Disembarking in Rio, checking into Copacabana Beach, and enjoying a lively first evening in Brazil with friends.
Disembarking the Costa Favolosa.
We arrived in Rio de Janeiro early in the morning, marking the end of the cruise portion of my holiday. Gail and I had booked the same hotel, the Astoria Palace on Copacabana Beach, and Darrel was staying nearby, so we planned to share a taxi.
After waking up and showering, I headed to the Palatino Grand Bar to meet Gail and Darrel. I ordered a coffee and then a hot chocolate with Baileys. The Baileys was enormous — the barman must have emptied half the bottle into my glass. Gail and Darrel soon joined me, and while we waited for disembarkation to be called, Ann and Rosa arrived. We hugged, said our goodbyes, and they headed off to catch a taxi to the airport.
Luggage Confusion and Taxi Troubles.
When the three of us left the ship, we were directed through the terminal, straight to the exit. Unfortunately, our luggage was still inside. Security escorted us back through the terminal to the correct collection point.
Once we finally had our cases, we reached the exit where immigration waved us straight through. Darrel tried to order an Uber but had issues with his phone. He spent a while on the phone to his provider and then his bank before finally managing to order a taxi.
While we waited, Ann and Rosa reappeared, also struggling to get a taxi. After more hugs and goodbyes, they eventually managed to leave for the airport. A short while later, our taxi arrived. The driver took us to the wrong hotel at first, but I showed him the correct one on Google Maps. He dropped Darrel off at his hotel before taking Gail and me to ours. Thankfully, Uber had fixed the fare in advance.
Checking In at Copacabana.
Gail’s room was ready, but mine wasn’t, so we went to Maxim’s restaurant next door. I was starving, having skipped breakfast, so I ordered steak and chips. The steak was terrible, but hunger won and I ate it anyway.
Back at the hotel, my room was ready. It overlooked Copacabana Beach, a fantastic view, even if the room itself was a bit dated. I went up to the rooftop to check out the pool and jacuzzi. The pool was tiny, more of a splash pool, and the jacuzzi was out of order for the entire stay. The views, however, were stunning. From the gym window, I could even see Christ the Redeemer.
After a rest, Darrel messaged to arrange a drink on the beach.
Drinks on Copacabana.
Gail and I met Darrel outside the hotel. His hotel was only a short walk away. We went to a beach bar he’d seen good reviews for, but shortly after sitting down, a loud and terrible‑sounding group started performing. We decided to leave. When we asked for the bill, we discovered they’d added a tip for the useless waiter and a charge for listening to the group. Gail complained loudly, whether it helped or not, who knows, but we won’t be going back. We crossed the road to the Nordestino bar near the hotel. Gail left early, but Darrel and I stayed for quite a while. We drank plenty of beer, watched football, and chatted like old friends. When my leg started hurting, Darrel made sure I got back to my hotel safely before heading back to his.
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