2/13 Yesterday was kind of a laid back day. We visited other neighborhoods..Santa Teraza, Lapa and Urca. Fabio suggested a taxi to S. Tereza, but of course Terry had other ideas. The metro to a bus ... we walked and walked and walked. I have come to realize that it is a full time job trying to avoid the sun and the parades. We came across 7 during our 8 hour walk. They were everywhere.  In S. Tereza we saw the hippie, artsy district, Lapa had the Seleron stairs and Urca was were Sugarloaf mountain and a beach were located. Here at the beach we had our daily salsa dog and relaxed under the shade and read for a while as we people watched. In Lapa we came across 2 young ladies from Australia who were looking for the stairs too. They had quit their waitressing jobs to travel to America for 3 months. While there, they met lots of people who convinced them they should go to S. America. So they found a cheap flight to Panama and it's been 7 months for them here. Next week they will start looking for jobs on line to head home in 3 weeks. How cool is that? You meet the most interesting people traveling. .. and Terry and I thought this was an adventure!  Of course he took the opportunity to ask about jobs for us in the mining industry for when we retire.
S. Tereza was very nice with cobbled streets and it set way up on a hill. We figured out why Fabio suggested a taxi. Quite the hike. Guess we were preparing for the Inca Trail.  Terry is looking forward to that so we can rest up. Ha ha.
We got back to our neighborhood just before dark...safe and sound. We did really good all on our own. Dinner was at a local sandwich shop and we managed to order without a word of english. Took a gamble and it was delicious.
Ended the day with our nightly walk on the beach (which of course the internet tells you not to do, but we found to be very safe, probably since it's carnaval and there are so many people).
Back to the room to pack.
This morning we are leaving the big city to meet up with Bob And Germaine in Iguazu Falls, Argentina. Even though we had a great time here, we are not really city oeople and are looking forward to the more  rural areas with nature as the focus.
Wish us luck crossing the border by bus, cause Terry says anyone can manage customs at an airport. This may be a little more adventurous.