A Slow Start and Another Disappointing Breakfast.
I woke around 06:00, showered, and went down to the hotel buffet. Once again, it failed to impress, but I ate enough to take my tablets and sat reading my Kindle until Gail arrived. We talked about what to do with the day and decided on the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden.
While Gail finished breakfast, I walked to a small shop around the corner and bought a couple of new T‑shirts, including a Brazil one, which I put on before heading back downstairs.
Taxi to the Botanical Garden.
We asked the doorman about taxi prices. He estimated around R$40 and flagged one down for us. The 7.5 km journey cost only R$35, a bargain compared to Spain, where it would have been €15 – €20.
We walked past the ticket hut without realising it and ended up at the shop before doubling back. Gail asked for two OAP tickets, which they handed over without hesitation. I was pleased with the discount, less pleased they didn’t even question it, clearly the walking stick did all the talking.
Exploring the Gardens.
We spent half the day wandering through the gardens, enjoying the peace and the shade. I loved the cactus garden and the orchid house, and the monkeys running across the paths were endlessly entertaining. One enormous ant nearly became my accidental seat, thankfully I spotted it in time.
I took plenty of photos, including some lovely shots of Christ the Redeemer framed by the trees. The monkeys ignored everyone, climbing and leaping around as if we weren’t there. The orchid house was my favourite, so many varieties, some I’d never seen before.
As we walked toward the exit, a man passed us wearing a matching leopard‑print T‑shirt and shorts, topped off with a bright red man‑bag. He looked like he’d tried to camouflage himself in the foliage and failed spectacularly. Gail burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help chuckling too.
The Long Taxi Ride Back.
A woman at the entrance offered to call us a taxi. We accepted and set off back toward Copacabana. The driver took a completely different route, along Ipanema Beach and then Copacabana, turning a 7.5 km trip into 11.5 km.
Traffic was heavy, and the journey took about 45 minutes. Gail watched the meter climb to R$120 and looked ready to explode. I paid quickly and pointed out that it was only about €22, not bad for the distance and traffic. Plus, I got to see Ipanema without needing another trip.
Coconuts and Lunch.
We crossed the road to a beach bar and ordered coconuts. The top was chopped off, and we drank the coconut water straight from the shell. It was refreshing, though I finished mine far too quickly and had to sit watching the beach wildlife while Gail savoured hers.
Afterwards, we went to a nearby restaurant for lunch. I ordered special rice, Brazilian potatoes, black beans, and a Portuguese‑style steak. The beans were fine, the rice was good, the “Brazilian potatoes” turned out to be stale crisps, and the steak was another disappointment, thin, covered in ham and melted cheese. Brazil had many charms, but the food wasn’t one of them.
Evening Drinks and Tomorrow’s Plans.
We walked back toward the hotel and stopped for a drink at the bar near the entrance before returning inside. We booked a trip to see Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain for the next day, something I’d been looking forward to since arriving in Rio.
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