rowing in lagoa.

Today, I took my first rowing (crew) lesson at Lagoa. It kills me that I waited till this long to actually go out and row, considering I've known about it since I first got here, but I finally got a friend who was a bit more ambitious about finding the clubs to get excited about it, and I went with her yesterday to try it out (and today, my first lesson).

I never did crew in high school or college-- which is a shame, because my body is made for it-- but rowing out in Lagoa is absolutely fabulous. You just can't get sick of the views-- the Christ, wisps of Jardim Botanico, the skyline buildings on Av. E Passoa... and of course the funky duck boats that have tourists and Cariocas alike inside them.

I am pretty sure I'm going to join the Botafogo club, just because it's the closest one to where I live (and by close, I mean it takes about an hour by bike to get there). That being said, it's worth the trek. If you have enough time, it's a fantastic way to stay in shape, take in the great views of the city, and enjoy one of the wonders of Rio that's hard to get anywhere else.