Sizzling Hot Rio

Actually, I don't know how much the hotel cost, because the price was combined with my plane ticket. The two together were quite reasonable. My stay was seven days.

To make matters better, a daily buffet breakfast is included, and so is a ride back to the airport.

What I liked the most? One of the girls at the front desk was just gorgeous. My chambermaid was pretty too. She took the time to vacuum the inside of my duffel bag; that was quite nice of her.

This hotel is probably a lot fancier than what I needed. It's really a business hotel where small conventions can be held. It's about 200 meters from Copacabana. It's close to the northern extremity of the beach, so the walk to Ipanema is a little long for some.

The most important thing about a hotel is the water pressure in the shower, and it's quite strong in this hotel.

So, I have absolutely no complaints about the hotel. It's quite good actually.

It was a difficult tour, but I don't necessarily blame Gray Line. It takes time to pick everyone up. The line ups at the Christ the Redeemer site are long, even on a Tuesday. Lunch at the restaurant, near Ipanema, was unbelievably slow. It was late afternoon by the time we got out of there, and we had still only seen one site.

We spent a few minutes at Catedral Metropolitana, then on to Sugar Loaf Mountain, the definite highlight. There's a memorably hot girl working at the jewelry store at the top, though I can't guarantee she'll still be there when you go. The sunsets from there are nice as well.

I suppose it would have been just as easy to see the sights unguided, but then you don't meet as many people.

In spite of all the horror stories about the violence in Rio, I walked all over the southern part of the city, and some of the north.

Ipanema has the better looking women. Also, I find sometimes it's better to just lie there and wait for them to come to you, rather than try to find them. Copacabana is more of a family beach, but there's plenty of good people-watching there too.

There's is no point in walking around the lagoon during the day; the views are not that great and it's completely deserted. I hear it's nice in the evening.

Urca is quite nice. It's a quiet little village. The time I spent there was a nice change of pace.

A little further north, Parque do Flamengo is a good place for a run, Rua do Catete has some nice shops and Largo do Machado is worth a look. I think every city has a Largo do Machado. You know, that stone square where men play chess and cards.

I always felt safe.