Well Worth It!
The flight was not especially comfortable, thanks in part to an unhappy, screaming baby, but I was simply relieved to have finally reached Rio de Janeiro.
Taxi drivers swarmed around arriving passengers as we left the airport, and several were clearly annoyed when I said that I had already ordered an Uber. Next time, I will say nothing and keep walking. My 40-minute ride to the hotel cost only $13, which I suspect was considerably less than a taxi would have charged.
We were warned that smartphone theft is a serious concern in Rio. Unlike in New York, where nearly everyone walks around holding a phone, visitors were advised to take a photograph and immediately put the device away. I also noticed a visible military-police presence in the tourist areas, a reminder that Rio is a city of striking contrasts and significant economic inequality. I planned to remain aware of my surroundings without letting safety concerns overshadow my stay.
I spent the rest of the afternoon strolling along the Copacabana Beach promenade. I tried a caipirinha—Brazil’s famous cocktail made with cachaça, lime, and sugar—and then had an açaí smoothie. While waiting for my room to become available, I relaxed beside the rooftop pool. Overall, it was not a bad recovery from such a shoddy beginning.
That afternoon, our tour manager gathered everyone for an orientation. The group was large and lively, so I expected it would be fun. Even during that short meeting, the different personalities began to emerge.
Our tour manager, Veni, was an interesting and personable man. He had spent time with an American family as a student and still maintained a strong connection with them. I appreciate it when tour managers share personal stories about their family histories and life experiences—the good, the bad, the ugly—it makes them more relatable.
We introduced ourselves and named our favorite Gate 1 trips. I believe I was the only person who had traveled to Cambodia and Vietnam. Afterward, Veni took us to a Brazilian steakhouse for dinner. There was an enormous selection of meat, along with seafood and other dishes. The meal turned out to be extraordinarily good and one of the most memorable dinners of the trip.
After dinner, we returned to the Windsor Leme Hotel hoping to get some sleep. Several very early mornings awaited us. Tomorrow we would visit Rio’s most famous attraction, Christ the Redeemer—and we planned to arrive before the crowds.
