rio day 2

I leave the arena copocabana today to check into my hostel in the Vidigal favela. The reviews of the hostel are very good So I am really looking forward to that.
I am so happy that I came back to rio early from buzios and stayed in the arena copocabana hotel.
I have to say the hotel is amazing and the views from my room and the bar are out of this world.
there was a massive storm last night in rio with lightning every 5-10 minutes! The weather reminds me a lot of Orlando when I was there in August.
I am just about to catch a taxi to the hostel….I am hoping I don’t get ripped off again!
From the little I have experienced of rio so far, I really like this place. The people are very friendly ad I feel very safe walking around the copocabana area after dark.
I went for a snack at the panaromic bar last night just to soak in the views…
I think I have already attached pictures on previous posts but if not I have attached some more….
Bring on the hostel in Vidigal……looking forward to doing the sightseeing tomorrow Sunday and Monday…
Just arrived at the vidagalbergue hostel and it is a world apart from the arena copocabana…..however I have come with an open mind so I am hoping it will be a good experience.
The views from the hostel are nice, overlooking the sea with a view of some of the islands surrounding rio….
Just need to get my bearings before I venture out, because even though I feel safe, it is still in the middle of a favela!
I decided to book myself into a hotel after being at the hostel for an hour or so…..it wasn’t that I didn’t feel safe, it’s just that after about an hour, a group of 5 Spanish guys checked in…..and they all sat down next to me and asked if I would change my room to a dorm of 12 people rather than the dorm of 4 as they all wanted to stay together!! I basically felt pressured into saying yes as they were all sat around me pretty much surrounding me!…I didn’t want to stay in a dorm with 12 people, if I did I would have booked that!! It’s always difficult when you know they are talking about you to the reception guy, but you can’t understand what they are saying…..all I could make out was the owner/receptionist telling them that I was English!!!!
Anyways after what felt like being forced to agree to move rooms, I just found a different hotel on bookings.com and checked in there! I got my bags and caught a cab to the hotel….the location of the hotel is brilliant, it is right on the corner of copocabana beach and ipanema beach….
I think I have been spoilt in terms of the accommodation that I have booked/stayed in so far, and staying in a hostel in a favela, regardless of how safe, just didn’t appeal to me once I was there!
anyways I am glad I booked the Atlantis copocabana as I have been able to book most,if not all,of my sightseeing tours from them!
I am going to watch flamengo play football tomorrow, on sunday, I am going to go to one of the rehearsals for the carnival at the sambadrome and on Monday I am doing the city tour which includes the sugar loaf mountain, the Christ the redeemer and also the maracana stadium.
All of the things that I have booked was stuff that I wanted to do before coming here so I am happy that it is all booked and I have a plan of action for the next few days…..