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.