The girl in Ipanema goes ahhhhh

We had an early start. The alarm went off at 3.20am for a 4.20am pick up to go to the airport for a 7am flight to Rio. We arrived at the Ipanema Hotel around 10.30 and our rooms were not ready so Fernanda whisked us off to town. On the way we glanced at the Havianna shop it is close to the hotel and we pleaded with her for coffee as breakfast was at 4am so were thirsty and hungry. Craig and I followed Fernanda's lead and had frappe coffee as it has warmed up now and lemon meringue pie and tiramisu. The coffee was very sweet and so was the lemon but tiramisu was lovely. Next time we will stick to savoury but it was good to try. I went lustfully past some $3 Raybans genuine I am sure but no time to stop. We caught the very modern underground to Central City. The metro was upgraded for the World Cup. The Olympic venues are nowhere near ready. 

Landmark to help her back to the hotel. 

This is the opera house painted with real gold. 

The 19th Century building in the square by the Opera House. 

Owners of buildings did not have to pay tax for a year if they renovated their buildings in the Portuguese style. 

Gorgeous cafes in the Portuguese style. 

It was important to have your slaves well dressed and painted in the French style. 

Brazil was the last country in the world to abolish slavery. 

There are two Cathedrals in town. One for white people and one for black. Interestingly the one for balaclava is beautiful but dark inside. 

Brazilian people are now a hotchpotch of many cultures and nationalities including indigenous people Portuguese, African, Italian and Jewish. Fernanda is Italian Portuguese and African. Everyone is like her a mix of several cultures. 

One of the things people talk about is Brazil used to have a king. He came out from Portugal assisted by the British when Napoleon invaded Portugal. Napoleon wanted to take over Britain but couldn't as their army was too strong so Portugal aligned with Britain and the result was The King lived in Brazil until he abolished slavery and had to flee the country. 

These pictures are replicas painted on the hallway of a restaurant in the Portuguese style. 

We had lunch in a19th century restaurant that Fernanda introduced us to. 

Lunch wit Ashleigh, Fernanda, Craig and I. 

Ashleigh and Fernanda at cafe. 

The empanadas are not the same as Argentina. 

In the way back to the hotel we met lots of helpful locals and some of our group. We called into the Havianna Dhop and I bought these 

We sorted our room. Wrote our blogs got ready for dinner at 8pm. The worms will be getting Craig. Tell you about dinner tomorrow.