Mar-2014
Biking Rio de Janeiro with Bruno
You’re in Rio. Yes, the amazing Rio de Janeiro! So what’s the best way to explore such a big, impressive and busy city? By bike of course!
It’s 9am when I arrive at our meeting-point, which lies in front of the well-known Copacabana palace hotel.
Two American tourists are already getting set for the tour while Bruno shakes my hand. He shows me the bike I’ll use today and asks me to try the height of the saddle.
All good to go!
We start off with some information about the Copacabana palace which has a lot of interesting visitors each year. Bruno explains about the stay of The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Lenny Kravitz and many other artists and the actual reason of the existence of this tremendous hotel. I ask him what the price would be for a room in Copacabana palace and he guesses it must be around $R 1500 per night. Wow.
We start cycling towards the beach where Bruno shows us a clock which counts down till the most exciting upcoming event in Rio. Can you guess which one that is? I’m sure you can!
Across the beach boulevard stands a statue named “Monumento á princesa Isabel”. Bruno wants to show it to us and he explains the story about Princess Isabel letting all the African slaves free without her farther, the king, knowing about it. How pissed off the landlords must have been!
We cycle through a tunnel and reach another statue. Mister Simon Bolivar! I’ve seen many statues of him in the entire continent. It looks like I should really know by now who this guy is, but Bruno gives me the correct explanation so that I can remember again who this Bolivar really was. We continue using the cycling paths and ride to the Sugarloaf cable car starting point. It reminds me that I still haven’t been on this touristy attraction, but I realize that it must be worth it to spend an afternoon on the Sugarloaf mountain and its viewpoint after seeing this today.
We leave the beach near Sugarloaf for the harbor and enter the Flamengos neighborhood. A beautiful park lets us enjoy the pretty view, but a couple of airplanes passing by seem more interesting to me. The Santos Dumont airport is very nearby, so I can see many airplanes take off and land.
Time for a break
We get on the bikes again and stop after a couple of minutes for a coconut-break. For $R 5 a local guy makes a coconut ready to drink from and afterwards he opens it up so that you can enjoy the jelly inside.
We cycle back to Copacabana, to the Copacabana palace, where our bike tour ends and we have to say goodbye to Bruno.
Bruno’s company Bike in Rio is very young – it exists only 1,5 years now – but Bruno is already completely dedicated to this creation. He’s the owner, the guide, the organization, but most of all he’s the one that brings a smile to your face while your exploring Rio by bike! He knows what’s going on in Rio de Janeiro: when there’s a football match, which favelas you should visit and so on. A great, friendly, local guide if you ask me!
About Renate Rigters
Ever since I left my home country I felt at home at any other place I went to. I enjoy getting to know more cultures by talking to strangers and hearing their philosophy about life. Speaking with gestures when you can not find a shared language, finding places only the locals go to and learn about their customs and values. Hanging out with local people makes me happy. The experience of every new place is a step out of your comfort zone where I like to wander around until it feels like a second home.
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