Getting Here is Half the Fun

My trip to get to Rio actually started about 11pm Saturday in western Manitoba. We were in Roblin for our nephew Kevin's wedding ( it was spectacular) and we left the reception for a 4.5 hour drive to Winnipeg to catch a 5:45am flight back to Ottawa. We arrived home just after noon Sunday in time for me to swap suitcases, have a quick nap then off to the airport  again for my 7pm flight to Toronto .

There was a bit of a hiccup at the Air Canada check-in counter -they said I needed a visa or an accreditation number. I had neither. Eventually it was decided I should enter as a tourist as Canadian visitors to Brazil do not need a visa until after Sept. 18. I had an overnight flight to São Paulo then a local Brazilian airline flight to Rio de Janeiro. My first image getting off the aircraft Monday afternoon was SugarLoaf Mountain in the background.

My hotel is located in an area of Rio between the two famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. I went for a quick walk beside Ipanema after I checked in. A spectacular beach with lots happening. Running along side the beach is a two lane bike/run road. You have to be careful crossing this mini-road as the cyclists are going very fast and you don't hear them.

So far I haven't heard any detail of where I am supposed to go and when I am supposed to be there. Hopefully that will come soon or I'll spend the next two weeks hanging out on the beach playing beach volleyball.