Popular Post Citius Altius Fortius Posted July 31, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 (edited) Hey Gamesbidders, I will fly to Rio tomorrow for my second Olympic Games in person. After London 2012 I decided very fast, that I want to go to the next Games also. Of course I am aware that the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be completely different, but that is exactly what I want to experience = different Olympic Games! I hadn't been to South America before so I will encounter "Um Mundo Novo" - I am very excited about it, but a little bit anxious also due I don't speak Portuguese or Spanish - so I will have to "survive" in a country where I can't speak the national language... I would like to invite you to follow my blog here on GamesBids - I had fun to do it during London 2012 and I hope you will enjoy my blog of Rio de Janeiro 2016 as well. Edited July 31, 2016 by Citius Altius Fortius 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daze Posted July 31, 2016 Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 Really looking forward to read your blog. Have fun!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bezzi Posted July 31, 2016 Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 People in the hotels are used to speak english. They can give you all info you need. Welcome and enjoy your stay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul Posted July 31, 2016 Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 ....it's sure to be a fun experience for a visitor, these might be the best Olympics ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citius Altius Fortius Posted July 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, Bezzi said: People in the hotels are used to speak english. They can give you all info you need. Welcome and enjoy your stay! I rented an apartment in Ipanema - the owner speaks English - but that is of course not comparable with a hotel, so I have to get along alone with a portuguese phrase book/language guide... Edited July 31, 2016 by Citius Altius Fortius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubebox Posted July 31, 2016 Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 I downloaded the Google Translate app, it has an offline option. Hope it helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bezzi Posted July 31, 2016 Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 The app will work for cubebox but maybe not for CAF. The german accent makes almost impossible for us to understand. It's so funny to hear my girlfriend trying to speak portuguese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citius Altius Fortius Posted July 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 1 hour ago, Bezzi said: The app will work for cubebox but maybe not for CAF. The german accent makes almost impossible for us to understand. It's so funny to hear my girlfriend trying to speak portuguese ... thanks for the encouragement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rastafounder Posted July 31, 2016 Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 21 minutes ago, Citius Altius Fortius said: ... thanks for the encouragement Yes, thats very helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Tickle Posted August 1, 2016 Report Share Posted August 1, 2016 Really looking forward to hearing your experiences and how it differs to London's games which I know you loved. I guess it will be a very different games. I love it when it is a very different host from the previous. Beijing to London was so different, London to Rio will be the same. Im wishing Rio a great games and the people of Brazil a wonderful time. There is nothing like a home games. I hope you get to soak up as much of the atmosphere as you can, we wait with baited breath to hear of your adventures. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted August 2, 2016 Report Share Posted August 2, 2016 I guess by the time you're reading this its... "Welcome to Rio, CAF!" Once you get over your jet lag, would love to read about your first impressions. Jealous I'm not there with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Citius Altius Fortius Posted August 3, 2016 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) Hello from a jet-lagged CAF... I arrived in Rio yesterday after a smooth flight - it was 3:20 a.m. and the airport was empty: no queues anywhere in sight. The luggage pick up was quick - the drive from the airport to Ipanema worked very well. My apartment is great - I even would say that it is luxury! The owner let me in around 6 a.m. and welcomed me really enthusiastic - a living room with a sofa, table, TV set and a wonderful view into a tree, which stands right in front of the house - a kitchen very good equipped, a bed room with a air-condition and double windows (which will help me to sleep, when I want to - the apartment is in one of the best known party areas of Ipanema) and a bathroom. As little extra the owner placed a wonderful white orchid on the table in the living room for my well being. After a short nap on the sofa I went to Botafogo - I bought my Rio Olympic Card (transportation is not free for ticket holders this time) and headed to downtown with the metro. I picked up the rest of my Olympic tickets at the reseller HQ and took the bus from Botafogo to Leblon. "Buses" - there are a lot of different lines and you have to learn to take/use them - I just recommend to use an app! The bus ride was fun - you can see so much more than in the metro! The city is vibrant - amazing little architectural gems between the 'normal stuff' - you can see people with their surfboards heading to the beach and at the same time people in their suits. i bought a Brazilian SIM card and I was looking for an Adaptor, since I have an issue with my MacBook power net cable plug - it doesn't fit into the socket. That Adaptor will be difficult - I spended a lot of time searching for an Adaptor, which fits with an European 'Schuko-plug. No success so far and therefore I will buy a new cable for my MacBook at an Apple Store today. Lagoa Freitas, where the canoeing and rowing takes place - when you look closely you will find Christo, the Redeemer The landscape of Rio is beautiful! Really an unique place in earth: the ocean, the lagoons, the hills, the tors and the tropic flora! And the people! Edited August 3, 2016 by Citius Altius Fortius 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daze Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 So nice, is that Photo of the Lagoa from this Shopping Mall in Leblon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citius Altius Fortius Posted August 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 40 minutes ago, Daze said: So nice, is that Photo of the Lagoa from this Shopping Mall in Leblon? Yes, it is... Just took a short morning walk at the beach - it seems that it won't become a sunny day today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubebox Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 Nice to have your view and hints about Rio! I'm now waiting for my flight to Rio, expecting to arrive there at 2 pm for my first olympics Hope to see some of you there, guys! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 Is it really four years since those heady days of London? It feels like the world has changed since that wonderful summer and, in many ways, not for the better. The build-up to these Games has not been great, seen as it has been so often through political uncertainty, doping disgrace and Zika anxieties. But I'm confident that, whatever the doubts have been before, the action that awaits us will overcome them. For those of you who have travelled to Rio, as I alas am unable to, have the most wonderful time. And, to our Brazilian friends and hosts, may you seize all the joys and opportunities that the next few weeks have to offer. As Davey rightly says, there truly is nothing like a home Games. It was an incredible experience for me to be in London four years ago and, even though it was barely two hours' travel from where I live and work, it truly was the holiday of a lifetime. Our time has gone. It's yours now. Whatever happens, make the most of it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citius Altius Fortius Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 After my morning walk at Ipanema Beach I went to Leblon Shopping and found finally after three attempts my "Schuco-Adaptor" in a shop there... YEAH, I can use my Macbook again - it was a mess to do everything with my iPhone! I took a tram ride today - there is a tram line climbing up the hill in Santa Teresa (maybe you remember the scene with the streetcar in the animation movie "Rio" - that is the tram which i took today... It was really a nice experience - it is short, but it is for free - I had a lot of fun! On the hill are some little restaurants and souvenir shops (I have to admit that it was very touristic there, but the tram ride was amazing!!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citius Altius Fortius Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 19 hours ago, cubebox said: Nice to have your view and hints about Rio! I'm now waiting for my flight to Rio, expecting to arrive there at 2 pm for my first olympics Hope to see some of you there, guys! In which part of the city did you find an accommodation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neneu10 Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 CAF, do you have tickets for the OC tomorrow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citius Altius Fortius Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 10 minutes ago, neneu10 said: CAF, do you have tickets for the OC tomorrow? yes, I have - block 227 - entrance E/F 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citius Altius Fortius Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 It was quite cloudy when I awoke today and I decided that I want to do one of the main sights of Rio de Janeiro before the Olympics start - so I took the metro to "Largo do Marchando" and bought a ticket for Corcovado - I decided not to take the train up the hill but a van of the Parque Tijuca society... No queues at all and it was a thrill to sit in the van, when it climbed the hill in breathtaking curves - Cristo Rendentor is really an international sight... I wonder how they got all the material up that hill... I was lucky that it wasn't too full - you can walk around - I can imagine that you would have problems when it is sunny - the platform will be packed with people Amazing view onto the city and its wonderful landscape - the statue has something sublime! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Good to see your sightseeing CAF - I suppose you're getting the "must sees" out of the way before the sports start. Still looks like there's no sun yet - what's the forecast for the week ahead? Anyway, I guess you better get ready for the GBids meet-up tonight. Have a drink on me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubebox Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 13 hours ago, Citius Altius Fortius said: In which part of the city did you find an accommodation? I'm at Copacabana zone. Close to posto 6. I reserved the place like a year ago haha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citius Altius Fortius Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 1 minute ago, Sir Rols said: Good to see your sightseeing CAF - I suppose you're getting the "must sees" out of the way before the sports start. Still looks like there's no sun yet - what's the forecast for the week ahead? Anyway, I guess you better get ready for the GBids meet-up tonight. Have a drink on me! On the first day it was really hot and humid - yesterday and today it was very cloudy in the morning hours, but it got more sunny later... Yeah - exactly, it is hard to find time to do sightseeing "between" the sport events - tomorrow I will do a little bit sightseeing in the city center - but not really much - it will become a long day... I will - I am lucky the pub is not 10 minutes away - at the moment I don't want to get up from the sofa - my feet hurt like hell... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citius Altius Fortius Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 3 minutes ago, cubebox said: I'm at Copacabana zone. Close to posto 6. I reserved the place like a year ago haha I am just one block away from Ipanema Beach - I did the same, but I didn't want to take Copacabana... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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