Down To Earth

After yesterday’s Christmas celebration seeing how the other half live in the Palace, we were very much back down to earth in parts of Rio far from the tourist track, although actually only twenty-five minutes away physically from the main beaches - we visited Larangeiras, Machado and Catete, to be precise.   We’ve been before (we even stayed in Catete during one carnival about ten years ago due to a booking mix up with our own flat) and enjoyed being back in the mix of ordinary folk going about their ordinary business, shod in the ordinary way that only Brazilians are, in their Havaianas! See DD’s blip (when posted a little later) for details of the market research survey I helped her carry out!

Bottom left is Praca Sao Salvador where we had lunch after exploring the streets around it and finding a few hidden-gem restaurants.  The top shot is Largo de Machado, a large square complete with fountain, church and sprawling plant shops, all under the original rain forest canopy that provides a deep shade like no other.   The open air terrace of Rico’s is on the corner of the square with Rua Catete that led us along to the Imperial Hotel where we stayed before.   We met and had a beer with an English guy (Roger/Rodrigo) a former musician in his late sixties who took up residence here twenty years ago and was both witty and kind.

A good day, overall!