#5 Living my dreams - let it last forever

Now it is day 9 of Olympic games and I can tell you, I live my dreams. Amazing venues, crazy atmosphere, top athletes of the world, wonderful city - it is like wonderland for me.

With my flag enjoying olympic park

Venues - arenas and stadiums are amazing,  atmosphere at all of them is great, Brazilians really like sports and they know how to support all partcipants. The organization although is not so good, especially ticketing and transport to the venues is a problem, as one of athletes in olympic village said, they are never on time, when they supposed to be. When you are on spectator buses, you can expect to be like sardines in a tin, too many people. Security is also just like on airport, so all procedure to come to the venue and spectator area or your work, it takes at least 30 mins.

But once you are in, you forget about all the problems before - then opens for me totally different world - spectators from all over the world, if you are in national uniform - they want to take picture with you, if you are in volunteer uniform, they will ask you a lot of questions, but all people are really kind and atmosphere is amazing. Special olympic sport is also exchange of pins, some people have like a hundred of them, so on my next olympics I will be prepared and bring a lot of Slovenian ones.

Here are some venues:

Olympic tennis stadium

Water polo arena

Olympic park panorama - from left to right Cariocas arenas triplets 1,2,3; Future arena, Olympic aquatics stadium

Olympic stadium - athletics 

Handball - Future arena

My workspace - Badminton arena - RioCentro Pavillion 4

At olympics is also a great time to see some new sports live, so I try to visit as many venues as possible, for me everywhere is a lot of spectators, more than I expected. But the best atmosphere and most amazing venue of this olympic games is for sure BeachVolley arena on famous Copacabana beach - I was lucky to be there on a rival game between home Brazil team and neighbour Argentinian team, crazy atmosphere, full arena, amazing athletes and view from dreams. 

BeachVolley Arena at Copacabana beach

But from the spectator position I can say that with Brazilian fans only Slovenian fans especially organized on handball matches, leaded by my friends from Trebnje. At match of Slovenia versus Brazil, at some moments we have been louder than full Future Arena of brazilian fans. We are not a lot of people here, but we support our team from all heart!

The best fans on the world - supporting team Slovenia (source: www.delo.si)

Also volunteer experience is amazing, making new friends from all over the world. Volunteers are from 18 years old to more than 70, all races, all nationalities. And all of them are amazing people, for most of foreigners there is sometimes a problem, that some of Brazilian ones, does not speak English. Luckily we got tags: I speak English, so by accreditation you know, who is easier to speak with him or her. But I will leave more from making friends and meeting people from all over the world for the next story. It is so amazing that especially us international volunteers already started thinking about next project - Tokyo2020. 

Until next time from Olympic Rio,

Simon Ranfl

#4 Preolympic and Touristic Rio de Janeiro

On 30th of July in the evening I finally arrived at main destination of my trip - to olympic Rio de Janeiro. Plan was to visit all tourist attractions before opening ceremony (before 5th of August). And I can say that I was successful - Copacabana beach, Ipanema beach, Christ the redeemer, Sugarloaf mountain, Lapa arcs, Lagoa lake, Selaron staircases, Cidade de Samba, Rio downtown and renewed Olympic boulevard in Rio port.
But first from beginning - I arrive to Rio renewed International Airport (GIG) and then I had to drive 40km to my apartment in Barra region. Yeah, Rio is so big, that 30-40km are normal distances and with public transport it takes you more than one hour to travel that way, it depends what kind of transport you use. Because of Olympic games situation apparently improved - they built new metro line (Linha 4), all over the city, there is BRT (Bus Rapid Transport), which has its own road, no cars there. At port they built also VLT - tram system.

New metro station at line 4

Rio is also known for security problems with pickpockets and robbing, but now here is a lot of police on every main road, place, attraction, station or stadium, so you feel mostly safe, but still they tell you somewhere to leave your phone in pocket. Personally I did not have any problems so far, so I was enjoying the city as much as possible.

Amazing view from Sugarloaf

If you think about Rio - first two things that comes to your mind are Copacabana and Christ the Redeemer. Christ you can imagine from pictures, how it should be up there - big statue, amazing view of Rio and a lot of people there - and so it is, but Copacabana is something different. You expect a lot of sand and people, but that there are so many beachvolley courts, beachfootball courts or footvolley courts, there is no doubt, why Brazil is so good in football and in volleyball. From the Atlantic avenue to the Atlantic ocean, half of the sand area is for sport and half for pleasure. And Brazilians know how to enjoy the time there.

Christ the Redeemer

View from Christ (710m above sea) to Maracana stadium

Pleasure side of Copacabana

Sport side of Copacabana

But for me Ipanema beach and view from Sugarloaf are better. Ipanema is less crowded and on Sugarloaf you are just 396m directly above the sea, so you can have a good view to the city, beaches and also sea. 

Gondola to Sugarloaf

Other must see things are Selaron staircase, made from tiles - very very artistic and it is an entrance to favela. Other things are also Lapa arcs, new Olympic boulevard and walk at Lagoa lake. 

Seleron staircases

Lapa arcs

Art at Olympic boulevard

New olympic museum at Olympic boulevard

Lagoa lake

Rio also offers some hiking options, botanic garden and a lot of other beautiful but not as known and as crowded beaches (Barra, Sao Condrado). And also magnificent amazing football stadium Maracana - hosting 4 Rio de Janeiro football teams, and olympic ceremonies. 

Yes, I intentionaly wrote this blog just before Olympic opening ceremony - now my dreams will become reality - Olympic games will start and I am here, in Rio Olympic city, working as a volunteer and wondering from stadium to stadium because I simply love sports. Next stories will sure be olympic. 

Olympic games are here, best regards from Rio,
Simon

#3 One of seven world wonders

Second stop on my trip was Foz do Iguacu, the city near the place, where rivers Parana and Rio Iguacu split Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The city itself is nothing special, but in close distance there are some amazing stuff.
I spend there 4 beautiful days - three of them, I was visiting world wonders - so there will be more photos than text, because photos can tell much more.

Day 1 - Parque das Aves (Bird park) and Brazilian side of falls

Bird park has the largest collection of birds in whole Latin America - you can see almost all tropic birds including my favourite Flamingos!

Entrance to Birdpark

Flamingos

You can see many different species there

Tucan

After amazing birdpark, you just cross the road and you are at entrance to the one of the 7 world wonders - Iguassu falls - amazing views, beautiful nature - pictures can tell more than words.... 

At entrance

First glimpse at falls

panoramic view

near devils throat,rainbows

Day 2 - Argentinian side of falls

Next day was chosen to visit Argentina and argentinian side of falls. They are not so modern with credit cards as in Brazil, so you have to change the money to argentinian pesos, but still you can see these natural wonder from totally different perspective - pictures.

Waterdrops from the biggest of all falls - Garganta del Diablo

Day 3 - Itaipu lake and powerplant

This is the biggest water powerplant on the world. Building it - they spent iron for 380 Eiffel towers, concrete for 174 Maracana stadiums and waterflow is 40times bigger than on Iguassu falls. It gives electric energy for 80% of Paraguay and 15% of Brazil. The whole thing is on border between those two countries and it is like another country - own university, managers from both countries. Itaipu binacional also got UNESCO award for the project of saving atlantic forest. 

The whole world in Foz do Igaussu rotates around those natural wonders, it is totally worth of visiting, there are some breathtaking views, at some points you can stand there and watch that for whole day, three days are enough to see everything from all possible angles. If you are travelling to Brazil, Argentina or Paraguay - this is on MUST SEE list. 

Next blog coming soon from olympic Rio!

Simon 

#2 City on hills

As I told in previous blog, the first impression of Belo Horizonte was nothing special but after 2 nights I moved to another hostel, just 2km away from the first one and I saw another face of the city. City was built in 19th century to be the capital of Minas Gerais state - as the whole state - in the hills.

Main avenue - Avenida das Amazonas

Wherever you want to go in this huge city, you have to beat at least two hills. First day in new hostel I went to the main city attraction to Freedom square (Praca de Liberdade) - and I could see, why it is the main square in Belo Horizonte - many fountains, palm trees, many people just chilling there, some of them singing, dancing samba - everyone relaxing. Seeing that made me more relaxed too.

Panorama of Freedom square

Praca de Lberdade - Freedom Square

On the northern side of the city is also one very nice place to visit - Pampulha lake. It took me and my host here more than 1 hour to get there, but it was worth it. We stepped from bus directly in front of stadium Mineirao - the place where Germany won Brazil 7 to 1 at last world cup in 2014. There was match of Cruzeiro team and fans were gathering like 3h before the match. Next to stadium is smaller stadium Mineirinho - in front of which there was some market (it was Sunday) and where I could taste a lot of Brazilian Sweets. The most impressive was nectar made from sugarcane in front of me - like they were putting wooden sticks into the machine and squeeze the juice out of them. Then we went to the lake - nice lake, a lot of families, first feeling of nature after few days, I also saw lake animals - Capivaras and very strangely build church of Saint Francis of Asiss.

Mineirao stadium

Church of Saint Francis of Asiss

Capivaras - lake animals

For the night drinks and hanging I highly recommend Savassi area of the city, with many bars and relaxed people. 

For me, this was first city in South America so I did not know what to expect. I saw a lot of different perspectives of the city, but at the end I can conclude I felt mostly safe and the city is worth of visiting, maybe for 3 or 4 days. 

Now I am in Foz do Igaussu and blog from this amazing part is coming soon!

Best regards,

Simon

#1 Flying forever and first impressions about Belo Horizonte

On Tuesday,19th of July, my big adventure finally started. I was planning that for more than 8 months, but until last day, I was not nervous and almost everything I felt was excitement. Then last night sleeping at home suddenly I could not sleep, I fell strange from inside. Very special thank to one of my friends, who is always trying to keep my head on the right track, so I prepare my head for this adventure. When the last day at home finished, all goodbyes were said, my father and my brother drove me to Budapest airport.

From Moškanjci via Budapest airport via London Heathrow and via Miami International to Belo Horizonte it took me more than 36 hours, more than 20 hours in air. During that time I went through one of my fever episodes - I was too afraid to tell my mom that, she would be too worried - so somehow with help of phone and few friendson the other side I managed to come here safely and well. But when I arrive here, another shock - no baggage - hope it comes soon (still waiting), I have some things in there that I am emotionally attached.

Budapest - London - Miami - Belo Horizonte

Airport here in Belo Horizonte on first sight does not look big, but when do you have to take the bus from terminal 3 to terminal 1, it is really big. Nonetheless, this is 3rd biggest city in Brazil and has more citizens than whole Slovenia. Then I had to take the bus from Airport to citycentre and despite I was crazy tired it was really interesting to watch city - some new culture. For me it was shock, to see a lot of people sleeping on the streets and in the middle of the parks, a lot of dirt lying all around, big holes on the roads... All this is something new to me, also language - although people are veeery nice, rarely who speaks English. But I think the basics of language I will know in few days. 

Mercado Central - there you can find everything

Today, I visited Mercado Central - no.2 on TripAdvisor list for BH - and it was amazing to see what they have there inside - from cats, dogs, chickens, big turkeys to all the food, clothes, even I counted 7 or 8 protein shops to restaurants - so I had first Brazilian lunch - it was said to me, Minas food (Minas Gerais is the region here) is really tasty and I tried FEIJAO TROPEIRO - mixed beans, pork, some vegetables and rice and it was really good and cheap.

Feijao tropeiro - tasty brazilian dish

I hope my baggage comes soon, so I can start enjoying this country even more, first impression is positive and I am sure it will be only better - there is only 15 days till Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. Can't wait.

Blending in with Brazilian colours! 

Best Regards from Belo Horizonte, 

Simon Ranfl

   

Why, while drunk, geolocation in your head is not where it should be?

In contribution to my very dear friend - The Queen!

Alcohol, to be more specific - ethanol, is one of the most common drugs used on the world. People are drinking alcohol from when they are around 15 and basically until they die. It is the cheapest thing on the market and legal to abuse. Sometimes, when you drink too much, you have problems locating yourself, you lost your compass, you do not know where you are or where you are going...

You are not sure where you are... 

I mean, this happens usually when you have memory loss, but you are still standing and having fun, not knowing about it. I have few examples from source, who do not want to be named, of that and I think the main thing about it is, that there should be a location where you have been earlier that day and it made a big impression on you.

...because you have drunk too much.

For that I have two stories from my source - you are somewhere, but you think you are at the other place far away. At first there were parties both times, good parties and if I use slovenian expression - you have to look too deep in your glass - so you have to be really drunk. And then usually your friends are looking for you and calling/texting you. First time it happened two years ago - they have worked that day at one event at some place called Gomila, where is a big sightseeing tower. After that, they went to party in neighbour village and they have a lot of fun. That person was really drunk and went home on his own. His friends were calling him, because he was not at proper route but walking on his own somewhere off road. When friends finally reach him on his phone, he was in his home village, but he still thought that he was at that Gomila, because it made big impression on him! Nowadays this is always funny story to discuss about.

Gomila sightseeing tower

The more interesting thing happened 2 weeks ago - they have been to bachelor party and in the night he thought he was at eastern part of Slovenia in town called Slovenska Bistrica, although he was really in the far west Slovenia on Italian border next to river Soča. But the party began in Slovenska Bistrica so the brains made the same impression as before. He was actually thinking that he was near home, so he text his brother to leave him house keys somewhere. 

Soča river

It is scientifically proven that alcohol inhibits the central nervous system, so when you drink too much it inhibits your orientation too. Luckily this is not happening to often. 

Sometimes you just lost your compass and just walking follow your nose, but do not worry - in 99,999% you will come home safe!