Todo bem!
Finally I'm there! After more than eleven hours, I finally landed at Rio de Janeiro. It's winter, so sun rises around 5-6am, sets twelve hours later. But it's still 25°C all day long...
After taking some hours of sleep, a quick shower, and Rio here I come. My hotel is at the South of Copacabana, a quick stroll from Ipanema. That's where I'm heading today. I walk along Ipanema's beach, the weather is very nice and warm and it's not even twelve o'clock. A LOT of people are gathering at the beach, sunbathing, playing volleyball, jumping in the waves... That's crazy! The beach is a long stream of sand along very different pieces of architecture (and I'm not talking about what I only glimpsed at on the way from the airport).
I settle for a meal in Leblon, the richest neighbourhood and get my pair of Havainas at some local grocery-supermarket. I head back to the hotel ~4hours afterwards, change myself and go jump in the water at Copacabana. That's awesome to bathe with such a scenery (no photo for this one, sorry).
Tomorrow I'll go for the usual touristic sites, just before the conference begins.
People at the reception desk are very friendly, and will do a lot to please you. They do speak english, not all of them but those who do speak very good english. Restaurant is ok, but the view from there is great (top floor - 1), whether it is night or day. Breakfast is awesome, well you know, it is Brasil so fresh fruits are everyday kind of food! Mangos are... And melons, marmaon...
In the end, Portinari is a very nice hotel you can choose if you can afford it. If can put even more in it, go for the more expensive rooms, they are worth it (I saw one, verrrrry nice). Beaches are just a couple of streets away, so that is also a good choice location-wise (prefer Ipanema to Copacabana).
