Brazil, day 3: Observatory, food, and adventure!
Friday, August 12th, 2011posted by: krueff
How to describe today… pretty much the only word is ‘amazing’:
Duilia took Rafael and me to explore the National Observatory today, the Observatório Nacional, where she previously worked. On site with the observatory were domes of older, historical telescopes, a huge meteorite (and I mean HUGE), and they also had the markers for each of the planets to scale in their orbits (just like Jordan Hall does at Notre Dame!).
(Click the picture for a LARGE view!)
After a lengthy visit and tour we headed to lunch with Edu, who took us to the Pavilhão de São Cristóvão, which is a large pavilion with lots of neat shops and food. We ate at Barraca da Chiquita, where we ate the following: sausage, chicken, steak, lamb, rice & beans, fried yucca, and fries. This, so far, was one of the most amazing meals I have ever consumed in my palatable memory.
After our delicious lunch, Duilia traveled to visit with her mother, so Rafael and I hopped onto the metro back to the beach. Neither of us were dressed to get into the water, so we walked the length of Ipanema and then through to Copacabana under the sun began to set. An incredible day 
(on the boardwalk at Copacabana, the famous Sugarloaf is in the background )
