Rio Wind Down (Well, not really)

We continue on from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro to end our last few days of Carnaval. I should add here that in Brazil we got three business days holiday for this celebration, which I was estatic about considering SAP gives us ZERO public holidays in the US from Jan 1 through Memorial Day. I am enjoying this Latin America holiday calendar, that is for sure!
So we arrive to a gorgeous 3 bedroom apartment that Scott has somehow miraculously arranged for us through an apartment swap with a Carioca. It is about a block off Copacabana beach and we are thrilled. Day 1 involves some catch up sleep and wandering in the much more low key street parties for Carnaval. We hit the beach as well (staying completely under the umbrellas since its hotter than Hades and this gringa has not gotten any colour yet). I'm so white small children were staring at me wide eyed when I went swimming. Best of all on the beach is complete state of near-nudity that people of all ages, shapes, sizes enjoy. It's quite refreshing to see, I embrace it! In fact, I purchased my first brazilian bikini, which leaves much more cheek exposed though I did not bare all (yet - you'll have to wait for future posts Haha) in a thong bikini. I figure that is just too much white even for this open culture.
I start to think we're done with the carnaval parties. Nope, think again... We head for the hills to check out Santa Teresa, a funky area up overlooking Rio. Scott, Cynthia and I take over a gorgeous patio area at the posh Santa teresa hotel. I will definitely be staying there in the future. Three bottles of wine later, we go meet my friend mariana and crew of other friends from SP and Mexico City, just arrived also from Salvador. We start out a botteco (casual open air bars common here). A bunch of drinks, some food and laughs in 3 languages later, we are hosting a party at our apartment, drinking makeshift sangria and dancing in the living room. Realizing that my flight is in oh, 3 or 4 hours, we decide we may as well just stay up. Good god. It always seems like a good idea at the time. It was NOT a good idea.

I finally get in a cab about 4am, go straight to the airport for my flight back to Sao Paulo. I land, get stuck in rush hour back to the apartment have only time to drop my stuff, shower and I'm back at the office giving a presentation shortly after arrival.
This is the part where I remind myself repeatedly that I am THIRTY ONE and not TWENTY ONE. My brain doesn't ever remember this when I'm in the middle of having fun, however. I never did lose that kid quality of refusing to go to sleep in case of missing out on the fun. I am becoming convinced that I am not ever going to shake this. So, the all nighters continue.

Nice to be back in Sao Paulo. It is starting to feel like home.