Recreio `balsa`

I´m still getting used to it, but now we either have to endure a 20 min walk to go to the beach under the tropical sun or take the boat though the lakes to get to the shore. Relaxing and perfect for kids - and the boys are always looking for alligators... i still havent seen one yet, but i´ll show you if i do...

Clean is not on the eyes of the beholder

Recreio beach yesterday, the closest beach to our apartment now, was actually the only beach considered not polluted in the area. Still, the algae gave a not very welcoming impression... I didn´t get in the water but our boys didn´t seem to care. The beach was still crowded though. I haven´t been to that many beaches around the world since I prefer to stay in the cities for I grew up near the beach and always want to see something different when i travel, but was thinking during my stroll how this is a carioca experience... It´s not for the blue waters, it´s not for the sun, beach is a carioca thing since it´s about the joy of being together...

Still wishing we had more flags around the city..

For years I´ve seen this volleyball court with the flag announcing a ìt´s-too-hot-to-practice-now`break....

Ipanema beach´s gym for all is back!

I was very excited to see that the beach gym is back! Why did it take so long!! It is still in the are which is the `showcase of Rio`, although i have personal issues with highly touristsy stuff i also would like to think all of Rio is like this... some 10 yrs ago the gym was here for a summer, and i was there often not only because i was megabroke but also because is there a better incentive to workout than this amazing view?

Not 130 degrees!:)

But it feels like that!:)

@ Ipanema Beach, around posto 10

Rio 2016 Countdown

The cow parade´s excitement for the upcoming Olympics... @ Ipanema Beach, posto 9

A carioca thing

It´s useless... Every time i come to Ipanema i promise to myself i won´t spend too much money... But our beach towels (`cangas`) only get cuter and cuter... I´ve got the 3rd and 6th from the bottom, and i am about to get the 2 first ones from the bottom... Ok what a useless post:)

btw they are 20 reais - around 10 dollars...

Solar power

It is with great joy that i found this solar powered shower at Ipanema Beach. As a citizen, and environmentally conscious and passionate engineer, and a just-about-everything-enthusiast, i was thrilled to see we have these now... They haven´t been around for long, and even if the efficiency of photovoltaics is still around 10-15%¨, we have enough sun to power many! The weather we had this week is living proof:)

Portuguese Pavement

Living in Rio it´s easy to ignore the beauty of these pavements... It´s just there, it has always been there, we don´t consider its true expression of art, and highly useful art... This one is the landmark of Ipanema, taken yesterday at Av. Vieira Souto...
They can also be found in Portugal and Macau, our Chinese `brothers`:) thanks, wikipedia!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_pavement

My California..

I was already losing hope that yesterday would be a cloudy day only and i wouldn´t see the amazing Ipanema sunset... I was waiting for the bus and when i realized the sun was there to say hello to me and in an awesome way... i ran from the bus stop to take these pics... and no i didn´t miss the bus:)