I know, I should spend my time at the praia de Copacabana, looking at the slim strongly built beach volley players who do a lot of efforts to show their muscles. But I am not that much into praia, or beach volley muscles ;-)
 Today I took the metro and went to the old city centre. I had a map so that I could a little bit feel where I was. No particular destination, just walk the old streets.

If I compare to old Portugal, the “mother land”, here the old buildings did not survive well. The pavement did though, white tiles with black motives, that change depending on where you are. But the buildings, some are well kept, a little lost among the modern high skyscrapers, but many are falling apart. Too bad. Drew told me that there is a law here about not being able to destroy these facades, which is nice, but then no-one has the money to renovate, so the buildings stay abandoned, some are now wrapped in nets to protect the surrounding from falling stones. It made me a little sad.
On the other hand, I walked by the São Bento mosteiro, and the church was in full renovation works. I could only have a glimpse of the inside, but it looked lovely, full of guided wooden carvings!
I walked to the water, saw the ferry terminal where I was with Lisa last saturday, and a little further, the start of the runway of the national Drumont airport. Funny, when a plane gives full power, the ocean water behind it fumes up!
 Already on my way back home, I passed the Glória and Catete neighbourhoods, and enjoyed the Largo de Machado, a nice plaza with flower shops, a little market, people sitting there and men playing cards. There I will also have to stand in the line to buy a ticket for the visit at the ""Cristo Redemptor"", perched on top of the “Corcovado”", and that one sees from everywhere here in Rio!
My feet started to ache, so I stopped at a little café to drink a "cafe com leite", looking around and seeing all these people, enjoying the warm weather and listening to their funny accent. I should understand them, and sometimes I do, but most of the time I just have no clue! It is great fun though to practice my Portuguese!