Rio De Janero

welcome to Salvador, Brazil!!!


Dont forget there are more new photos at http://community.webshots.com/user/chadgriggs!!

Rio!!!!!!!!!

Well we are finally back in Salvador after a great time in Rio. After my last post we hired a driver for the half day to show us around the city. We first went to the Christ Statue on top of the Mountain that divides the city. Half way up the mountain the driver stopped at a look out point half way up the mountain to look out over the entire city that was pretty cool. After that we made our way up through the clouds and rain to the top, where you have to get in an elevator to make the other four or five stories up. Once there on this day that it was so cloudy you could not see down the mountain and only a dazed view of the statue. The Christ statue is unbeleivably huge. It seemed to be much larger than the statue of Liberty to me.


After that he took us back into an internet cafe and then onto the local market in Cococabana to get local trinkets it was kind of funny because they had stuffed piranas there. Then off to our final meal at a Brazilian steak house. It was again very good but we found it hard to even come close to eating as much as we had the night before because of all of the red meat kind of plaid a number on our stomachs. Although AJ did get around to eating some chicken hearts that were on one of the skewers. It took him about three minutes to actually get it down and the cab driver who was sitting at our table with us found it to be very amusing. Aparently it was really chewy and bloody tasteing who would have thought. Then finally he took us to the airport where he tried to play the game of the price just went up although I had confirmed with him like four times throughout the course of 2 days the price. It is funny how no matter where you travel without a meter it always seems to happen. But we ended up giving him what we had previously discussed and got checked in. After the plane was 20 minutes late from the time we were supposed to leave we were finally able to board the plane. Then after about thirty minutes of not understanding portugese somone came up to us and told us in English that the reason why we were over an hour late leaving rio was becuase the federal police in Salvador where we were headed were on strike. We finally arived at our ship around 3:30 that morning.

After lunch and beginning to explore the city of Salvador we found out from ceveral SAS kids that the city of Salvador where the ship is docked that it really isn~t safe. There had been about 5 different times that SAS kids had gotten mugged while in port. It made us apreciate being in Rio that seemed to be so safe. Although we have learned to always only carry very little cash, no jewelry and to always atleast look like you know where you are going. As we explored the city of Salvador we have seen some interesting things. First the city is built on two parts, to get to the upper part you must buy a token to ride the elevator about three stories up the mountain to the upper area which is much nicer than the lower. There are many stores and tons of vendors on the streets selling anything from tamales to calculators which I purchased to make the transactions a little bit easier. We are now in the main shopping mall at an internet cafe that is really nice. We have to be back on board the ship about 9pm tonight so I am sure we will use the rest of the day soaking up culture and having dinner.

Before I go I want to wish Amber a happy birthday since I will be on the ship while it occurs. I love and miss you all very much.

Chow!!!
Chad