Hasta luego!: An afternoon at the beach

One can't go to Rio without going to Ipanema Beach and Copacobana Beach. I can say we walked on the sand briefly - HOT, and dipped my toes into the water - COLD - but the sheer spectacle was soooo much more amazing. There must of been hundreds of thousands of people on the beach - most with red umbrellas.

A young, bikini clad girl asked if I wanted my photo taken with her ..... so someone aimed the camera, a couple of her friends jumped in beside her .... and here we are. In Peru they would be asking for payment. In Australia, it just wouldn't happen - can't take photos of other people, especially children. Amazing!

Both beaches are really long and totally packed - mostly locals. Interesting - bikinis are mostly small, while make speedos are mostly larger than back in Oz. Everybody is out to enjoy the sunshine - regardless of shape or size. Aussie girls usually try to avoid a tan line (from straps) Latin American girls like to have a tan line - so Milka explained to me.

Sarongs for sale - wish I had bought some of these.

Vendors make their way through the crowds selling food, prawn kebabs, drinks, ice-creams as well as bikinis, sarongs etc. You don't even have to move from your spot!!! Drink stalls are stationed every hundred metres or so - alcohol of course readily available everywhere. Rio party continued on the beaches as well!!

Loved this sales setup. Guy walked along the beach with his umbrella, dripping with bikinis. Every few hundred metres he stopped, planted his umbrella firmly into the sand and sat down and set up shop in his own personal shade. Brilliant technique.