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Monday, July 15, 2013

Running in Rio

After learning I was off to Brazil, and was planning on extending my trip, I investigated to see if there were any organized runs in the cities and dates I would be there.  Great news!  The Rio Marathon, the largest marathon in Brazil, was running on my last day in Brazil!  I registered for the half marathon (which helped to keep me motivated during my travels!).

Unfortunately I did most of my running in Taguatinga on a treadmill, but it was great to get outside for some runs.  It was fun to pass my time running while people watching at the park, and looking forward to fresh coconut water.  There are all types of people out at the park I went to in Brasilia - walkers, runners, cyclists and even rollerbladers.  People wore a variety of outfits from running wear we would see in the states, to men wearing shorts similar to speedos, and women walking in bikini tops, and white socks that went to mid calf.  Many individuals had on shirts from various running clubs and race shirts. While out there I wondered how many were training for a race, maybe the marathon, or if any were training or thinking about the Brazil 135.  (Maybe some of the WDR's should check out the Brazil 135!)

There are lots of people who are out at the parks on the weekends running, and even during the week.  Many parks have equipment (both for strength and cardio) for the community to use instead of people heading to the gym.  These were in most cities I visited.

This park was in Brasilia.

This was the park in Rio!  Great view of the bay and Sugar Loaf!

Running once we arrived in Salvador became challenging due to the humidity.  In my mind, I compared the humidity to a West Virginia and Nebraska summer combined.  After running two miles, it was if I was in the Bikram Yoga room!  Kept hoping that the half in Rio would be better than the short runs in Salvador.  They were beautiful runs though along the coast!

Views from a run in Salvador.

Running in Rio was wonderful!  There were over 61 countries represented during the marathon weekend events (half, full and family 5k),  20,000 plus participants, with an expected 50,000 spectators!  Packet pickup had an international counter with volunteers who spoke a variety of languages to assist those who did not know Portuguese!  It was much appreciated.

Showing the course!

The swag we received!  Yes, they even gave us pasta, unfortunately I couldn't cook it up!

Pre-race sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean...

The half started about here.  One difference of this race, was the kilometers count down to let us know  how far we have to run still, not how fare we have gone.  It was a nice change, and seemed to help with the mental part of the run!  Glad I had my Garmin so I didn't have to constantly do math while converting kilometers to miles while running!

Local fisherman bringing in his catch as we began the race.

Views of the upcoming beaches.

One of the favelas

Coming into Copacabana Beach

These are the water cups (equivalent of about 6 ounces) at the aide stations.  More water than needed!   There were very few trash cans around, so there was plastic everywhere, with someone sweeping up the trash! 

Then at a separate aide station was the gatorade pouches.  The volunteer looked at me very strange when I took this picture.  So it is like a pillow pack and is about 3-4 inches each direction, that you rip open a corner to drink.  I watched a runner step on a pouch and gatorade shot out at other runners.

Near the finish line with Sugar Loaf in the background...

Finish area was lined with numerous running club tents, lots of people and energy to keep one moving!

Finish line after I crossed.  Thought it would be in bad form to stop in front of finish line to take a pic!

After you cross then you go to another location to pick up your medal.

Tina and I after the race!

As we were leaving...yes a rooster on a leash!  Had to take a pic!

Choices, choices...coconut water or beer sitting on Copacabana Beach post race!

Great way to end my last day in Brazil...half marathon then the beach!

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Food and drinks...

In preparing for the trip I was somewhat concerned about what types of food I would be able to enjoy. There was never a time when I went hungry, there was normally lots of food available.  Being a vegetarian eating in Brazilian restaurants can be somewhat challenging, but luckily I do incorporate seafood in my diet, as this made eating more enjoyable and easier!  Beans and rice are a staple at most meals, and the beans are fresh (not from cans) and have such a wonderful flavor.  Zucchini and pumpkin were also often seen at meals.  Brazilians use lots of pumpkin (sauteed, roasted, pureed with cheese) but not in desserts, as a vegetable with their meals.  It definitely makes me want to cook more pumpkin and beans as it was all delicious.

Read on to learn more about the food and drinks of Brazil!  The food was so good!

This might look rather mono-chromatic, but it was one of the best meals I had while in Brazil.  This is a mango shrimp (with pieces of mango), pureed pumpkin, and broccoli rice.

Rice and beans!  Then there were always so many choices at the kilo restaurants.

Kilo restaurants are very common, these are buffets with so many items (both healthy and not healthy), but you only pay for what you put on your plate.  It is a great concept, patrons are able to return and obtain more food, then one just weighs their plate again.  There was not salad as we are accoustomed to, it would be large leaves of lettuce, with just a few toppings, then oil and vinegar, which one would need to cut up with a knife and fork. 

Moqueca is another traditional Brazilian meal, more common in the northern part of the country (Bahia).  It is made with fish or shrimp, coconut milk, palm oil, onions and bell peppers.  While in Rio, we took a cooking class to learn to make moqueca, it is very easy, and delicious!  

Chef Simone supervising the group.

Adding the fish..

Here is the final product we made!  Served with rice and farofa (made from manioc flour)

The view outside the restaurant!

Now I don't think I can talk about Brazilian food without mentioning condensed milk!  Condensed milk seems to be in most sweets I encountered.  The most common was Brigadeiro, which is condensed milk and chocolate.  Another was condensed milk and coconut.  I even found a pizza that had condensed milk on it.  It became almost a joke, as I would ask Isabel what ingredients were in certain foods and her reply was frequently condensed milk.  Brazilians even put condensed milk on Acai! (Sorry no pictures of condensed milk!)

Acai is definitely a treat I could get used to in juice or frozen form (similar to sorbet!)

 It is common to put fresh fruit or granola on Acai.  

Banana is so common in Brazil, I believe I heard they have over 20 different varieties!  Bananas are in many food dishes and on the kilo buffets.  Bananas are fried, made into pies and on pizza.  The pie I had was great!  I have found a recipe since I came home and plan to make the banana pie (to see if it is as good  as the ones I had traveling!)

Banana dessert pizza!  It may not sound appealing, but it's amazing!

Dried tomatoes (a common food item) and arugula pizza!  

Isabel and I at the pizza restaurant...

Caipirinha is the Brazilian drink made most commonly with cachaca (sugar cane rum) and fruit.  In the class we also learned to make this drink, but I had enjoyed it several times already.  The drink is incredibly strong as the only ingredients are - ice, fruit (lime is the most common), and cachaca.  

Traditional caipirinha

Strawberry, passion fruit and pineapple caipirinhas!  No, I was not drinking all of them...only the passion fruit.

Just as in the states, beer is very popular.  

Beer and moqueca while watching the Brazilians win the confederate cup in Salvador.

Restaurant is on the Atlantic Ocean. 

The van is getting ready to sell beers on the beach ( I think)...this was at about 7:30 am!

Hotel reservations come with breakfast which is a big buffet of lots of fresh fruit (mangos, papaya, pineapple, watermelon and bananas were the most popular), pastries, cakes, eggs, breakfast meats, ham (I think), cheese, coffee, and fresh juices.  Being home, I do miss the mango, papaya and pineapple every morning. Some hotels have omeletes and tapioca made to order.

Tapioca!  Made with tapioca flour and then filled with cheese, coconut, butter and/or condensed milk.  I had cheese and butter.  It is rather dry tasting.

Coconut water is also very popular, and depends on the location depends on the price.  I saw them range in price from approximately  USD $.80 to $3.00.  After you drink the water you can eat the flesh!


Thursday, July 11, 2013

Rio de Janeiro

My month in Brazil is now over, it is unbelievable that the time has passed so quickly.  There are still several blog entries that I need to post from my time away, it is strange writing them while not in Brazil!

My last stop in Brazil was in Rio de Janeiro!  Rio was the most touristy city and experience I had while in Brazil.  

Corcovado mountain is 2,316 feet high, and has one of the most iconic sites of Rio de Janeiro, Cristo Redentor, which towers over the city.   In 1931 it was officially inaugurated to honor the centenary of Brazil's independence.  Chirst arms are open to represent the warmth of the Brazilian people.  It is possible to see the Christ from many areas in Rio, my hotel window looked out on it.  The Christ is lighted at night, so it is possible to see it at all hours. 

View of Sugar Loaf from Christ the Redeemer.  

Becomes a very busy tourist attraction, with people taking pictures with their arms stretched out.  

People will lay on the ground to take pictures.

View of Copacabana Beach from the Christ.

View from the tram as it passes through the Parque Nacional da Tijuca rainforest on the way to the top!

Finally was able to get a picture of the small monkeys (Marmoset)that are about the size of a large squirrel as I was leaving Corcovado!  More pictures of them later.

Next we were off to Selaron Stairs in the Lapa area.  Jorge Selaron from Chile, began creating this in 1990 using the colors of Brazil (green, yellow and blue) as a tribute to the country.  He would purchase tiles, and others would bring him tiles from places they visited.  This was an ongoing project, where he would constantly add and change tiles.  Selaron was found dead on the steps earlier this year.   In 2005 the staircase was considered a city landmark, and Selaron became an honorary Rio resident.  The staircase is incredible beautiful, unfortunately there are several police officers at the base of the stairs.

San Francisco tiles on the stairs.

Sugar Loaf was the last touristy spot visited for the day!  This is 1,300 feet above the water and consists of two mountains, Morro do Urca and Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf).  There are 2 cable cars, the first is taken from the ground to Morro do Urca, then then 2nd is to the top of Sugar Loaf.  The views while on the cable car and on top of the mountains are beautiful, especially at sunset while I was there.

View from inside the the lower cable car.

Sugar Loaf from Morro do Urca (lower mountain).  

View of the Guanabara Bay as the sun is beginning to set.

Atlantic Ocean and areas along the beaches.

Sugar Loaf from across the bay.

The night was ended in Lapa at Rio Scenarium where we listened to some Samba, drank a caipirinha, and had some dinner.  It was a nice ending to the day!

Drinking the caipirinha!

Here are some pictures of Copacabana Beach - it is like no beach I have ever seen.  There are vendors with chair and umbrella rentals, snack bars that sell coconut water and beer.  The beach became so crowded on Sunday afternoon, but people were not running around and kicking sand up as I have seen at many other beaches.  There were entire families, couples, and groups and friends at the beach.

Copacabana Beach before it got busy!  Remember it is winter here.

Beach/street front snack bar.

Copacabana Beach around sunset.