Day 4 ... RIO

Today is Day 4 in Rio...
A beautiful day of sunny skys await us this morning, much different than yesterday.   We have practice today at 11am, then we are going to Sugar Loaf Mountan.  We are all excited to see it and take the cable car up to the top.

For practice today Wellington had us jumping and hitting and placing the ball.  We hit line, cross court, chipped short, cross court and then hit for power.   All in all we jumped over 100 times and took time at the end of practice to stretch out.

We got cleaned up and went to Sugar Loaf something we were all looking forward to.  
Suprisingly, Sugar Loaf was only a 5 minute taxi ride away from our hotel.  Today was Wednesday which meant we did not have anyone in line to buy the tickets and we were quickly on our way up on the cable car.  

It was exciting and scary all at the same time and the cable car moved pretty quickly. 

We landed on the first rock which seemed really high and began to take photos of the bay the boats and the city.  As we made our way around the rock we quickly saw that there was a even HIGHER rock ahead of us.  We got into line for the next gondola ride to the top.

From the top of the highest rock we could see Copacabana, the Bay, Nitroi across the bay and we looked down onto the airport runway and could see planes taking off heading

right toward the rock we were on and then (semingly) at the last minute they would bank to the left and avoid us.

We saw a crystal clear view of all of RIO... and as we thought we were high on Sugar Loaf we looked up to the sky and could see Corcovado off in the distance... WAY UP IN THE AIR.... We will be going there tomorrow.

We took our time on the lower rock and had a bowl of Acai and some french fries and just hung out for a while.... took in the view and watched the monkies tease the tourists.

It was a great day...... 

Tomorrow Volleyball Practice and Corcovado ...

Day 3... RIO...

Day 3 RIO....

After our morning buffet breakfast we made plans to go watch the Austrian FIVB men and women do their beach training (next to the court that we are using).... We could see exactly how... the beach volleyball skills should be done.  It had rained all night (which is not unusual for this time of year....) but the mornings are normally clear and no rain.... apparently.... today was not a normal day as it was a little rainy this morning.   None the less we walked to the courts to watch them practice... they were just warming up and peppering... when the sky opened up and started raining again.... 

The Austrian players decided to postpone their practice to later in the day... and we went back to the hotel for another cup of coffee and to wait for the weather to clear

The rain stopped about 11am... and we made our way to the beach... we were going to use the professional court to practice on as the Austrian team was not there yet.  Just as we got the balls out of the ball bag and started to warm up ... the rains came back.  We waited under the small beach umbrella to see if the rain would blow over... but ... it did not.  We decided to go to lunch and then continue with the beach lesson at 2pm.

At 2pm the weather was great for practice, warm, very little wind, but most of all NO RAIN.

We practices about 1 1/2 hours and then the Austrian boys showed up for their practice.  Before they started to practice John asked them if we could have our pictures taken with them... they said yes.... see the photo below.... (we are the short ones)

After practice was free time to go shopping or shower or sleep.

It was too late to late to go to Sugar Loaf today... so that is our sightseeing target for tomorrow after our morning practice.

Day 2 ... RIO

Ah....... We awoke in RIO.... It is still difficult to believe... but it is REAL...

We had a late breakfast just making before they closed at 10am.... (guess we needed the sleep last night).  Lots of food, eggs, meats, cheeses, fruit, cereal, juice, breads and pastries....

Following breakfast we walked the short distance to Copacabana Beach to our practice court.  We met Wellington our beach volleyball coach for the week.  He was really fun and funny and worked us hard but at the same time.... it was fun.

Moving in the sand is really a lot more difficult than playing on the hard court indoors.  Plus just as our practice started... the wind started blowing which made playing the ball even more difficult.... We soon started catching on to moving in the sand... remembering which foot to keep forward and tracking down the ball in the wind.  

Following practice we headed into the water to cool off and relax....
We walked to the end of the beach to a little kiosk to get a bite to eat and drink and relax.

We met at about 3:30pm to go to Sugar Loaf ... but just as we started out of our hotel it started to rain....  This time of year it is common for it to rain in the afternoon following a beautiful day.... and today was exactly like that.... 

We decided to pass on the trek to Sugar Loaf and go to the Mall instead (John said he would pass on going to the mall... he said he goes to the mall once a year.... to do Christmas shopping.... HA!!!...

The rain slowed down so we decided to walk to the mall... only about 10-15 minutes away.....

The rest of the evening was spent shopping and going to dinner....

Tomorrow Practice and sight seeing

Day 1... Welcome to RIO....

Arriving into RIO at about 9am.... after the overnight flight from the USA... Excited, nervous, sleepy, hungry, tired all at the same time..... Welcome to RIO....

The drive to the hotel was really fast because it was a Sunday and it was EASTER Sunday... there were very few cars on the road.  From what I hear the trip from the International Airport to Copacabana normally takes about an hour to an hour and 1/2.  But today it took only 30 minutes.

The temperature is fantastic... about 80 degrees, clear sky, and just a hint of a tropical breeze.  

We arrived to our hotel in Leme (Copacabana) at about 10am.  The check in to our hotel went quickly (normally we would have to wait until 2pm to check in but we got special treatment) and we were in our rooms within 10 minutes.  John asked us if we wanted to "freshen up" or head out to the beach.... we chose the beach....  John gave us just  enough time to change into our beach clothes and we were off..... The first on our list was.... FOOD... the airplane food was... OK... but some of us did not eat the breakfast... and it had been a long time since dinner.... So... we were ready to EAT.... 

We walked the short block to the beach to see all the activities going on... Footvolley, 4 person volleyball, 2 person volleyball, beach tennis, beach soccer, and just hanging out in the almost 90 degree weather.....

We stopped a couple of blocks away to have something to eat.... a vegi pizza was the choice... but finding something for a vegan was a bit more difficult.... finally settling for a juice drink... we were all set for lunch.

After lunch we went to the ATM to get everyone some money... but had no luck... I think there were a series of things against us... 1. it was SUNDAY at the end of a long holiday weekend and many of the ATM's were simply out of cash. 2. some of the ATM's did not work.  3. Some of the ATM's did not work with this specific bank card.  After trying 6-8 different banks and ATM's we gave up.

On our hunt for a working ATM, we came across an open air fruit and vegi market... Where our hungry vegan found some lunch (thank goodness for bananas).

After a long day of flying through the night, and the hot temperatures, on the beach, we decided to walk back to the hotel... 

Along the way we passed the trinket market.... lots of souvenirs to buy and take home.

Following a visit to the hotel to explore the upper deck, the workout center and the roof top pool.  We decided to go to a Brazilian buffet for dinner... 

The selection was fantastic, with about 40 different salads, potato's, rice, beans cheese, casseroles, Susi and then you get to the grilled meats.... a selection from chicken to sausages to prime rib.  Something for everyone.

In almost every restaurant in RIO you will find at least one big screen TV... normally turned to one of the never ending Soccer games.   Last night while we were eating the soccer game was on.... and we noticed that it was pouring down with rain.... i asked one of the waiters where the game was being played because it was pouring down rain... He said it was being played about 30 minutes away.  I said to him .. but it is raining there... he said just wait it will be here too in a few minutes.... AND... sure enough 5 minutes later RAIN.... We had a 10 minute walk back to our hotel.... in the RAIN.... 

After a long overnight flight to RIO.... a walk down the beach.... and a big dinner.... it was time for bed.

Tomorrow.... Beach Volleyball Practice and sightseeing

2015 April Beach Volleyball tour to RIO...

When you think of RIO.... you think of warm tropical weather, clean beaches, soccer, volleyball, friendly fun loving people..... and you won't be wrong.....