Rio de Janeiro

We left for Myrtle Beach Airport a little before 2pm. Dad was kind enough to drive us. We stopped and picked Kyrie up from school a bit early so I could tell her goodbye. Greg left me a sweet goodbye letter that morning.

All was smooth with getting checked in, the people at MYR have a very good sense of humor. They are always kind and they’ve been having a heck of a time landing planes with all the smoke from the Carolina Forest fires. Our layover in Dallas Fort Worth was very close though with only 45 minutes between the time we were supposed to arrive and takeoff. The flight was uneventful…except for me worrying about our connection.

But then as we exited the plane ready to sprint 3/4 off a mile to the international terminal, BEHOLD! A knight on his people mover tram appeared waiting at our gate, ushered us in after I explained our quandary, and drove our happy butts to our gate with 10 minutes to spare! No trouble, no problems, last group to board. We settled in for our 10 hour flight to GIG, Rio’s international airport. The food sadly was abysmal. But mom handed it off to our other seatmate. She always seems to be sat by the young men who need to eat more.

Arrived in Rio almost an hour before schedule, cleared customs easily, got all our luggage and a taxi (the guy told us it would be $R 90 which he quickly explained was only $16 US) our Air B&B hotelpartment (room in an apartment building uses like a hotel room). The lady in charge was super nice and got us into a room by 10:30 am instead of 3 pm check in time. The room is spacious but sparse but the most important feature works like a champ, the AC.

Mom wasn’t able to rest well so we chilled and snooze until 2ish. That was when things went a bit pear shaped…My mobile internet device (the hockey puck) sent me a message that I’d used all my data for my global day pass. (I have NEVER used all my data in the 8 years I’ve traveled with it!) Then those boogers throttled my connection to a snails’ pace. Cue me freaking out…

Without the ability to access online features like maps, translate and the internet, we are very much hamstrung. I can’t navigate, converse or read anything. Much as I’d like to go out and wander the streets, this definitely ain’t Tokyo. It’s a bummer, but better to be safe. So instead we spent time finding a guided tour for tomorrow before we board the NCL Star between 4:30-5 pm. Currently we are waiting for a meeting time, fingers crossed.

We did venture out a little but got so turned around we didn’t stay out long. Mom got a sandwich and some kind of water. I got Orange Fanta in honor of my daughter.

To be honest, I think we are in for the day. 😢
Both of us are sore and tired and forcing ourselves to eat, so it might be for the best. Neither of us wants to get sick.

Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have much better photos of Rio!Leia mais