Day 7 in Rio – Jardim Botânico

Today’s destination was the botanical garden and Ipanema and Copacabana.

The driving force was Tilda a french doctor who was on her way from an internship back home to start her residency and her friend whom we met up with at the garden. Ludo tagged along too. Again we went via Metrô and Metrô Na Superfície.

The area in front of the garden was closed off for another trial run for the Olympics next year. I think it was a 5k run. The Brazilians seem to be keen on getting started early and getting the kinks hammered out before the opening this time.
Will it work out? We’ll have to wait and see. There is still lots to do.

The botanical garden itself like any usual botanical garden I know of. (Not that I am an expert by a long shot.) But it was still exciting to see plants from all over Brazil in one place.
The orchids were nice too and I learned a few things like Bromelioideae being linked with Moskitos and therefore often being eradicated. Problem is: Moskitos don’t like the water in these plants because it isn’t good for their larvae after all. They prefer the man made puddles right next to the plants. So by just getting rid of our waste like thrown away tires one could do more to prevent those pests.
One thing that was surprising for me to find in a botanical garden was an area with herbs. The kind you can use in the kitchen. Like lemongrass or sage or thyme.

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Again we discovered a bird which of course I had to chase with the camera. Turns out it was a toucan. (Yes sometimes a telefoto lens helps to clear up doubts as to how a beak really looked like.)
This sighting made Tilda especially happy as these birds had eluded her on her whole stay in Brazil.

The second stop where the beaches. They were quite packed. The photos don’t do them justice in this regard. Well it was Sunday after all.
There was a little bit of excitement as the police arrested one of the youngsters (I don’t know what for) and his friends where quite outspoken against that. – Not that it helped.

I personally don’t get the hype about Ipanema and Copacabana. Yes they are a place to go away from the hot city. And it is nice sand. But the water is quite cold and the sea is not the calmest. Swimming is not that easy here.
At least in Copacabana there is enough space at the beach to have some other activities than just roasting and dipping into the water.