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Pipa Beach North Brazil

December 4, 2014 by David Herd

Pipa Beach brazil

Pipa Beach North Coast Brazil

Travelled Natal Recife via Pipa

Pipa Beach North Coast Brazil, I remember sitting in a bar in Rio Di Janeiro with two friends Dave Wylie & Doug Roarke, (RIP) and when I asked what was their favorite place in Brazil, Doug briefly considered the question before saying “Praia de Pipa”. Until that moment I had never heard of the place, but on Doug’s recommendation I planned my trip. Pipa Beach Brazil quickly became one of my favorite places in the world.

Simone Cristina Oliveira

Pipa Beach North Brazil

 

I traveled 300 kilometers by taxi from with my friend Simone from Natal to Recife, we stopped in Pipa for a few days along the way.

Low tide in Pipa

Pipa Beach North Brazil

I’m sitting on the dock of the bay……..

 landua pousada Praia da Pipa

Pipa Beach North Coast Brazil

Only 30 meters to the water, in fact the photo at the top is right in front of the hotel.

View from landua pousada

Pipa Beach North Brazil

A wonderful location in this beach paradise.

Great bar close to our hotel

Pipa Beach North Brazil

Bar, what bar? I don’t see a bar. 🙂

The ice cream man.

Pipa Beach North BrazilSorry, I prefer a cold beer. 🙂

 

Eye candy at Pipa beach

Pipa Beach North BrazilA little eye candy never goes astray. 🙂

Don’t walk away Jose

Pipa Beach North Brazil

Great beach view here, this guy is certainly punching above his weight. 🙂

What! No water…..

Pipa Beach North BrazilBut who cares?

Low tide at Pipa

Pipa Beach North Brazil No fishing for these guys until the tide comes in.

Very low tide at Pipa

Pipa Beach North BrazilWho cares about the tide? 🙂

Enjoying low tide at Pipa

Pipa Beach North Brazil Back it comes.

Pipa Beach North Coast Brazil

Pipa Beach North BrazilA great day for a swim before lunch on the beach.

Look closely you may see some fish.

Pipa Beach North Brazil

Fish, what fish? I don’t see any fish.

Fresh for dinner tonight

Pipa Beach North BrazilI’m looking forward to dinner.

 

Fresh fish for dinner

Pipa Beach North Brazil Huge servings in Brazil.

 Caipirinha before dinner

Pipa Beach North BrazilIt’s got a kick like a mule. 🙂

 

Lovely Simone, what magnificent skin colour.

Pipa Beach North BrazilPlus she is one of the nicest ladies I have eve known.

Surfs up

Pipa Beach North Brazil

Very small waves here I’m afraid. 🙂

Local artist

Pipa Beach North Brazil Lot’s of colour here.

Didgeridoo

Pipa Beach North Brazil

Half a world away from Australia we came across these Scandinavian guys playing Didgeridoos, amazing.

Where does that tattoo end?

Pipa Beach North Brazil Would be a lot of fun finding out. 🙂

A perfect day.

Pipa Beach North Brazil Most days in Pipa are perfect. 🙂

 

Sand hills all along the coast

Pipa Beach North Brazil The sand hills stretch for miles.

Thanks for visiting my Pipa Beach brazil post

Pipa Beach North Brazil

Brazilians don’t need a visa to visit Thailand. Please check out my webcam.      

Pattaya Beach live webcam

Click bottom right hand corner for full screen.

At the bottom of the page there are many more posts to check out.

 
 
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1g Duck

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Thailand Brazil England Gold Coast

November 26, 2014 by David Herd

This is not part of my travel blog just my personal photographic history.

Thailand Brazil England

Thailand Brazil England

Thailand Brazil England 2009 are not included in this post, they are trips I made through this year, as well as visiting Sydney in November. Brazil was another great experience which included a fascinating tour through Rocinha Favella. My England trip included Lands End, as well as St Ives & the nice seaside village of Lime Regis. 

So although Thailand Brazil England are not included in this post you can access them by clicking on the above links.

Seaway with Labrador in the background.

Thailand Brazil England

If I had the money this is the type of boat I would like to own.

Gold Coast Turf Club

Thailand Brazil England

It’s Melbourne cup day and my good friend Phil Thomson & I join the happy crowd which is a long way from Thailand Brazil England. 🙂

At the races with good friend Phil Thomson

Thailand Brazil England

The guy lurking in the background is Norm Jenks who is originally from Melbourne.

Carolyn Clarke, an old girlfriend from 1994.

Thailand Brazil England

Carolyn is a super girl with a great personality.

Semi trailer that turns into a bar.

Thailand Brazil England

The VB semi trailer is at the track.

My nieces Laura and Elyssa.

Thailand Brazil England

Here we are on Chevron eating fish and chips at Frank’s seafood shop.


 

Jim Bell pretending to be an important executive.

Thailand Brazil England

  Jimmy was a border at my home for 15 years from 1994 to 2009. He tends to take himself rather seriously at times. 🙂  

Dani Tobin, a real wild child.

Thailand Brazil England

I clearly remember one night Dani trying to climb through a gap at the top of my front gate and getting jammed. Her screams could be heard for miles. 

Super high tide at home

Thailand Brazil England

A tide like this only happened two or three times a year, always at however.  

Phil Thomson and I had the same model Lexus.

Thailand Brazil England

Mine was the white one, even though it was only a 1998 model it is best value car $ for $ I have ever owned.

One of my lovely Japanese borders

Thailand Brazil England

Tall and beautiful.

Old friend from the 80s.

Thailand Brazil England

The shortest lady in the black top is Teresa Hamilton-Smith who was one of my girlfriends in Sydney in 1982, that’s her daughter on the right & on the far left is her sister Lexi Hamilton-Smith. Terry is married to an English guy & now lives in the U.K.

Flashback to Teresa in 1982

Thailand Brazil England

At my home in Drummoyne with Helen Burke.

For some great 1982 memories just follow THIS LINK.

Huge storm at my home.

Thailand Brazil England

  We really get some spectacular storms on the Gold Coast, this one was a beauty.  

Here is my Brother Ian & family

Thailand Brazil England

    Adam, Shane and Ian Herd with grandfather Laurie Poulton.  

Tony Murphy & I have coffee

Thailand Brazil England

Tony & I have been friends since the early 80s, of course I now live in Thailand but when I visit the Gold Coast Tony & his wife Nikki always find a bed for me in their lovely home.

Melbas on the Park

Thailand Brazil England

   Drinks at Melbas with old friend Lloyd Ross. 

For a good hotel is a great location on the Gold Coast use THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.

My brother Warren with his good friend Lenny

Thailand Brazil England

 Sadly in 2016 we lost our good friend Lenny Schorsy after his brief battle with cancer, RIP.

I’m sorry if I misled you with the title Thailand Brazil England, it really is about my life in 2009.                          

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A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

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Samba Schools street parades

September 22, 2014 by David Herd

Carnival parade on Avenue Atlantica

Samba Schools street parades

Samba Schools street parades

Samba Schools street parades are called blocos in Rio, Carnival time in 2005 was just one huge non stop party. The excitement generated is absolutely electric.

Blocos are the street bands and groups

Samba Schools street parades
Blocos are the street bands and groups that are the main popular expression in Carnival of Pernambuco in Brazil. These celebrations are mixed under the term “street carnival”, a term that still includes the bandstands and parades at streets of Olinda and Recife, and happen during a period of about two months (beginning before and finishing after Carnival).

The biggest bloco is the Galo da Madrugada that attracts more than 2,000,000 people to downtown Recife.

Bloco on Avenue Atlantica Copacabana

Samba Schools street parades

The biggest bloco in Brazil is the Galo da Madrugada that attracts more than 2,000,000 people to downtown Recife.

Bloco truck in Copacabana

Samba Schools street parades

Never a dull moment in Copacabana.

Samba Schools street parades

Samba Schools street parades

You really almost need earplugs the music is so load. 🙂

Check out the speakers in the truck below

Samba Schools street parades

Since 2004, the blocos have exploded and now there are now nearly 300 blocos with over 40 new ones appearing for the 2007 Carnaval.  The first blocos started only a little over ten years ago. This is the heart of the “Street Carnival” which includes the greater likelihood of locals playing percussion instruments with their friends at their favorite hangout as well as  the Bandstands and the many Parades of downtown’s Rio Branco Avenue.

These events are inclusive and practice for the musicians begins months before the Carnaval and the parades do not end until Sunday of the following weekend.

Same corner later that night

Samba Schools street parades

My apologies for the out of focus photo.

Full house on Copacabana beach

Samba Schools street parades

Of course it is almost shoulder to shoulder on the beach.

Samba Schools street parades Avenue Atlantica Copacabana

Samba Schools street parades

The noise, the people, the music is fantastic.

Samba vs Marchinhas

“If they have brass, they’ll usually call themselves a “banda”. Either way, they’ll rehearse for a month or two, or maybe not rehearse at all, and then they rent a sound truck for the singers and guitarists to ride on, and have a big parade. It’s sort of a “Let’s have a party!” down-home approach to Carnaval. It’s actually the way the escolas-de-samba used to be, way back in the old days…… Most blocos play samba or, if they have a brass band, they might play marchinhas, the peppy European polka-type music of old-school Carnaval. Carnaval music used to all be marchinhas, back in the 30’s, before samba was brought to Rio by immigrants from Bahia.”

Bloco in Copacabana

Samba Schools street parades

Carnival time in Rio is something everybody should try to experience at least once in their life.

One of the Blocos in Rio

Samba Schools street parades

The crowd at Copacabana is building.

Dancing in the street

Samba Schools street parades

The Rio de Janeiro street carnival begins in November. The street carnival are structured in groups named: bloco, cordon, band or rancho but they are really about simple fun with others. If you wander in the zona sul districts of Gávea, Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana and Botafogo during the Carnaval you will often find them hanging out prior to parading. This is known as the period of Concentration.

 

Most bands also have official T-shirts for sale on the spot for about US$10, to help with the costs. They make great souvenirs, as they are sold only on Rio Carnival days.
Samba Schools street parades dancing with chairs

Samba Schools street parades

Not too sure why the chairs play a part, tradition I guess.

This is Dave Sommer & his girlfriend

Samba Schools street parades

Dave lived & worked in Sao Paulo in the insurance industry, he & his girl both danced in the parade at the Sambadrome. I was lucky to have them take me to their Samba school to see everyone preparing the costumes & the instruments.

Sadly Dave was brutally murdered in Sao Paula January 29 2015, RIP buddy.

Trying on her Samba hat.

Samba Schools street parades

With some help from her excited Mum. 🙂

Here I am with mother & daughter.

Samba Schools street parades

What a lovely two Brazilian ladies, it was such a pleasure being invited into their home.

And here she is in the parade

Samba Schools street parades

Can you imagine my joy & happiness when I spotted my friend in the parade and was able to get this great shot. Before I left Rio I had it framed as a present for her. Sambadrome is the name given to an exhibition place for the Samba Schools in Brazil. It generally consists of spectator viewing areas surrounding a long alley for the schools to parade down.

Here is the Mocidade Samba school

Samba Schools street parades

The Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel Samba School, commonly known as Mocidade, formed out of a local football (soccer) club from the favela of Padre Miguel in Vila Vintém, a neighborhood located on the western side of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Known for its unique and unparalleled style of dance and its excellence in teaching its members the steps of the samba, Mocidade competed in its first Rio Carnival parade in 1955. 

Competing in Group B, by 1958 Mocidade won its first Group title, which bumped the Samba School up to the higher tiered Access Group. In 1976, Mocidade placed fifth in the Special Group and were the Rio Carnival runners-up in 1976. Finally, in 1979 the Mocidade Samba School won its first overall Rio Carnival title with a spectacular interpretation of its theme, “The Discovery of Brazil”.

Ever since, Mocidade has been known for the the unity and synchronicity in its performances, tying together the various aspects of plot with an innovative use of dance, music, costumes and floats. Known for its futuristic design concepts, Mocidade shocked the audience, judges, and other parading Samba Schools with a miraculous flying parader — a first in Rio Carnival history!

Mocidade Samba School

Samba Schools street parades

Do you hear the drums Fernando?

Dave has got his hat & instructions.

Samba Schools street parades

I think Dave had to pay the school about $400 to participate in the parade. Dave Sommer lived & worked in Sao Paulo,  Sadly he was brutally murdered on January 11 2015. 

It all leads up to Carnival, the greatest show on Earth.

Samba Schools street parades

Many thanks for visiting my Samba Schools street parades photo blog.
For a discounted hotel room rate just book through THIS LINK.
 
 
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1g Duck

 

Pattaya live webcam
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Magnificent Brazilian girls dancing Samba in Parity.

 

 

 

Sexy Brazilian blond dancing the Samba

 

 

A little further north is a real surprise

 

They speak the same language in Portugal

 

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Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

September 20, 2014 by David Herd

Cocacabana beach

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes on Copacabana beach in 2003. This was my 4th trip to Rio in 4 years, there is no place on Earth with sexier bikini clad Brazilian babes than Copacabana & Ipanema.

Not part of my travel blog, just my photographic memories of my trip in  2003.

Carla, what a girl.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

I have never seen a more beautiful skin color in the world. Check out the guy in the background.

That’s what I call a tan.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

The Rio girls love the beach, many of them live in the Favelas and use the beach as their perfect playground.

Sandcastles & Sugarloaf Mountain.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Sugarloaf mountain dominates the Copacabana skyline. The mountain is only one of several monolithic granite and quartz mountains that rise straight from the water’s edge around Rio De Janeiro.  A glass-walled cablecar (in popular Portuguese, bondinho – more properly called teleférico), capable of holding 65 passengers, runs along a 1400-meter route between the peaks of Pão de Açúcar and Morro da Urca every 20 minutes. The original cable car line was built in 1912 and rebuilt around 1972/1973 and in 2008. The cable car leaves a ground station located at the base of the Babilônia hill, to the Urca hill and then to the Pão de Açúcar.

Copacabana beach

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Of all the hundreds of photos I have taken of Copacabana beach this is one of my favourites, along with the header on this post which was actually New Years Eve in 2007.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

This gorgeous girl is about to go through the popular routine of applying suntan cream, it is a pleasure to sit back and watch.

Step one

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes 

Their skin colour is absolutely perfect.

Step two

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes 

It’s a pleasure to watch these beautiful girls prepare for a day in the sun.

Step three

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  I caught you taking my photo. 🙂  

This really is a typical Brazilian butt.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Close to perfect. 🙂

 

What do you think of her sunglasses?

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  Sunglasses, what bloody sunglasses? I don’t see any sunglasses. 🙂  

So you really think I should go on a diet?

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

I have not seen Mr Wobbly for many years, or my feet for that matter. 🙂  

Marcelli & Tatiane, what a beautiful pair.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  Two lovely Brazilian babes who I managed to spend a fair bit of time with.  

The happy crowd at Copacabana.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  A great shot of my friends in Copacabana.  Sadly the two guys on the left have both passed away, RIP.

Doug lost his long battle with cancer and Dave was brutally murdered in Sao Paulo.

OK, back to Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Brown skin, blue sky, white sand, what a combination. 🙂 

Cold beer & a beautiful lady, what more could you want?

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

In my opinion it’s the perfect package.

Dinner with two gorgeous Swedish girls

  Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Cost me a bloody fortune but I would do it again in a flash.

Lunch with Jackie

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  I met Jackie on the internet, she has two children & speaks 3 languages, English, Italian & Portuguese.  

Meia Pataca

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Restaurant on Avenue Atlantica beside the Rio Orthon hotel. A very popular spot for the local girls looking for the guys & vice versa.

Lunch at Miea Pataca

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  Good food here and always lots of girls hanging around.  

Copacabana shower.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

No doubt this is the best beach in the world for eye candy. 🙂

A great way to cool down, a spray of cool water.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

No where else in the world have I seen this great idea. Simply press the button to release a spray of cool misty water.

Dinner with Jackie

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  Nice dinner at a seafood restaurant in Lemme.  

Her name was Sayonara

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Great name for a sensational lady.

A Japanese name for a very sexy Brazilian girl

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

The look says it all. 🙂

Rio Orthon a perfect location.

 

bfa98fd5-e449-4b91-856e-05a516d82239

For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK, book now & pay later, includes free cancellation.

Beach bar Copacabana

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

These terrific beach bars are located every 40 meters or so along Copacabana. Beer, whisky, hamburgers you name it, this kid of service is unknown in Australia or America.

Here is a webcam focused on Copacabana.

I was staying on the 3rd floor

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  My apartment was on Avenue Atlantica right above Sindicato do Chopp restaurant.  

By popular demand here is Carla again.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

I have never in my life seen better colour skin than Carla’s, my favourite of all Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes.

Big smile at the Balcony restaurant & bar.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

My friend Jonathan Whiting tells me the Balcony is now closed and Mabs is the go.

Another night another romance

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Somebody has to do it so eat your heart out. 🙂

For a great hotel room rate in RIO just book through THIS LINK.

Great Copacabana character

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

The tin man doing his thing.

The famous Belmond Copacabana Palace hotel

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Way above my pay grade, however use THIS LINK to book and get a very good discount.

Thanks for visiting my Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes photo blog.

Magnificent Brazilian girls dancing Samba in Parity.

 

                 

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1g Duck

 
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Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

 

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Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

September 18, 2014 by David Herd

 Two fantastic looking ladies

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach
Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach in 2005 and I was there to help them have a great time. Probably one of my best trips to Rio, in fact it may have been the best. Good friends, beautiful women & lots of fun.

Above is a perfect example of the beautiful sexy Brazilian girls who flock to Rio from all over Brazil at Carnival time. On the left is Samantha with one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen. I was lucky enough to spend some time with her.

Samantha, oh what a smile.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Samantha came from the country outside of Rio, I tried to contact her again when I returned in 2007 but the language barrier made it just too difficult to speak on the phone. I should have tried harder.

Haniball Lector lookalike

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Carnival is party time, there are so many wonderful characters, no wonder they call it the greatest show on Earth.

Another beautiful face in Copacabana

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Her name is Sylvia, a friend of Dave Wylie.

Tall & tanned & young & lovely

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

During the day the beach is the place to be and to be seen.

Back to Samantha at Copacabana.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Yes, the more I think about it the more I think this was my best Rio trip.

 Sensational bikini babe at Copacabana

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

This beautiful girl in the orange bikini has the most wonderful skin colour, among everything else of course. 🙂


 

 I really had to look twice to be sure she was real 🙂

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

That is what I call a very healthy well built girl, her name is Irene, you gotta love Rio.

Doug, & two Daves at Copacabana.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Doug is the guy kissing the lady, he sadly passed away a year or two after this photo was taken. A very nice man who’s company is missed by all his friends. Dave Sommer is in the middle, he lived & worked in Sao Paulo,  Sadly he was brutally murdered on January 11 2015. Dave Wylie is now in Crescent City and thinking about returning to Thailand in 2015.

OK, back to the babes

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Not too much has to be said about this photo, it seems to speak for itself. I must point out however that sexy topless girls are rare in Rio de Janeiro, one of the few locations is on Copacabana Beach in front of the Orthon Hotel.

Talking about hotels in Rio, if you want a very good discount just book through THIS LINK.

Copacabana is packed at Carnival

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Naturally the beaches are very crowded around Carnival & the weather in February is usually magnificent.

Tatiane & Marcelli, gorgeous girls.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

My friend Dave Wylie introduced me to Tatiane & Marcelli, two absolutely gorgeous Brazilian girls.

What was her name?

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

I forget her name, but I spent some time with her after meeting her on the beach. 🙂

Surfs up at Copacabana

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Quite unusual to see such a rough surf here, usually the waves are quite gentle compared to other Brazilian & Australian beaches, especially Sydney at Bondi.

Another beautiful face

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

My favourite spot of an evening was the side-walk restaurant outside HELP nightclub. It was such a great scene, quite a large rectangular area and dozens of beautiful girls would circle it hoping for an invitation to sit down and have a drink with you. It was a little like the wild west days when the Indians would surround the wagons. 🙂

Evening wear Copacabana style.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

 

At carnival time anything goes in the fashion stakes as you can plainly see. 🙂

I’ll try anything to attract a lady

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

There is no trick I won’t try to attract a ladies attention. Do you think this strategy is sending the right message?

Age is no barrier

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

An 85 yo American guy having a ball, age is no barrier in Copacabana at Carnival.

I keep coming back to Samantha

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Her lovely smile would light up a room, I’m just thankful it was my room. 🙂

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

160,000 people live in Copacabana and 44,000 or 27.5% of them are 60 years old or older. Copacabana covers an area of 7.84 km which gives the borough a population density of 20,400 people per km². Residential buildings eleven to thirteen stories high built right next to each other dominate the borough. Houses and two-story buildings are rare. When Rio was the capital of Brazil this was considered one of the best neighbourhoods in the country if not the best. Therefore the sea front apartments are extremely luxurious and classical. In the 1970s the neighbourhood descended in the social scales and now is one of the most overcrowded in the planet.


Dave Wylie in his element.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

 One of the sexy babes with my good friend Dave who lived in Rio for around 10 years & speaks fluent Portuguese. He was the motivation for me to start my travel blog in June 2013.

My lovely friend Jackie

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

We met on the internet 3 years ago and have been friends ever since. Jackie has two children & speaks 3 languages, Italian, English & Portuguese. We are dining at Milano Doc between Copacabana & Ipanema in Rio De Janeiro

What about those beautiful eyes?

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

This is beautiful Diana, all 39 kilos of her. 🙂

The girl with the fluffy tail

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Here is Leila, as I said before anything goes in fashion when Carnival is on.

These sexy babes caught me with the camera.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Sprung again, this is one of my favourite photos, I love the look on her face when she caught me taking the photo.

Sugarloaf mountain

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Sugarloaf mountain Rio De Janeiro  dominates the Copacabana skyline, take the cable car to the top for one of the greatest views in the world.


Street parade on Avenue Atlantica

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Thousands of party animals follow the trucks which have music blaring and people cheering & having fun. I plan to write another post just on the street Blocos & the Carnival preparations, stay tuned. 🙂

Beautiful Carla

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

I met this beautiful lady 2 years ago in 2003 and I really must show you a photo from then.

Carla in 2003

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

 

Carla has the most magnificent skin colour I have ever seen.

Many thanks for visiting my Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach photo blog.

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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Pattaya live webcam
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Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

September 13, 2014 by David Herd

Copacabana Beach

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Copacabana Ipanema bikini babes and much more can be seen at both these great beaches in Rio de Janeiro. No beach on Earth offers the exciting panorama of these playgrounds of the rich & poor.

It was October 2009, the weather was magnificent & I caught up with many of my old & new friends in this wonderful city.

Stick around I’m going to take you on a tour from Copacabana to Ipanema via Arpoador.

Copacabana bars & cafes

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Every 50 meters along Copacabana there is a fabulous cafe bar where you can eat, drink & watch the beach volleyball, or if you are that way inclined just gaze longingly at the beautiful bikini clad Cariocas. 🙂

The cafe above is one of the newer versions replacing the older one like you see below.

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

A great place to sit and watch the world go by.

Here is a webcam focused on Copacabana.

Did I mention bikini clad Cariocas?

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Carioca is a Brazilian adjective or demonym that is used to refer to the native inhabitants of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

This guy is punching way above his weight

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

One of the many fabulous brown skin bikini babes on Copacabana.

Copacabana with Sugarloaf in the background

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

A trip to Sugarloaf mountain is a must do.

A typical New Years Eve

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

In Copacabana the crowds build up from mid afternoon, at night there are around 2 million people on the beach dressed in white.

For great hotel room rates just book through THIS LINK.

David Young sadly passed away March 2 2013

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

He suffered for years with a very bad painful back then underwent a couple of operations where metal screws were inserted into his spine. Infection set in and they had to be replaced & finally it all became too much and this nice friend of mine passed away in the city he loved.

Happier times with David & friends

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

David worked with Jonathan Kendall on the left, the couple on the right are Les & Robin Scheffer who lived near me on the Gold Coast in Australia.

Sadly Les passed away in March 2020.

Bobby Frishman from “Blame it on Rio” travel

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Bobby has been in Rio for many years running a well known travel agency in Copacabana.

Don Camillo Copacabana

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

  One of the many restaurants on Avenue Atlantica in Copacabana.  

Dinner with Simone

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Simone & I have been great friends for a number of years, in fact in 2005 we travelled around north east Brazil from Natal to Recife via the beautiful Praia de Pipa. For the last few years Simone has been working in a bank in Sao Paulo. Simone & I in fact traveled 300 kms by taxi from Ponte Negra to Recife stopping in Pipa on the way.

Lets leave Copacabana & walk to Arpoador

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

 

    If we are going to walk we may as well follow these two gorgeous girls. 🙂  

For a great hotel room rate in RIO just book through THIS LINK.

Fort Copacabana

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Fort Copacabana was inaugurated in 1914 with a mission to protect the coast of Rio de Janeiro and the entrance to the harbour. Today the fort provides visitors educational and cultural activities. Coordinates: 22.988117°S 43.191678°W  

  The Arpoador Rock

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

In the past, at very end of Arpoador Promontory – The Arpoador Rock– fishermen used to harpoon the whales that came to reproduce in this warm waters. The harpoon used by those fishermen gave the park its name and also has been used to identify the rock (in Portuguese Arpoador means fishermen who uses harpoon). The Arpoador Rock is preserved by the Municipal Historic Heritage. Also within the APA limits there is a public square called Girl of Ipanema Park after the world famous song composed by Vinicius de Moraes and Antônio Carlos Jobim.  

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

A great view of Copacabana beach from here.

Arpoador Park

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Not known worldwide as the beaches either side but a much more peaceful scene than Ipanema and Copacabana.

 Arpoador, between Ipanema & Copacabana.

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

White sand, sunshine and a beautiful blue sky, what more could you want?

Arpoador beach

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

More peaceful than Copacabana.

Looking down on all this beauty from Cocovada

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Corcovado, meaning “hunchback” in Portuguese, is a mountain in central Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 710-metre granite peak is located in the Tijuca Forest, a national park.

Frank Sinatra sings and Tony Motolla plays the guitar. The tune is “Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)”, written by Antonio Carlos Jobim.  

frank sinatra corcovado
 

Beautiful Ipanema

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

  One of the most breathtaking beaches in the world.  

Garota de Ipanema restaurant

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

You guessed it, here is where they wrote the song which was inspired by Heloísa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto (now Helô Pinheiro), a nineteen-year-old girl living on Montenegro Street in the fashionable Ipanema district in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Daily, she would stroll past the popular Veloso bar-café, not just to the beach (“each day when she walks to the sea”), but in the everyday course of her life. She would sometimes enter the bar to buy cigarettes for her mother and leave to the sound of wolf-whistles. In the winter of 1962, the composers watched the girl pass by the bar, and it is easy to imagine why they noticed her—Helô was a 173-cm (five-foot eight-inch) brunette, and she attracted the attention of many of the bar patrons. Since the song became popular, she has become a celebrity.

On the wall is the music as well

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

How many times have you heard this beautiful song? Each time I hear it I’m transported back to Ipanema.

Les & Robyn Shcheffer from the Gold Coast in Australia.

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

This couple lived quite close to me on the Gold Coast in Australia, we used to be good friends however 4 years ago in 2013 they placed me on their “black list”, I must admit I’m quite comfortable there. 🙂 Sadly Les passed away in March 2019.

As you can see from the photo the food is rather excellent.

Garota de Ipanema restaurant

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

I have been here many times, on of my greatest memories of Rio was here on New Years Eve 2007 with my friend Dave Wylie. We had a window seat and all around us was one of Rio’s famous blocos. Street Carnival Bands, called “Blocos de Rua”, have become an expressive feature of Rio’s Carnival. Today, they number more than 440 (considering 2012 Rio Carnival only) and the groups increase each year. Blocos can be formed by small or large groups of revelers with a distinct title with an often funny pun. (Os blocos RJ, para os solteiros, são um lugar para conhecer e até beijar pessoas, or “The blocos in Rio de Janeiro, for the singles, are places to meet and even kiss people.”) They may also note their neighborhood or social status. Before the show, they gather in a square, then parade in sections of the city, often near the beach. Some blocos never leave one street and have a particular place, such as a bar, to attract viewers. Block parades start in January, and may last until the Sunday after Carnival.

For a great hotel room rate in RIO just book through THIS LINK.

Dave Wylie & I Carnival in Ipanema in 2008.

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

After living in Rio for 10 years my good friend Dave spent 18 months as my neighbour in Pattaya Thailand before returning to Crescent City California.

Ipanema bloco Carnival 2008

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

  Dave Wylie took this wonderful photo which captures the essence of a Carnival bloco in Ipanema in 2008  

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes

Brown skin, bikinis & blue sky, what more could you want?

Sing the song Francis

The Girl From Ipanema - Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim | Concert Collection

 

      Thanks for visiting my Copacabana Ipanema Bikini Babes photo blog.
 

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Pattaya live webcam
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Click here for Rio street parties.

 

Three hours from Rio is wonderful Paraty

 

Rio de Janeiro, no it is Vietnam

 

 

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Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

August 19, 2014 by David Herd

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil are the most spectacular falls I have ever seen. Sadly I have not been to Niagara or Victoria falls to make a comparison .

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

It was 1999 and my first digital camera took rather poor photos.

Dalia from Bolivia at Foz.

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

This is my lovely friend Dalia from Santa Cruz in Bolivia, we traveled by the “Death Train” from Santa Cruz to the Brazilian border & crossed at Corumba, then by bus through the Pantanal to Foz do Iguazu.

Dalia sleeping on the “Death Train”.

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

There are several theories as to how this name came to be. One theory is that the mosquitoes are so bad during the rainy season, you’ll get “eaten alive” throughout the entire long trip, or contract malaria and die later. Another theory is that people riding on top of the train (not uncommon) fall asleep and fall to their deaths (quite uncommon). Actually, it is called the Death Train because many workers died while building this railroad.

Quijarro on the border.

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

We walked across the border and caught a taxi to the customs office, it reminded me of the last frontier in the wild west. My suspicions were aroused when the border guard asked for a credit card to prove I had money.  When he disappeared with the card & my passport I knew I was in trouble. Sure enough 2 weeks later when I was in Salvador my credit card was cancelled by the bank. $13,000 had been charged all over Brazil, luckily Visa were very quick to advance me $3000 to get me through the trip. On returning to Australia I just signed a few forms & everything was fixed.


Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

When she saw Iguazu Falls, the United States First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed “Poor Niagara!” (which, at 50 m or 165 feet, are a third shorter). Often Iguazu Falls also is compared with Victoria Falls in Southern Africa, which separates. Iguazu is wider, but because it is split into approximately 275 discrete falls and large islands, Victoria has the largest curtain of water in the world, at more than 1,600 m (5,249 ft) wide and over 100 m (328 ft) in height (in low flow Victoria is split into five by islands; in high flow it may uninterrupted). The only wider falls are extremely large rapid-like falls, such as the Boyoma Falls.

 Wonderful view from Brazilian side

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

I certainly want to visit this amazing place again. Next time I will have a far better camera. 🙂

Itaipu Dam

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. The name “Itaipu” was taken from an isle that existed near the construction site. In the Guaraní languageItaipu means “the sounding stone”.

Dalia at the Falls

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

After a few days at the falls Dalia & I parted ways, she went back to Bolivia & I went to meet friends in Brazil.

Iguazu falls from the Brazilian side.

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

Next trip I will also see the Argentinian side of the falls.

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil The Devils throat

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

Without a doubt this visit was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Churrascaria

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

In modern restaurants rodízio service is typically offered. Passadores (meat waiters) come to the table with knives and a skewer, on which are speared various kinds of meat, In most parts of Brazil, the churrasco is roasted with charcoal. In the south of Brazil, however, mostly close to the borders of Argentina and Uruguay, embers of wood are also used.


Beautiful Dalia, 23 years old.

Amazing Iguazu Falls Brazil

Such a beautiful young girl, I often wonder about her and hope she is well and happy.

                           Here are some more posts to check out 

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That’s all folks

1g Duck

                                                     

 
 
 
 
 

After you see Iguazu falls head across to the coast for a Brazilian surprise.

 

 
 
Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

David Herd unforgettable year 2003

July 1, 2014 by David Herd

David Herd unforgettable year 2003, not sure how I survived, it was one of the busiest & best years for travel, & at home on the Gold Coast, that I have ever experienced. I went to Vietnam twice in January & April, Thailand in April & July, then around the world in November starting in Chile, then on to Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, Barcelona & Bangkok on the way home to Australia.

In August I took 3 lovely Japanese girls on a 7,000 kilometer road trip through the Outback to Uluru, stopping at Broken Hill & Coober Pedy then on the way home we went to Airlie Beach & Hervey Bay to see the whales.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2003.

Lovely Japanese girls + Vannessa

David Herd unforgettable year

Most of these lovely girls were students, I took 3 of them on a 7,000 kilometre road trip through the Outback and to Uluru. My friend Vannessa Teo is the lovely lady on the right.

The girls loved my Mercedes.

David Herd unforgettable year

I had a couple of Japanese girls staying in my home, they loved my yellow Mercedes & here they are after I had taken them & their friends for a Yum Cha.

A very happy group Friends family students

David Herd unforgettable year

Harley is looking like a stunned mullet, the other guy is Jack, an Aussie who I met in Vietnam in January.

My beautiful home

David Herd unforgettable year

I lived here from 1990 to 2011 & loved every minute.

David Herd unforgettable year

David Herd unforgettable year

I enjoyed these beautiful sunsets for 21 wonderful years living in my beautiful home on the Gold Coast in Australia.

My beautiful Mercedes

David Herd unforgettable year

I owned this lovely car for 17 years, I reluctantly sold it in 2007 when I was starting to downsize with a view of moving to Thailand.

 Duranbah Beach Tweed Heads

David Herd unforgettable year

Duranbah Beach (NSW, also called Flagstaff Beach) is the most northern beach in NSW. The 500 m long beach faces east and is located between the northern 400 m long entrance wall of the Tweed River mouth  and the 30 m high black basalt slopes of Point Danger, which marks the Queensland-NSW border. 

Lunch with friends Ross & Mariana Kennedy

David Herd unforgettable year

Lunch at Omeros Brothers restaurant with good friends Ross & Mariana at the Marina Mirage.

Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise

David Herd unforgettable year

One of my favourite people watching locations.

Getting ready for out road trip.

David Herd unforgettable year

My 3 Japanese friends Yukako, Noriko & Megumi who came on the Outback road trip. Did I mention life 2003 was frantic? Well our 7000 km journey in 2 weeks certainly was. 🙂

life 2003 celebrating my 60th birthday

David Herd unforgettable year

My 60th birthday with John Sinclair, Bruce Donachie, Ross Kennedy & Phil Thomson.

Owned by Billionaire Bob Ell.

David Herd unforgettable year

It would cost me a years wages (if I had a job) to fill it up with diesel.

Tony Murphy’s houseboat

David Herd unforgettable year

My friend Tony Murphy lived on his houseboat here in Surfers Paradise and previously in Townsville.

Coffee on Chevron Island with Ross Kennedy.

David Herd unforgettable year

I rarely miss a day going to Chevron Island for coffee, breakfast, lunch or dinner. 🙂

David Herd unforgettable year with some sweet Japanese girls

David Herd unforgettable year

On the left is Sayuri with her friend and Ziggy in the background. Sayuri stayed at my home for several months while studying English.

Sonia from Beijing.

David Herd unforgettable year

 Sonia & I went out together for a while, we met in Toowoomba where she was going to university, then hooked up last year in Beijing. She moved to Sydney and found a husband. 🙂

Sydney Cricket Ground

David Herd unforgettable year

I was at the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch my beloved Sydney Swan play Australian Football. Luckily my friend Peter Hesky had a private box which makes the game more enjoyable.

Pothole, Apple and Sue

David Herd unforgettable year

John Martin aka Pothole, Apple and Sue in Sydney for the weekend.

Sue, Apple Pothole & his sister Anne.

David Herd unforgettable year

Strange how things turn out, it is 2016 and Pothole live in the same building in Pattaya Thailand.

Apple was the best Thai cook I have ever seen.

David Herd unforgettable year

Finally after the love affair finished with Pothole Apple wound up married to an ex cop in London. She was with him at Buckingham Palace when he received an award from the Queen, not bad for a girl from Nana Plaza. 🙂

Visiting my brother Bryan

David Herd unforgettable year

Bryan built a lovely home at Cobbity which is near Camden west of Sydney.

Sue and I at Manly

David Herd unforgettable year

Fish & chips is compulsory for lunch at Manly.

Manly

David Herd unforgettable year

One of the nicest Sydney seaside suburbs,

Magnificent Sydney skyline

David Herd unforgettable year

Sydney from the Manly ferry.

 Andrea & Gavin Kernot

David Herd unforgettable year

My friend Gavin with his gorgeous girlfriend Andrea. Have a look at my 2005 Paris post where I spent some time with Gavin and and Cheryl Kernot who was a well known Australian politician.

Melbas Xmas lunch with Graham (Biff) LaRoche.

David Herd unforgettable year

Each year a group of ex Melbourne guys would get together for a Xmas lunch at Melbas in Surfers Paradise.

The whole crew

David Herd unforgettable year

Sadly time waits for no man, four guys from this group have now passed away, Noel Smith, John Woods & Ron Collier, RIP.

Dave Allen & Kerry Townsend.

David Herd unforgettable year

Dave was the manager at Melbas and Kerry was the receptionist. Dave was the son of the owner Paul Allen who sadly passed away in July or August 2011. Melbas was the premier restaurant & nightclub on the Gold Coast since 1981. It was also my local drinking hole, the memories I have from there are unforgettable.

Xmas day lunch at home for David Herd unforgettable year.

David Herd unforgettable year

David Herd unforgettable year 2003 was frantic with Friends family students I was happy to spend Xmas day alone with my best friend Ziggy (my Doberman) enjoying my beautiful home that I built in 1990. I ate magnificent seafood and washed it down with my favourite white wine from Margaret River in W.A. a Salitage unwooded Chardonnay, life does not get much better than this. It was great having a quiet day to reflect on my wild & frantic year.

Thanks for visiting my David Herd unforgettable year photo blog.

I’ll leave it to Glenn Frey to tell you how I feel right now.

             

   Here are some more posts to check out

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             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
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A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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Click here to check out my Miami adventure.

 

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Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

May 25, 2014 by David Herd

Copacabana beach

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

 Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio dominates many photos taken on Copacabana beach. Ride the cable car to the top & see the breathtaking view of Rio.

The name Sugarloaf was coined in the 16th century by the Portuguese during the heyday of sugar cane trade in Brazil. According to historian Vieira Fazenda, blocks of sugar were placed in conical molds made of clay to be transported on ships. The shape given by these molds was similar to the peak, hence the name.

holds 65 passengers

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

 A glass-walled cable car (in popular Portuguesebondinho – more properly called teleférico), capable of holding 65 passengers, runs along a 1400-metre route between the peaks of Pão de Açúcar and Morro da Urca every 20 minutes. The original cable car line was built in 1912 and rebuilt around 1972/1973 and in 2008. 

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio from the cable car

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

 The cable car leaves a ground station located at the base of the Babilônia hill, to the Urca hill and then to the Pão de Açúcar.

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

You don’t have to take the cable car, if you can afford it grab a helicopter.

Copacabana in the background.

Sugarloaf Mountain Rio De Janeirio

What a view from the top, from here Copacabana looks like standing room only.

Wedged between the mountains & sea.

Sugarloaf Mountain Rio De Janeirio

160,000 people live in Copacabana and 44,000 or 27.5% of them are 60 years old or older. Many friends now tell me in 2017 Rio does not have the same appeal as 10 years ago, perhaps this is true however it will always remain as one of the most spectacular cities in the world.

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

 Copacabana covers an area of 7.84 km² which gives the borough a population density of 20,400 people per km².   Residential buildings eleven to thirteen stories high built right next to each other dominate the borough. Houses and two-story buildings are rare.  

Vermelha Beach

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

 Praia Vermelha is the smallest city beach in Rio de Janeiro, and it lies in a sheltered cove between the 688 ft Morro da Urca and the 754 ft Morro da Babilonia. It’s here where you catch the 2 stage cable car up to Morra da Urca and then on to the 1300 ft Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) out in the bay.

Vidigal favela

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

You can also see Vidigal favela at the north end of Ipanema.  Vidigal overlooks Ipanema Beach  and Ilhas Cagarras. It is located in the South Zone of Rio, between Leblon and São Conrado neighborhoods.   The neighborhood is a place of hardship for the residents. They have the problem of drug wars, and when fighting occurs, sometimes they must stay in their homes for days.   In November 2011, Vidigal and its neighboring community, Rocinha were pacified by the Pacifying Police Unit. 

 Downtown Rio from Sugarloaf mountain

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

 Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited cities in the southern hemisphere and is known for its natural settings, carnival celebrationssambaBossa Novabalneario beaches such as Barra da TijucaCopacabanaIpanema, and Leblon. Some of the most famous landmarks in addition to the beaches include the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer (“Cristo Redentor”) atop Corcovado mountain, named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; Sugarloaf mountain (Pão de Açúcar) with its cable car; the Sambódromo, a permanent grandstand-lined parade avenue which is used during Carnival; and Maracanã Stadium, one of the world’s largest football stadiums.

Botafogo

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

Botafogo is a beachfront neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a mostly upper middle class and small commerce community, and is located between the hills of Mundo Novo, Dona Marta and São João.

Cagarras Islands

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

Uninhabited archipelago lying just 5km (3 miles) off legendary Ipanema Beach. The Cagarras Islands (Ilhas Cagarras in Portuguese) are a wildlife refuge for sea gulls and other marine birds, and you can frequently spot — or swim among — dolphins in the waters offshore.

Relax with a cool drink

Sugarloaf Mountain Rio De Janeirio

A great place to relax and take in one of the world’s great panoramas. Sugarloaf Mountain Rio De Janeirio certainly ranks in the top 6 most spectacular vies I have ever seen.

Cristo Redentor from Sugarloaf mountain

Sugarloaf Mountain Rio De Janeirio

 Cristo Redentor in the distance. Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and was considered the largest Art Deco statue in the world from 1931 until 2010 when it was topped by the Christ the King statue in Poland.

I met two lovely Scandinavians on Sugarloaf mountain

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

 I met two lovely Scandinavians on the mountain, & being such a nice guy naturally I invited them to dinner that night.

New Years Eve 2007

Sugarloaf Rio De Janeirio

The crowd is building on Copacabana beach up to celebrate New Years Eve with Sugarloaf Mountain dominating the skyline.

Thanks for visiting my Sugarloaf mountain photo blog, you gotta love Rio. 🙂

It has been about 7 years sine I was in Rio de Janeiro, hopefully I will visit again in 2018.

For a great room rate in Rio just book through THIS LINK.

 What a wonderful World
David Attenborough - Wonderful World - BBC - Full HD 1080p

Brazilians don’t need a visa to visit Thailand. Please check out my webcam.      

Pattaya Beach live webcam

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That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

  Click here for another great Rio post  

 

Is this Rio? No it is Vietnam

 

The coast of Portugal

 

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Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

January 21, 2014 by David Herd

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

to my top 12 places.

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Number 12 is Belem

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

 Five Star Vagabond Brazil travel guide is a list of 12 of my favourite places in this great country. Lets start with number 12  Belem. The city is at the mouth of the Mighty Amazon river which represents more than half the planet’s remaining rain-forests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rain-forest in the world. Founded in 1616 by the Kingdom of PortugalBelém was the first European colony on the Amazon but did not become part of Brazil until 1775. The newer part of the city has modern buildings and skyscrapers. The colonial portion retains the charm of tree-filled squares, churches and traditional blue tiles. The city has a rich history and architecture from colonial times. Recently it witnessed a skyscraper boom.

I really enjoyed this old colonial city, I wish I had more time to sail down the river to Manaus. 

Belem

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

Great colours on this old building.

Number 11 is Canoa Quebrada

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

 Canoa Quebrada is on the north coast of Brazil, I took a beach buggy along the beautiful long beaches. 

Canoa Quebrada

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

Wandering through the amazing coloured sands.  Canoa Quebrada is 164 kilometers from Fortaleza.

Fabulous sandhills in Canoa Quebrada

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

Put this on your bucket list. 🙂

Number 10 is Balneário Camboriú

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

 Balneário Camboriú (Portuguese pronunciation: [bawneˈaɾju kɐ̃boɾiˈu] is a major beach resort in the Brazilian southern state of Santa Catarina. The town, with its steep hills dropping down to the sea.

Balneário Camboriú 

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

What time can I start having fun?

Number 9 is Recife & Olinda

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

Recife makes my number 9 in my guide only because of Olinda across the river. Olinda is a historic city in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, located on the country’s northeastern Atlantic Ocean coast, just north of Recife and south of Paulista. It has a population of 397,268 people  and is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in Brazil.

Olinda is only 7 Kms from the center of Recife.

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

 During Carnival  there are  thousands of people  in the old historic town centre.

For a great hotel room rate in Brazil just book through THIS LINK.

Number 8 is Porto de Galinhas

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

The origin of the name is well known. Porto de Galinhas means “Port of Chickens” in Portuguese. In the second half of the 19th century, the Brazilian government imposed restrictions to the commerce of slaves, which were widely used as manpower in the sugarcane farms around Recife to circumvent the prohibition, the “black ships” (which transported slaves from Africa to Brazil) looked for other places to harbor, far from Recife.One such place was in the bays around Suape and Ipojuca, about 60 km to the South of Recife. When a ship arrived in town, as it was prohibited to mention slavery, the word spread as “there are new chickens in the port”; hence, the place gained its name Porto de Galinhas.

My friends in Porto de Galinhas

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

This is my lovely friend Simone, her Auntie & cousin Pedro. Simone & I traveled 300 kms from Natal to Recife by taxi.

Number 7 is Salvador in Bahia.

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

 The Lacerda Elevator is the first lift of the urban world. It was December 8 of 1873  when it opened it was the highest in the world, around 20 meters tall.  In Salvador it is public transport between Cairu Square , in Lower Town , and Thome Square de Souza , in the Upper Town .

Lacerda Elevator

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

Opened in December 8 of 1873.

Salvador Fort de Santa Maria

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Forte de Santa Maria is on Salvador’s south coastline, built with stone and lime between 1627 to 1635. It served as a fortification during the Dutch invasion. It Contained lots of  bronze and iron cannons, it is certainly worth visiting this impressive Italian style fort.

Number 6 is Buzios

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

Búzios is a popular getaway from the city and a worldwide tourist resort  for Brazilians and Argentinians. Only 3 hours drive from Rio.

Early in the 1900s Búzios was popular with the Carioca’s high society  looking to escape from the chaotic city life of Rio de Janeiro. there are more than 23 beaches on the peninsula. However it was 1964 when the famous French actress Brigitte Bardot visited Búzios, she made it famous throughout the world as a popular tourist destination.

Here is a guide to Buzios, a great town

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

Lots of beaches, restaurants and bars, Buzios is definitely one of Brazil’s HOT destinations. Only 3 hours drive from Rio make sure you add this great town to your Brazilian bucket list. There are many good pousadas to choose from here.

Without a doubt AGODA is the best online Hotel booking site.

Number 5 is Florianopolis

Joaquina beach.

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel

Florianopolis is a wonderful Brazilian city,  in 2009. Newsweek placed Florianópolis in the “Ten most dynamic cities of the world” list in 2006. Veja magazine, a Brazilian publication, named the city as “the best place to live in Brazil The New York Times also reported that Florianopolis was the Party Destination of the Year in 2009.”

There are 42 beaches in Florianopolis

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Flori is a must for those of you who love beautiful beaches with clean white sand. If I rated it as high as number two on my list it would not be an exaggeration.

Oysters at Barra da Lagoa.

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

 Florianopolis was the “Party Destination of the Year in 2009.”

Number 4, Iguazu falls, magnificent.

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Sadly when I was at the falls in 1999, digital cameras were in the early stages and the quality of photos was 2nd rate. Consequently I have no shots that do justice to this wonderful location. Without a doubt Iguazu falls is the most breathtaking & spectacular sight I have ever seen.

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Forgive me for using a 3rd party photo but the falls are so spectacular I thought I could break one of my rules.  😳

For a great hotel room rate in Brazil just book through THIS LINK.

Number 3 is Paraty

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Paraty is only 3 hours from Rio and is known for the cobblestone paved streets throughout the Historic Center District. No cars or trucks are allowed in this part of town. Without any doubt this wonderful village is one of my favourite locations in Brazil.

David Herd on the good ship “Lolypop”.

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

There are lots of great boats in Paraty that you can hire to explore the waterways.

Please click on Google + to help my page ranking. 

Could this be my favourite photo?

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

You better believe it, I’ll remember Paraty forever. 🙂

Number 2 is Praia De Pipa

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Praia De Pipa is one of those rare gems you tend to talk about all your life. Pipa Beach is one of the most famous beaches of Brazil. Located 84 kms from Natal, the capital city of state of Rio Grande do Norte. Do yourself a favor and put it on you Brazilian bucket list.

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide Pippa beach

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

 I remember sitting in a bar in Rio Di Janeiro with two friends Dave Wylie & Doug Roarke, (RIP) and when I asked what was their favorite place in Brazil, Doug briefly considered the question before saying “Praia de Pipa”. Until that moment I had never heard of the place, but on Doug’s recommendation I planned my trip.

The catch of the day at Pippa

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Pipa was a small fishing village until the 1970s. Then it was discovered by surfers and backpackers, attracted by a set of natural attributes rarely found even in other Brazilian beaches, crystal-clear waters, fine white sand, areas of preserved Atlantic Forest, 10-meter-high vertical cliffs, and friendly locals.

Number 1 is not hard to guess,

Rio Di Janeiro

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Rio is an exciting destination, wonderful beaches great weather and colourful happy people. I normally rent an apartment near the beach rather than stay in a hotel. It usually costs me $50 per night however my last trip was 2009 and I believe the city is far more expensive now.

I mentioned earlier in my Brazil travel guide Iguazu Falls was the most spectacular natural spectacle I have seen on this planet, well the Rio Carnival is the most spectacular human event I have ever witnessed. As they say in the classics, “you gotta love Rio.” 😆

David Herd at Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio.

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

Standing room only in Copacabana, what a view.

Copacabana, say no more….

Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide

On the left is beautiful Carla with her gorgeous friend, I doubt very much that I’ll ever forget her. 🙂

Also there is no doubt in my mind theirs is the most beautiful colour in the world.

Thanks for visiting my Five Star Vagabond Brazil Travel Guide photo blog.

The Girl From Ipanema - Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim | Concert Collection

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Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

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1g Duck

 

Pattaya live webcam
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