As I was searching for a place to stay on Airbnb.com, I almost rented a room from a woman (Claudia) who had two sons. But just before I confirmed the room, I found the apartment on the beach and chose that instead. In the process, Claudia and I became Facebook friends, and she seemed to have a lot in common with me. When I arrived in Brazil, I sent her a message and asked if she wanted to get together. She immediately responded with lots of options and since I was pretty tired on my first day here, we decided to get together Friday night.
I had a terrific evening with Claudia on my second day in Rio. She picked me up around 9 and we went out to a great Arabian restaurant. Several of her friends from work joined us – including Roger, a previous Olympic soccer player (who also kite surfs) and Domitila, who is a reporter on SporTV. There were also a few famous actors and comedians that Claudia knew. Not a bad day 2 in Rio! And guess what… Claudia roller blades too!
Cheers to my new friend Claudia. She lives in Rio and not too far from my apartment.
Nancy, Roger and Claudia. Roger was a famous soccer player in Rio, and has won medals in past Olympics. He is not a sports broadcaster for a channel called SporTV.
Nancy, Domitila and Claudia. Domitila also works with Claudia at SporTV and is a well-known personality.
A typical bar/restaurant on the trendy street in town. I can walk here during the day, but not at night.