Rio - Brazil at Long Last

Packed up and checked out from our lovely hotel. It has been our longest home to date since we have stayed at 7 other hotels prior to this. It was a great spot and I would definitely recommend this spot or any of their other locations. The staff was very friendly and helpful and our room was great. 

After breakfast we checked out Santa Domingo Iglesias near Plaza Mayor. It was a very simple church without a lot of adornment or paintings, but it was very unique because at the main alter, the focus was the Virgin Mary and not Jesus. The artwork on the walls was a bit different too, it was 17th or 18th century scenes instead of the usual religious decor.

We had forgotten to check out the inside of the post office, so we headed over to the Metropolitan Cathedral square again. It was decorated in the French style and was very pretty inside with a glass ceiling. I was surprised at how busy it was inside, there were lineups everywhere. 

We crossed over the rapid brown river and walked through a market area where families were selling second hand clothing, goods and toys. 

Santuario Recoleta Franciscana church was tagged outside with graffiti, but was very peaceful inside, except when the priest who was sitting along the side of the church moved and startled me. I was expecting a statue, not a living person to be along the side of the church! 

The ceiling was painted red and the wooden floors were a herringbone pattern. It had a couple of different saints that I was not very familiar with, Santa Filomena and Santa Terrsita de los Andes. 

From there we walked over to Bellavista area where we had dinner on our first evening. Along the way we passed through various shops - lingerie, accessories, party supplies, hats, and bakeries. Then, we entered the club district. It was a massive area and the spots were huge. All of the supply trucks were parked around to resupply them with more Cerveza. 

We turned the corner to the more sedate restaurant area and had a Chilean beer, Cusquena, at La Gloria, before continuing our walk. 

We crossed back over the water and stopped in a Republica Independiente del Pisco for one last meal and drink. We ordered a couple of our favourite Chilean Piscos, Horcon Quemado, Reservado 40 to get us started.