Our last bit of time in Rio, our last hotel breakfast here.

Guava jam, mum would have been delighted. Did a bit of a sweet breakfast, a coconut Swiss roll and tropical fruit scroll. They don’t call them these things, I couldn’t even begin to remember what they were.

We also finally made it to the rooftop pool, which has some pretty great views normally. A bit clouded over today though. Still makes for some amazing sights.

Somehow we managed to get two simultaneous Ubers to the airport at kind of the same time, one for us and one for Louie’s mum who was coming from the other direction. As we waited for her we were eyeing up the GOL Airlines checkin queue and it was incredibly long and the people at the counter weren’t moving. After a while we realised it was only the people at the counter closest to us who weren’t moving. Young trendy people with man-buns and hand crafted sandals were arguing with the attendant about something or other, and generally making complete arseholes of themselves. In any case, Louie did a recon and discovered the “Priority Queue” which meant lesser abled people were able to check in faster. I believe he explained to the woman two of the three of our group counted, and looking at the sign later on I hate to think what he categorised me as, but I suspect I know.

Ironically we were not a priority, and soon after we joined the queue two of the three check in attendants buggered off leaving the people a their counters looking pissed off for around 45 minutes. The poor guy left slowly worked through the queue and we eventually got checked in, far far later than anyone in the normal queue. Nothing makes sense in Brazil, although the departure board is a bit more exotic than Timaru and Dargaville

It was a fantastic flight, mostly looking at clouds and shadows, and the sun sets pretty early in this part of the world. I don’t think they have daylight savings so the sunset is at 5:16. Madness.

No Koru hour snacks here, but they did have Guaraná which is one of my new favourite drinks.

Stepping out of the airport, it was like walking into a sauna on a summer’s day, except it was dark and 8 at night. Definitely tropical feeling. This is the closest to the Equator, and most East of New Zealand I’ve ever been (on the ground).

We had a fairly insane but interesting Uber from the airport due to loads of traffic, road works, bizarre intersections and a Megastore with a massive replica of the Statue of Liberty outside.

We are back into normal standards of service now, the restaurant here isn’t great. We had to keep on trying to find the host to get menus, then to order, then to get extra plates. The food was pretty strange, and not in an interesting way, more of an apprentice is on because the chef got drunk and passed out behind the dumpsters way.

Starter (delivered at the same time as the mains, and cold as a result), Louie’s fish and my pretty manky risotto. I didn’t take a photo of Louie’s mum’s, bit too soon to impose my strange photographic ways on her. I have noticed Louie will often wait after being served to eat so I can take the obligatory photo. I may have to get therapy.

After dinner we took a walk outside along the beach. There were plenty of people around, walking, running and cycling past but nowhere near as crowded as Rio, but definitely gave the place an air of being alive. The photo above is from directly across the road from the hotel, the sand looks amazing, gentle surf and warm Atlantic water.

Tomorrow is an organising day, we need to rent a car (and have me drive it, which I am not looking forward to At. All.) and finding a laundry to wash our clothes, I did a count and I’ve gone through 14 t-shirts in about 8 days. Without being too gross, I am perspiring a little more than usual here.