Elad’s blog

I underestimated the camarote concept. Describing it as a “spectator balcony” is misleading. Actually, it would be more accurate to call it a “huge discoteque”.

(more…)

Carnival in Bahia is the largest in the world and it encourages active participation. It is said that there are 1.5 million people dancing on the streets at any one time.
Footprint South American Handbook 2006

I am generally satisfied with my guidebook. However, here I think they are a bit underestimating. The feeling here is as if there are at least 2 million people on the streets.

(more…)

The Portuguese conquered Brasil in the early 16th century. Envying all the richness that the Spanish managed to rob from the Andic countries, they were probably disappointed to find out that they conquered mainly jungles - they didn’t find neither silver mountains (e.g., Potosi in Bolivia) nor cities of gold. After some time they found precious stones (particularly diamonds), but generally Brazil became the source for different kinds of goods for Portugal: wherever the jungle permitted, huge farms were formed, and coffee, tobacco, and rubber (to a lesser extent, I think) plantations covered huge areas.

(more…)

The Fumaça, “smoking waterfall”, is some 380 meters high, which makes it - according to our excellent guide Mil - the third highest in the world (after one waterfall in Venezuela, and the Victoria falls). The interesting thing about it, is that the water don’t actually fall in it. When we visited its bottom, on the second day of the trek, the water (it had far less of it then I had expected) caught the wind on the way down, and it actually took them up , like the smoke going up from a cigarette, or rather - with the bright sun reflected from it - like a cloud that just forms above you.

(more…)

Take six jews together, and try to get them all agreed on a single matter. No wonder buying the tickets was a tedious process that took almost the entire day.

(more…)

I was not aware of the fact, that Salvador is one hour behind Rio. Thus, my flight was actually two hours, not one; and I moved a timezone again.

(more…)

The Maracanã was almost entirely full. Out of the 7 sections, one and half had the red colour of Americano; the other 5.5 sections were an ocean of black-on-white Botafogo fans, equipped with everything. With shrits and scarfs, with flags and drums, with explosives and confetti, with shouts and songs, all cheered up the clear favorite. So clear, that even I, when before the game got accidentally into the Americano section, quickly understood the mistake and moved to a Botafogo section.

(more…)

I had an excellent timing on my visit to the Corcovado hill. I went there yesterday, together with Yulia and Pavlina - two Israeli girls I met in the hostel. We sort of hanged out together all the day, and since I am a few days in Rio more than them, I showed them around some essentials - where the supermarket is, where to catch buses, and things like that; than we went together to the famous lookout of Rio, at the Corcovado hill.

(more…)

It won’t help. I am just not a clubber. Maybe I should stop trying, and concentrate on what I really am. I am writing this post at half past two (am), under the fresh impression of the events I am just about to describe. That is what happens when you try to check the nightlife in Rio.

(more…)

Here is a small reference map of Brazil. Just useful to understand what I am talking about and to think over a few ideas, like the one listed below the map.

(more…)