If there is a patron saint of hangovers, he should be called Gilbert. Ian and I got up feeling a little fragile, although determined to visit one of Rio's most famous landmarks, Christ the Redeemer. But the thought of getting a train to the summit with hordes of other tourists was enough to make us dizzy.
Fortunately, our taxi driver Gilbert was sympathetic and agreed to take us near to the top in his car and wait for us to come down. We waited in the wrong queue but luckily Saint Gilbert was in the right queue on our behalf, getting our tickets. We spent longer than we intended up there, taking in the great views and bumping into friends we had made the night before, but Gilbert waited with the patience of, well, a saint.If it was a day when we needed to be led by the hand, we encountered our second Brazilian worthy of canonization that night. We went to the Sambadrome to see the spectacular parade, and an elderly lady scooped us up as we emerged from the station, to safeguard us through the myriad of deprived streets that surround the stadium and lead us to our seats. Amazing woman. It was her 10th year flying in from the middle of Brazil to attend the parade.
There is no equivalent British event that so transfixes the nation as this. Imagine the X Factor Final, England playing in the World Cup and the Eurovision Song Contest, all rolled into one. And lasting eight hours. Yes. Eight hours. Too long for two tired young pups like us, we left at 3am. Notting Hill Carnival will never be the same again.
THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE TODAY:
Very few Brazilians wears glasses, because they are considered unfashionable
MORE RIO SIGHTS PICS AND VIDEOS:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14099398@N00/sets/72157623477333088/
PARADE PICS AND VIDEOS:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14099398@N00/sets/72157623353111905/
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