Tuesday March 10, 2015 - Brasilia, Brazil to Bogota, Columbia to Miama, Florida - Home At Last

We had to get up at 1 am.  There was no breakfast.  We had to be on the bus at 2 am in order to get back to airport.  The check-in for the flight was a disaster.  Most of the agents working the flight spoke no English.  The plane was supposed to leave at 4 am but it took until 3:45 am to get everyone checked in.

I found a fireman who spoke no English and explained that I needed to find my bag.  He took me to 2 wrong places until we returned to Avianca's desk.  The ONE agent who spoke English happened to walk by and I asked him to help me find my bag.  And he did.  He went in the back and 5 minutes later came out with my missing bag.  Whew!

The plane was supposed to leave at 4 am but it was apparent that there was no way that would happen.  Finally we started loading onto a new plane that had been brought in the night before.  We finally take off at 5 am.  We were sweating this as last night I had called Avianca in Columbia and they told us that they had put us on a 9 am flight from Bogota to Miami.  Would we make it.

We landed in Bogota at 8 am but there is a 2 hour time change from Brasilia!  We ran to the next plane and found out it was leaving at 9:30.  Tim wanted to talk to the agent who spoke no English and I told him to "cool it" and let me talk.  They had saved us seats in first class – whew!  So we'll get home to Miami this afternoon.

It was an uneventful flight to Miami.  We got our luggage quickly and called Jose who was there to meet us and drive us back to Ft Lauderdale.

We safely got back to Ft Lauderdale about 4 pm.  Tim had days of laundry to do.  Tonight is the Annual Owners' Meeting for the Venetian and I'm supposed to be the chair for that, so I jumped right into "condo President" mode.

 

It is so good to be home after another great adventure.

Monday March 9, 2015 - Rio to Brasilia, Brazil

Monday March 9, 2015 – Rio to Brasilia (should have been to Bogota, Columbia to Miami)

We were up at 4:30 am to get our car to the airport at 5:30 am.  Our flight leaves at 8:40 but we aren’t sure about what traffic congestion to expect.  The driver was waiting for us so we loaded up his car – literally – and headed to the International Airport.  Traffic wasn’t bad at all so we got there in less than 30 minutes.  The driver was very talkative, especially about his disgust with the Brazilian government.

The check-in with Avianca was easy.  We went to the Executive Lounge and had some really bad coffee while we waited for our flight.  At 7:30 we went to the gate.  We fly from Rio to Bogota, Columbia and then have an hour and a half layover before our flight on to Miami.  Jose, the driver is meeting us there.

About 4 hours into the flight they announced that there was a problem with the plane and we were making an emergency landing in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.  I thought something sounded and felt wrong with the plane.  Then a “disaster” of an adventure, a comedy of miscoordination started! 

We sat on the plane for a long time only to be told that the plane can’t be fixed.  So we got off and onto a bus that took us to the terminal while they work on plane.

They told us lunch was available but it was a teeny, tiny sandwich and a small cup of coke.

Then they told us that we must stay overnight.  The plane cannot be fixed.

We had to wait for our luggage.  While Tim was waiting for the luggage, I went to talk to the ticket agent about taking another flight to Miami from Brasilia.  Long story made short - we could only do that if we purchased another ticket - they won't refund for this flight.

I met Tim outside of baggage claim and immigration.  And then we took a bus to the "resort" where we'll stay for the night.  It was a dump.  But to make matters worse, Tim got wrong bag and one of my bags is missing!  The people at the front desk don't speak English.  I waited to see if someone would bring my bag.  I had left the other person's bag behind the front desk.  When he arrived, he got his bag.  I asked him if he spoke English and he did.  He asked if I was "Larry".  Whew.  They have my bag at the airport and they are going to call him.  So they will bring my bag to me tonight.

Of course they never did.

We found the restaurant while we were walking around and the dinner provided was yuck.  Really bad. 

The TV doesn't work.  There is no AC.  The floor creaks.  There are noises in the hallways for hours.  Tim went right to sleep but I had little sleep with the mosquitoes in the room and the dog barking outside.  Plus the bed was so uncomfortable.

I hope tomorrow brings better luck traveling home.

Sunday March 8, 2015 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Sunday March 8, 2015 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

We slept until 8:30 – I think we were tired.  We went to the Executive Lounge for coffee at 10:30 but they still had the breakfast buffet out so we had a light breakfast.

We took a car from the JW and went to the Botanical Gardens – it was beautiful.  Trees, small animals, orchids, waterfalls, etc.  It was beautifully maintained and there were lots of people there walking around.  It was supposed to rain today but everyone is enjoying the outside.  We ran into a couple from the ship and talked to them for a while.

Beautiful tree-lined lanes at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens in Rio

Another selfie at the Botanical Gardens in Rio

Beautiful plants, fountains, and Christ the Redeemer in the distance on the hill

Better shot of Christ the Redeemer

Beautiful gazebos, vines and statues

Lily pond

Interesting structure that housed the orchids

Inside the orchid room

We saw this interesting creature roaming around the grounds near us

A building full of ground cover plants

Beautiful colors

Nice pathways throughout the gardens - and fortunately with lots of benches to rest

More tree-lined lanes heading back to the exit

Christ the Redeemer in the distance

Statues to recognize lots of different people throughout the gardens

Selfie at the waterfall

Pretty waterfall

Waterfall

Last look at Christ the Redeemer as we left the gardens

Back to the hotel to relax by the pool with Sugarloaf in the distance

Tim waiting for lunch to come!

Our view of Copacabana Beach from the JW Marriott

A late afternoon walk on Copacabana Beach

Lots of people still on the beach and playing volleyball

They closed one lane along Copacabana Beach on Sunday and people were everywhere

One lane of traffic on Sunday

Another view of Copacabana Beach from the JW Marriott pool deck

 

We got back to the JW and went to the rooftop pool and had lunch and read.  We relaxed until late afternoon and then took a great walk on the very wide Copacabana Beach.  The water was so cold but everyone was having a good time.  The beach has been packed every time we have been there.

We went to the Lounge for a coffee, showered and dressed for dinner.   We stopped back in the Lounge for a cocktail before leaving for our 8 pm reservation at Giuseppe Grill, recommended by the concierge.  Dinner was good but not exceptional like last night.  We ran into 2 couples from the ship having dinner there.

We got a taxi and headed back to the JW.  We have an early morning so we went to bed.

Saturday March 7, 2015 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Saturday March 7, 2015 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Today is Tim’s 50^th birthday.  A big celebration in Rio.  What fun.

We went for a last coffee with Diego in the coffee bar.  We took our bags and waited in the common area until about 8:30 and talked to Ted and Margaret.  There was quite a line waiting to get off of the ship.

Our Marriott driver was waiting for us and helped with the bags and got the car.  Traffic wasn’t quite as bad as yesterday. We got to the Marriott about 10 am and they fortunately had our room ready.  It pays to be a Platinum with Marriott.

We unpacked and went for a walk – a VERY long walk.  We walked all down Copacabana Beach and then over to Ipanema Beach.  Fascinating.  The Brazilians are obsessed with fitness – jogging, walking, soccer (futbal), foot volley, etc.  It was great.  Lots of great looking people – women in “dental floss bikinis” and men in small suits.

We headed inland from Ipanema and had lunch at the restaurant where “The Girl From Ipanema” was written.  We just happened upon it.  Lunch was good.  I had a sandwich but Tim (the birthday boy) had a huge pot of beef, pork, and tongue with rice and beans.   It was all so goodl

The very wide Copacabana Beach with water from hoses to cool the sand going to the water

Lots of volleyball players - most playing without using their hands, mostly feet!

Copacabana Beach

Mountains in the distance past Copacabana Beach

Flurry, but a sign commemorating this restaurant as the place where "The Girl From Ipanema" was written!

"The Girl from Ipanema" plaque

Great bottle of wine at lunch

And a very strong local drink made with oranges

Selfie outside the restaurant where we had lunch

One of the old hotels along Copacabana Beach

We then started walking back to Copacabana but got lost. I had to ask for directions several times but we made it.  I was exhausted.

I took a nap and then we dressed for drinks in the Executive Lounge.  We had champagne to celebrate Tim’s birthday.

We then took a taxi to Satyricon – and WOW – it was fabulous.  We each had a martini and then a huge lobster, shrimp, and langostino platter.  It was yummy with a bottle of Chilean sauvignon blanc.

 

Tim's 50th seafood dinner - it was yummy!

Happy 50th Birthday, Tim!

 

We took at private taxi back to the JW and had an after dinner drink in the bar with Youssef from Casablanca.  It was fun.  Finally to bed about midnight.  A good 50^th birthday for Mr. Tim.

Friday March 6, 2015 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Friday March 6, 2015 – Rio de Janeiro

We got up at 5 am and went up on deck to watch the sun rise and the sail-in to Rio past SugarLoaf.  It was spectacular.  The full moon was behind the city as we started the sail-in.  As we got into the harbor we saw the sun rising while the full moon was setting.  Great pictures.

This was the sun setting over Buzios the night before

Gorgeous full moon setting over Buzios

Another full moon over Buzios

Putu in Horizons Bar - Fremakasi (Please), Sama-Sama (Thank You) in Balinese

The full moon over Rio with Sugarloaf to the left, Christ the Redeemer in the middle distance

 

Full moon over Rio - Christ the Redeemer on the left

Sunrise to the east as we sail into Rio

Moon setting in the west and sun rising in the east as we sail into Rio

Moon setting in Rio with the sun already up

Christ the Redeemer lit up in the distance

 

We went back to bed and then got up and dressed for our tour.  We met our group and got on a bus with others and headed off for the “Best of Rio” tour.  The traffic was unbelievable.  They just opened a new tunnel but along with that they reversed the direction of many streets and made others one way.  No one seems to know how to get around now.  There were traffic coordinators at many intersections but they let people stuff the box and it just made it worse.  It was bad.

Our first stop was the funicular to go up to the top of Sugar Loaf.  We had to wait in several lines but it was worth it.  The views were spectacular.  It was so hot on top and in the cars since they packed the people in.  We ran into Sue, Mike, Jenny, and Joe on top but they were on a private tour.  The views of the city and Copacabana were great.  We met Al the tour guide and went back down and onto the bus.

The viewing stands for Carnival in downtown Rio

Statues throughout the city

Approach to Sugarloaf

The cable car that goes to the half way point on Sugarloaf

Teleferico - cable car

View of Sugarloaf from inside the cable car

Final approach to the peak of Sugarloaf

Christ the Redeemer as seen from Sugarloaf

The tall peak where the Christ the Redeemer statue is situated in the distance

One of the many beaches as seen from Sugarloaf

Selfie on top of Sugarloaf - I have my "Brazil t-shirt" on!

Copacabana Beach as seen from Sugarloaf

Our "buddies" from Regata - they live in Naples on the West Coast - they were fun!

 

Next was a drive-by Copacabana Beach with a photo stop.  And then to Ipanema Beach.  We saw many things along the way including the fresh water lake where many of the Olympic water events will occur – except they have discovered a flesh-eating organism in the lake.  Uh Oh!

We drove by the equestrian center and soccer stadiums.  Al told us that many of the Olympic events will be spread all over Rio so everyone doesn’t have to be in the same place at the same time.

Selfie on Copacabana Beach

Beautiful massive Copacabana Beach

The tram that will take us to the top to see Christ the Redeemer statue

 

Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio

Selfie with the statue

Panorama from the top of the mountain at the statue

Christ the Redeemer statue

Beautiful vistas from all sides of the statue

More vistas

Sugarloaf as seen from Christ the Redeemer

More beautiful vistas

 

We then headed to lunch – another meat buffet – mediocre at best. 

We got back on the bus and went to the clog-wheeled train station to go to the Christ the Redeemer statue.  It was an interesting ride up and the views from on top were even more spectacular.  Lots of people.

We met Al and headed back down and onto the bus.  He told us it would be a 30 minute ride back to the ship but it was over an hour due to traffic.  Our 8 hour tour had turned into more than 10 hours and we were exhausted.

We got back to our cabin and packed in a rush as we have dinner reservations at Toscana at 8:30.  We had just enough time for a glass of champagne with Putu in the Lounge and then went to the restaurant.  We gave Putu a “thank you” and Daniel at the coffee bar a “thank you” as well.  Great service.

Mr. Santos met us in Toscana and an Indian man from Goa served us.  He was fun.  We had way to much to eat but it was good.  I told Alvy (?) that Mr. Santos knew it was Tim’s birthday but we didn’t want a cake and absolutely NO SINGING.  So Mr. Santos brought a cake with a candle and sang the happy birthday song in a very low voice.  It was funny.

We had cake and coffee.  Mr Santos told us that he had the most expensive cup of coffee today.  He left the ship and took a taxi to a new Starbucks in Copacabana.  He had the taxi wait, had his coffee and came back.  The taxi ride was $60 making it the most expensive cup of coffee he’s ever had but he loved Starbucks.

We went to Horizons and had a last drink with Putu.  Helen and Stan joined us.  We left about 11:30 and went to bed as we need to leave early tomorrow.