South American Adventure - Day Twenty Six, Monday 17th March 2014

Our last day – tonight we fly home to London.  Not to waste the last day – much to Paul’s dismay – I think it best we get up early, have an early breakfast, and go on a walking tour that I have found.  I don’t think he wants me to go “off into the sunset” again, so agrees to come with me.  I think he was ideally thinking of a day on the beach!

The meeting place is in Carioca Sqaure, under the Carioca Clock.  The concierge says that the quickest way to get there is metro, but we decide to take a taxi.  On a Monday morning, in probably rush hour.  After about forty five minutes in the taxi, we can see why he suggested the metro.  After sitting in stationery traffic, we make hand signals to the driver, pay him, and as far as possible think we are setting off in the right direction.  We are, and we get there with thirty seconds to spare.  Better than thirty seconds after they have left!  This is a free walking tour – but very much with tips expected at the end.  It attracts a lot of backpackers, and consequently there is around forty people on the tour. 

The girl that is taking it is very enthusiastic, has very good English, and her voice seems to carry a long way, so no problem.  We start just off the square at St Anthony’s Church.  In here, it has a line of photographs of the square from the 1600’s to present day.  As you would expect, it has changed considerably.  From a lake back in the 1600’s, through to the commercial centre and stock exchange that it is today.  Unrecognisable.  But good to see it change in small slices.  St Anthony is apparently the saint of marriage – you pray to him help find you a spouse.  Not heard of him before!

We then walked through some streets to the Colombo Bakery, one of the oldest bakeries and café in Rio.  Apparently, even our own Queen has taken tea here.  It was very old fashioned, and lovely inside, with so many cakes and pastries……..  But, we  were on a tour so couldn’t stop!  We then went through little cobbled streets that were the hub of industry in the 1800’s, and then into another cobbled street where the rich used to live – but only the facades of the houses remain.  Carmen Miranda had a house here – I can remember my mum once putting a bunch of bananas on her head and dancing like Carmen.  Her house is now a café.  I had a Carmen Miranda cocktail at the Copacabana Palace a couple of nights ago.

We then moved to the Imperial Palace, where we heard a little about the history of Brazil and Portugal, and King John 6^th.  This was his palace when he came over in 1808, but he was a little disappointed.  It certainly didn’t look much like a royal palace.  But in 1808 it would have been better than the ordinary!  We came out of another corner of the palace, which has been turned into a book and record shop, and a fabulous palace stood in front of us.  Tiradentes Palace far exceeds the Imperial Palace for grandeur and beauty.  It opened in the early 1900’s, and was a built on the ground of an old jail that housed a chap called Tiradentes who was a member of the Brazilian Independence Movement.  It now houses the Legislative Assembly of the state of Rio.

We then went past a Haviananas flip flop shop – never heard of them, but several people went mad.  Thought they must be good – presents bought!  We then walked on to the main square, that was circled by old and beautiful buildings – the Library, the Theatre and the Fine Arts Museum.  Fantastic.  We then went to the Selaron steps that we went past yesterday – this time we walked up a few, but were advised not to go to the top.  This is where the area changes, and you could get knifed for your camera.  Enough said!  We finished at the Lapa Arches, and then some of us went to lunch at a traditional Brazilian restaurant.  Most of our fellow companions were young backpackers from all over the world comparing stories.  Oh what it is to be young!

We went back to the hotel on the metro – a lot easier, and the station was just behind the hotel.  I then let Paul have an hour or so by the pool before it was time to pack and get ready for the flight home. 

We are both very sad to be leaving.  It was a wonderful adventure!