The temperature was its usual 90 degrees during the summer of Brazil and I was set to take a journey within the city of Rio de Janeiro. It started with meeting Carlos who I meet thru my friend Anwar, we actually met 48 hours prior, he recently moved to Rio de Janeiro from Los Angeles. Anwar also invited Danielle and Roberta to join us on the adventure. Carlos was actually our guide that Anwar met on Couchsuring.com. We start with pre-hike that had our bodies perspiring and thighs tingling thru an upper-class neighborhood featuring some modern home with the Tijuca National Park as their back drop.

Twenty minutes later we get to the start of our real journey to the Primata waterfalls. This would mark my 2^nd time hiking and the beginning of the hike is brutal. I had on sneakers that helped a lot but my fellow hikers wore their Haviannas flip-flops. The trees provided a canopy protecting us from Rio’s intense sun. We would scale the terrain of rocks, fallen trees, Tarzan like vines. At one point we reached a two-story rock that served as a make shift cave that our group was able to stand under with room to maneuver.

After a total time of thirty minutes hiking we finally arrive to the 1^st waterfall that has a pond. I ditched the sneakers and soaked my feet while my friends were prepared and changed into their swimwear. The 1^st waterfall was just a teaser to the main waterfall that required a one-minute climb. Victory filled the air with a sigh of relieve that we made it. The atmosphere was reminiscent of a movie scene with a group of friends hanging out in an idyllic place having great conversation wishing you could experience that place. The three-story waterfall’s continuous spill of fresh water felt like a natural massage. After the initial chill the water was addictive. Standing in the Primata gave me time to reflect on life and all God created. It was a great free moment that Rio de Janeiro provides and continues to impress me.