The i-to-i Campfire online travel community - Meet. Share. Travel with Purpose

I can't believe it has been just over a year since I went to Rio de Janeiro. wow does time fly. As much as I told myself I'd be back to visit, I didnt make it happen (yet) but thank goodness, cause I've heard it is like 46C or so in the city at the moment, and just crazy busy. Id love to go to Rio de Janeiro again (as you know, hahaha) to do...

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i still talk about my trip every day, think about going back to Brazil every day... its fantastic that this buzz is with me in every cell in body! I just watched a video of the surf school at ipanema beach and it took me right back, I could almost feel the water lapping at my toes. I am going on the search for more volunteers that have been and taken photos.... I'm itching to...

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I am suffering anti-culture shock - the shock of being home. Everything seems so grey and bland compared to the sights sounds and colours of Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval. Its funny cause on the first night I arrived, I went to a party, 65th birthday in fact - which turned out to be more lively and more fun than any other party I have been to. EVER. Caipirhinas with fresh pulverised fruit , a...

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Posto 7. Ipanema Beach - like nothing you have ever seen before. The beaches are numbered so you have some sort of reference point cause they are SOOOOoooooo long! They are also absolutely packed with people, any time of the day any day of the week - my gawd. Umbrellas & deck chairs, hot bods everywhere, all shapes & sizes, itty bitty bikinis and all brown as berries! We got Cesar from Julio Otoni community...

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The winding cobblestone streets of Santa Theresa lined with incredible vibrant street art are lovely to drive through to get to Julio Otoni community. This is where one of the favela renovation projects is based and it was great to get an understanding of what the volunteers do on a day to day basis.The girls tended to mix more with the children and work with them on painting flowers on the main wall at the...

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Until my recent visit to Rio de Janeiro, and the experience of being there for Carnaval; what is undoubtedly the biggest party on earth, I had no idea just what it all meant. We visited Samba City and I truly understood what a special opportunity we offer at i-to-i. We initially had trouble getting into the Salguiero warehouse as there had been a miscommunication between the head of the Samba School and the doorman and...

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On the first day of filming, I met up with Felipe, the driver & Marcos (security) for lunch at a local restaurant in Copacabana, around the corner from where the film crew were staying. We had some tasty 'galitos' chicken.They chose to eat at the hotel (!) Although we missed half a day filming due to flight delays, the guys seemed quite pleased with the footage they got. Both days weather was really beautiful (and...

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