It’s 3:30am. Why the hell am I awake?? Arrrgh, this lack of sleep is starting to get on my nerves. I made the mistake of checking the upcoming weather forecast for my day in Rio when I have a sunset helicopter flight booked. It’s calling for thunderstorms in the late afternoon which doesn’t bode well when you’re flying around in a tin can with rotors. I may have to get creative with my time and rebook it for a different day so my brain is spinning with that possibility, trying to process all the events that have occurred the last few days and digest my massive dinner the night before.
In a drunk-like state I get packed up for our flight to Rio this morning. Latam airlines have a strict 22lb restriction for carry-on baggage and I’m pretty sure my camera bag weighs more than that.
We arrive at the airport in plenty of time and to my joy, they don’t weight my camera bag. I get my other backpack checked in and promptly lose the baggage tag🙄. I don’t know what is going on with me this trip but I seem to be losing stuff every other day. Nothing that really matters but annoying all the same as I’m not usually like this. Hopefully my bag doesn’t get lost.
I contact Rio Helicopters and change my flight to today while the weather is holding. Even if I don’t get sunset at least it won’t be raining and lightning. It’ll be a race to get there by the time we land and get to our hotel, but I’m thinking positive. At that moment, I notice that our flight to Saó Paulo is late. This could get complicated as we have a short connection to catch our flight onwards to Rio. All I can do is hope for the best.
Our flight is delayed and we are running for our connection in Saó Paulo but make it with minutes to spare. It’s a short hop to Rio de Janeiro and we quickly get our bags from the carousel and head to our hotel. I have to leave right away in order to make my helicopter flight but I’m concerned about the weather as it’s very cloudy and socked in. I decide to take the chance as the weather changes quickly here so you never know. My Uber driver is one of the few that speak English and he says he’s happy to have the opportunity to practice. We chat throughout the ride about the violent crime in the Rio, the organized crime in the favelas and how ineffective the police are in them, how his wife is a nutritionist and wants to move to Canada, and how crazy the traffic is with 9 million people living in the city.
I arrive at the hangar in time for my flight but unfortunately, when we take off we’re advised that Christ the Redeemer is completely socked in and the pilot isn’t allowed to go near for safety reasons. I’m feeling really disappointed but focus on the sight of the city and landscape laid out before me. It’s not exactly how I planned but it’s still amazing to be up in the sky with just me and the pilot. The pilot points out the different neighbourhoods and favelas. They’re clinging to the mountainsides as the affluent people prefer to give up the view to live down by the water instead. Some of the favelas have the best views in the city and are butted up against mansions and ritzy neighbourhoods. It would be interesting to visit one, but much too dangerous as you never know when automatic gunfire is going to ring out.
It’s the last night with the group so Melany takes us to a traditional Brazilian restaurant for dinner. Melany and I share a fish and shrimp stew that is delicious and filling. No dessert for me this evening. We say our goodbyes and have an early night as Melany and I will be up at 4:30am to meet with my guide, Luis for sunrise.
