Day 30: Rio - MAC, shopping and beaches

We woke to a beautiful day in Rio and decided to cross the bay to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC).  Our guide book (good ole LP) told us that the ferry ride across the bay alone was most definitely worth the trip to the MAC.  We took a large ferry across the bay and walked to the MAC.  It is an incredible building, designed by Brazil´s most famous architect (so we were told).  It is white and circular, an organic shape that rises from sea cliffs above a small bay across the larger bay from Rio.  Behind this building we could see all of Rio, including Cristo and Pao do Asucar.  The museum was mediocre but the views very worth it.

 

Because the weather was so nice we decided to take a bus to some highly recommended beaches north of the museum.  Our book, as well as two different people in two different information booths told us that the #38 would take us to the beach.  In order to catch the 38 we had to walk for several km, and, when we finally reached the place to catch the bus, the excitedly jumped onto a bus.  The #38A bus... 

 

Everyone can probably guess where this is going.  The ride, we knew, was about 50 minutes, and 50p minutes of driving time is a lot of time to get off course.  Thankfully, the 38A route ends only about 3 km from the beach...unfortunately, the 38 route ends about 500 meters from the beach.  So, we got some walking in. The beach was very nice, bound on both sides by very large cliffs. The waves were quite big and there were quite a few surfers riding the waves.  We also got to test out our new swim suits we´d bought the day before...Chris bought a speedo.  Olivia bought a thong.  When in Brazil, do as the Brazilians.

 

Answer to quiz regarding the dangers of the futbol: the correct answer is actually D! According to the LP, games have the potential to get so rowdy that spectators in the lower seats can get struck by dead chickens and human urine! Yick! (thankfully nothing like that happened to us).