Mittwoch, 12. Oktober 2011
Rio de Janeiro Day 2
Maracana Stadium. The old historic stadium that held almost 200.00 in the World Cup finals between Uruguay and Brazil in 1950 ... which Uruguay won by 2:1.
It is actually under construction, but still it was a must to go. I went on the tubes with Keith, a scottish dude from the hostel.
It was quite hard to figure out the Metro system here. Normally I find Metros easy and quite straightforward, but this one. There are 2 lines we had to take and they run parallel for 10 staions or so. So we started on Line 1 and change to Line 2 but somehow went on Line 1 again and went back. The 2 lines are actually going on the same tracks. So, back to the station where we can combine. The next one in the right direction, but we were not sure if it was 1 or 2 ... so, we got off at the last possible station for both. Good, as it was still Line 1. So, we waited and were still trying to figure out how to see which one is 1 or 2 (or orange or green) ... somehow I found the hint but the Line 2 didn't go that often ... it was a bank holiday in Brasil (I somehow keep stumbling over bank holidays in SA ... Santiago, Buenos Aires, Rio, La Paz). We just waited for 2 more orange ones to pass until there was a green line train.
So, we got there finally.
Then we checked Maracana Stadium and went to the quite expensive museum and couldn't get a glimpse at the inside of the stadium. But we were on historic ground!
So, we went back and considered ourselves experts on the metro now and got on the next tube. Since there was only the green line going there was not much to do wrong. We thought. We got on the train, right direction, too. And after some stops we wondered why there was the Maracana Stadium apearing again. The tube didn't go to the end of the normal route and just went backwards. So, we got off and on again (15 mins wait included) and got off at the next station which we considered to be the joint lines station where we got on the green line before. But the stion looked totally different now. But there WERE stations for both lines. Eventually we found out were we was but couldn't figure out how we got there. It was, according to the map, not possible to go from the Maracana Station to this station on the green line. But we did. From there we were smart enough to take the orange one again. Had a little stop to see the colourful steps to Santa Theresa and got back on the tube. Right line AND right direction. We WERE experts now! But on that tube we were nervous, because we were not sure if it changes direction again at the next big stop. It didn't. Wow.
Funny was also, that on that train there were 2 different Metro maps. One of them showed the connection we did earlier that was not on the hand map. But it also show a difference at the end of the route we were heading. We just closed our eyes and got to our stop in Ipanema.
Experts! ... Well, no!
Metro Rio, ... mystic!
We then made it to Ipanema beach, looked at all the beautiful people and went to the border of Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches to watch the sunset. Unfortunately it was too cloudy but still beautiful. Quiet night at the hostel. Tomorrow Favela-Tour!
It is actually under construction, but still it was a must to go. I went on the tubes with Keith, a scottish dude from the hostel.
It was quite hard to figure out the Metro system here. Normally I find Metros easy and quite straightforward, but this one. There are 2 lines we had to take and they run parallel for 10 staions or so. So we started on Line 1 and change to Line 2 but somehow went on Line 1 again and went back. The 2 lines are actually going on the same tracks. So, back to the station where we can combine. The next one in the right direction, but we were not sure if it was 1 or 2 ... so, we got off at the last possible station for both. Good, as it was still Line 1. So, we waited and were still trying to figure out how to see which one is 1 or 2 (or orange or green) ... somehow I found the hint but the Line 2 didn't go that often ... it was a bank holiday in Brasil (I somehow keep stumbling over bank holidays in SA ... Santiago, Buenos Aires, Rio, La Paz). We just waited for 2 more orange ones to pass until there was a green line train.
So, we got there finally.
Then we checked Maracana Stadium and went to the quite expensive museum and couldn't get a glimpse at the inside of the stadium. But we were on historic ground!
So, we went back and considered ourselves experts on the metro now and got on the next tube. Since there was only the green line going there was not much to do wrong. We thought. We got on the train, right direction, too. And after some stops we wondered why there was the Maracana Stadium apearing again. The tube didn't go to the end of the normal route and just went backwards. So, we got off and on again (15 mins wait included) and got off at the next station which we considered to be the joint lines station where we got on the green line before. But the stion looked totally different now. But there WERE stations for both lines. Eventually we found out were we was but couldn't figure out how we got there. It was, according to the map, not possible to go from the Maracana Station to this station on the green line. But we did. From there we were smart enough to take the orange one again. Had a little stop to see the colourful steps to Santa Theresa and got back on the tube. Right line AND right direction. We WERE experts now! But on that tube we were nervous, because we were not sure if it changes direction again at the next big stop. It didn't. Wow.
Funny was also, that on that train there were 2 different Metro maps. One of them showed the connection we did earlier that was not on the hand map. But it also show a difference at the end of the route we were heading. We just closed our eyes and got to our stop in Ipanema.
Experts! ... Well, no!
Metro Rio, ... mystic!
We then made it to Ipanema beach, looked at all the beautiful people and went to the border of Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches to watch the sunset. Unfortunately it was too cloudy but still beautiful. Quiet night at the hostel. Tomorrow Favela-Tour!
Rio de Janeiro Day 1
Ipanema!
Wow, I reached Rio by plane and took a shuttle bus to Ipanema which took actually 2 hrs and it was dark when I got there. Sunsets here at 18 h at the moment.
I booked 2 hostels here because the one I wanted did not have 6 consecutive nights free. So I booked 2 nights in the LightHouse (they did not have 6 nights free a well) and the 4 nights in The Mango Tree. I just extended it to 5 nights, so I will be leaving to Sao Paulo on 18th, stay there for 2 nights. Thats it.
Pizza was what I craved for. So, me being tired of walking around looking for a cheap Restaurant, took the first one around the corner. 15/16€ for a Ham Pizza. Ok, I thought it must be a great and delicious one. I ordered Pizza and a beer. The beer, of course, was on the table in 2 mins, but the Pizza only 2-3 mins after. I don't know how they did it, but they managed to burn the edge of the pizza in just 5 mins. How? ... and it was not worth the money. I thought a full restaurant menas good food but the pizza was shit!
Later we (7 guys from the hostel, which, by the way, only has space for 12) went to a Samba Bar which they told us would be 20 Reals (ca 8€) entrance and between 22 and 23 hrs free Caipirinhas! We thought we would get well filled in 2 hours but once we got there it was only 1 free (and crappy) one and still 20 Reals entrance. What a rip-off! ;-)
Wow, I reached Rio by plane and took a shuttle bus to Ipanema which took actually 2 hrs and it was dark when I got there. Sunsets here at 18 h at the moment.
I booked 2 hostels here because the one I wanted did not have 6 consecutive nights free. So I booked 2 nights in the LightHouse (they did not have 6 nights free a well) and the 4 nights in The Mango Tree. I just extended it to 5 nights, so I will be leaving to Sao Paulo on 18th, stay there for 2 nights. Thats it.
Pizza was what I craved for. So, me being tired of walking around looking for a cheap Restaurant, took the first one around the corner. 15/16€ for a Ham Pizza. Ok, I thought it must be a great and delicious one. I ordered Pizza and a beer. The beer, of course, was on the table in 2 mins, but the Pizza only 2-3 mins after. I don't know how they did it, but they managed to burn the edge of the pizza in just 5 mins. How? ... and it was not worth the money. I thought a full restaurant menas good food but the pizza was shit!
Later we (7 guys from the hostel, which, by the way, only has space for 12) went to a Samba Bar which they told us would be 20 Reals (ca 8€) entrance and between 22 and 23 hrs free Caipirinhas! We thought we would get well filled in 2 hours but once we got there it was only 1 free (and crappy) one and still 20 Reals entrance. What a rip-off! ;-)
Dienstag, 11. Oktober 2011
Buenos Aires -
Day 3 – Friday, 7th
Walking around Puerto Madero. At 4.30 h pick up for the football World Cup 2014 qualifier Argentina vs Chile in Stadium of River Plate. Argentina won 4:1, but the stadium was only 2/3 to ¾ full.
The best was the “organized” tour. We got a pick-up from the hostel with a nice bus. Later the guide said we would soon get a beer and a pizza, but only 5 mins later he admitted that there is only the beer. No pizza. Another 5 mins later he said we should finish the (0,5 l) beer as we are almost there. We then went with the people from the other bus to the Southeast corner (more or less) of the stdium. The guides checked the situation and came to the conclusion that we had to go elsewhere. We went 2 blocks south, 2 west and 2 north to reach a point where we passed security to find out 5 mins later that we were not right. So our guides lead us further north along the west flank of the stadium, passing 2-3 more entrances that also were not right. Finally, having made it to the north side - a ¾ circle around the stadium – our guides lead us back to the entrance we should have gone straight away: the southeast. What a nice tour around the stadium for 30 mins.
Later on the bus they said they would invite us for a free beer at a bar in San Telmo for the inconvenience. Just a couple of us went, somehow the guides didn’t … hmm, at least a free pint.
In the bar I was chatting with 2 young german travelers who were at the game as well when suddenly a drunk guy approached us and told us hehad german blood. He asked us 5-6 times what a sentence meant that his grandfather used to tell him. “Never forget this: ‘Ich bin ein echter Bayer’!” … “What means: ‘Ik bine aine eckte Baia’?” … I think his granddad was one of the nazis who came after WW2.
He then wanted to show us his tattoo on the lower back, saying it was ok, he was proud of it and it had no nazi-symbols or so … it turned out to be a huge german tank from WW2. What a freak.
Ich bin ein echter Bayer! … or did he say “Geier”?
Day 4 – Saturday, 8th
I took the Subte (Metro of BA) to Palermo and went for a walk to the Malba Museum which exhibited some great Latin American art.
From there I made it to Recoleta to see a market and the legendary cemetery, where – amongst others - Evita’s grave is. Weird to have a cemetery as a tourist attraction. :-/
And again at night: Pints at the hostel bar. By the way, the beer on tap (rare in South America) is Isenbeck – but an argentine version.
Day 5 – Sunday, 9th
Nothing special. Went to the market in San Telmo and later along the shopping street of Avenida Florida to by a Rugby Jersey of the Pumas for a friend. Took me some time to find the right size of XXL.
And, guess what, Pints at the bar at night. Serious?
Day 6 – Monday, 10th – last day in BA
Went to the bus station to find out where the shuttles to the airport depart from, and when. It is good to remember, when you have asked for the directions, if the guy said left or right … saves you from walking around hopelessly.
Idea: Subte to Station for 1,10 Pesos and shuttle for 55 Pesos – better than 130 Pesos for a taxi from the hostel.
After finding the station for the shuttles I went to walk around Palermo and have a coffee. Nice area. If I lived in BA I’d choose Palermo.
Yes, night program didn’t change. Somehow I never checked the night scene of BA. I am just not a disco fan. Staying up all night to party then sleep all day … I want to see the city and not lie in bed.
Well, I should have tried at least once ;-)
Day 7 – Tuesday, 11th – flight
Plan with the metro failed. At 7.15h it is packed from front to the back. 3 trains passed leaving me and my backpacks outside. I decided to take a Taxi to the shuttle station which cost me 20 pesos … not too bad and still way cheaper that the straight taxi to the airport.
At the airport I wanted to exchange some money and somehow the last Spanish I spoke was in that bank asking the woman why they would need to know what city I live in … to change Pesos to Real … she already had my passport. I told her to write Berlin as I wasn’t in the mood for spelling my town in Spanish. Why the hell do they need a passport for changing bills?
Rio, here I come!!!
Sonntag, 9. Oktober 2011
Freitag, 7. Oktober 2011
La Boca
Went to the quarter of La Boca and paid a visit to the football museum of Boca Juniors and a tour of their stadium "La Bombonera". Impressive. It would be nice to see a game here, but this weekend there are international qualifiers ... thus I will be going to the "other" stadium in BA: El Monumental. There will be the 1st qualifier for the World Cup 2014 - Argentina vs. Chile. I will be there :-) ... hopefully it stops raining :-)
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