Ipanema sunset

Finally got the airco mended today - what a difference that makes! Failed to get the same results for the water pressurizer , which is on the blink for the third time in the two years since it was installed, as we've decided to complain to the manufacturer.

Proving once again that the search for a blip gets one out of the house, we decided to head for Arpoador, the point between Ipanema and Copacabana, to watch the sunset - along with several thousand other people. At this time of year, I imagine several thousand shots of the Arpoador are making their way onto Facebook, Flickr, etc. And I wonder how many places there can be in the world where the sun receives a round of applause as it finally sinks into the sea. It was very beautiful and my mobile phone doesn't do it justice, particularly as I forgot to put it on the right setting, but we enjoyed it anyway.

Afterwards we wandered slowly back along Copacabana beach, naturally stopping for a beer and some chips, and eventually home, far later than originally foreseen. The temperature at 9:45 was 25 C - practically freezing. We had gone a good 15 yards past the gelato shop when HH asked if I was really just going to ignore it , so with one accord, we turned round and went back. We hadn't taken made much of an inroad into our cornets before an unpleasant smell forced itself on our notice. When I asked the girls behind the counter, they told me that the place had been turned upside-down, but they hadn't been able to identify the source. They also confirmed that everyone was doing what we did, which was taking their gelatos and leaving. Do hope they manage to get it sorted soon, it's a shame to see their business suffering like that, when the heat and the number of holiday-makers should be giving them record sales.