walk.

Morro Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Hill).

This is the Arpoador Rock.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arpoador

Arpoador (literally, the harpoon thrower) is a region located on the southern zone of the city Rio de Janeiro, in a small peninsula between Ipanema and Copacabana. Part of its territory belongs to the neighbourhood of Ipanema, and part to Copacabana.

Arpoador is considered one of the best metropolitan surf spots in Rio de Janeiro. The rock outcropping creates stable left breakers up to 7–10 feet high.

Given its metropolitan location, crowds are ferocious and competitive. Given the fact that waves start to break against the rock on a good day, and that a strong rip tide along the promontory creates a quick re-entry, the take-off point is very small.

During some time around midsummer it is possible to see the Sun setting over the sea from Arpoador, a rare event on the generally eastward-facing Brazilian coast. On these occasions crowds gather around the place and cheer when the Sun disappears.

Cactus everywhere.

On the other side of the Arpoador Rock, it's the equally world famous Ipanema Beach.

A homage to Brazil's biggest composer and one of the creators of The Girl From Ipanema song, Antonio Carlos Jobim, or just Tom Jobim.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B4nio_Carlos_Jobim#:~:text=Jobim%20is%20considered%20a%20great,a%20pioneer%20of%20the%20genre.

Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim (25 January 1927 – 8 December 1994), also known as Tom Jobim , was a Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, arranger and singer. Jobim is considered a great exponent of Brazilian music and one of the fathers of bossa nova and, due to having merged samba with cool jazz in the 1960s as a pioneer of the genre. He is also regarded as one of the most celebrated songwriters of the 20th century, and his compositions have been played and recorded by many singers and instrumentalists internationally since the early 1960s.

Jobim is best known for his composition "Garota de Ipanema (The Girl from Ipanema)", which has been recorded over 240 times by other artists, and is believed to be one of the most recorded popular songs in history. Along with "Garota de Ipanema," many of Jobim's compositions are included in jazz and pop standard repertoires. 

Ipanema Beach famous sidewalk.

He was shy today... hiding for us. 

Dinner at the bohemian neighbourhood of Lapa. 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapa,_Rio_de_Janeiro

Lapa is a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Located in the center of the city, it is famous for its historical monuments and vibrant nightlife.

The neighborhood is home to the Arcos da Lapa, an impressive aqueduct constructed by colonial authorities in the mid-18th century. Another important historical attraction is the Passeio Público, the city's first public park, built in the 1780s.

Since the early 1950s, Lapa has been known for its lively cultural scene, featuring numerous restaurants and bars where Brazilian artists and intellectuals gather. It remains renowned for its venues offering various forms of Brazilian music. The Sala Cecília Meireles, an essential venue for chamber music, is also located in Lapa.

Tradicional "boteco carioca." 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botequim

Boteco or Botequim/Butiquim  are terms derived from the Portuguese of Portugal "botica", (cognate with Castilian Spanish "bodega") which derives from the Greek "Apotheke", which means storage, grocery store or where goods were sold by retail.

In Portugal, the "boteco" was a warehouse or store where groceries and offal were sold and the same meaning belongs to the Spanish bodega.

In Brazil, the boteco (buteco), or botequim, is traditionally known as a place where alcoholic beverages are sold, serving as a meeting place for "bohemians" looking for a good drink, cheap snacks, appetizers and a relaxed conversation.