Copacabana Beach: First Full Day in Rio de Janeiro.

A peaceful first full day on Copacabana Beach, with sunrise views, relaxing by the surf, and an evening meal in Rio.

Sunrise and a Disappointing Breakfast.

I woke very early and watched the sunrise over the sea from my hotel window. It was beautiful, though the photo I took didn’t do it justice. I tried going back to sleep but couldn’t, so I went down to the hotel buffet around 07:00.

The breakfast was nowhere near as good as the website photos suggested, but I ate something and sat reading my Kindle. Gail arrived shortly after, and we chatted for a while. She planned to walk around Copacabana, but my leg was still aching, so I said I’d meet her later on the beach.

After breakfast, I walked around the streets behind the hotel, but most shops were still closed. I returned to the hotel, changed into my swim shorts, grabbed a towel and my Kindle, and crossed the road to Copacabana Beach.

Relaxing by the Surf.

The beach was quiet, so I found a spot close to where the waves broke on the sand. The sound of the surf drowned out my tinnitus, and it was incredibly relaxing.

I decided to film the waves so I could later extract the audio and loop it into a longer track to help mask the tinnitus at home. It worked well at first, but soon people began walking along the beach for their morning exercise. At one point, a man and a woman walking in opposite directions stopped right in front of me. The woman was gorgeous, and she gave me a cheeky smile and a wave, so I didn’t mind the interruption.

As the beach filled up, I kept reading. The sun was stronger than it looked, and I realised I was burning, so I put on a shirt. I’d hoped to swim, but red flags were flying along the entire beach, warning people not to go in the water. I didn’t know the reason, but I wasn’t going to argue with the flags.

Evening Meal and a Quiet Drink.

After leaving the beach, I showered at the hotel and met Gail for dinner. We went to a nearby restaurant, and once again I ordered a steak, and once again it wasn’t very good. Apart from the one at Tijuipe Waterfall, Brazilian steaks had been a disappointment.

Gail returned to the hotel after eating, but I stayed for another beer and watched the world go by before heading back to my room for the night.

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