Little steps

Sorry for lack of updates, so much to do, so little time.
So, where was I? Ah yes, internet issues, well thankfully all sorted now, by a nice Brazilian man who spoke not a word of English, but certainly knew what the problem was.
Another afternoon shift, starting to get less busy, so now trying to keep occupied, by checking out the press site and keeping up to date with the competitions.
Part way through the shift I was handed a ticket that would get me in to the wheelchair rugby on 14th in the morning, so I checked it out and turns out it was to be Australia vs GB.

The next morning, again was fairly chilled out, I wandered to the little supermarket to top up supplies, before lunch and then heading for my shift, where I was visited by a couple of my volunteer friends, heading off to see the Last Leg, so thought they'd call in to say hi.
I started watching archery via the media site, as no TV feed to view, as a friend that I had met at the Invictus Games, (Jodie Grinham) was competing in the compound pairs. It was so exciting watching the numbers appear on the screen and then working out, before the results were posted, that she was going to be in the gold medal match. Sadly they were beaten by 4 points to end up with the silver, but was very exciting. I have tickets to see her compete in the solo rounds on Friday, so fingers crossed she can do as well.
Managed to leave shift early again as not much to be done, and from the next day the MPC opening hours are changing to be from 9am to 6pm. So looks like I may have to head to the swimming pool after to finish my shift off at the press area there.

So on to day 12 of my adventure, yep over half way and on the final straight.

Arranged to meet a couple of other volunteers at Cinelandia metro station to go and see the Selaron Steps, not realising how long it would take me to get there. Set off from the apartment at 8.23am, and headed to the Rio 2 station of the BRT, (Bus Rapid Transport) basically a bus system that is in a separate lane from the regular buses and traffic and can just whizz by all the traffic queues. There is a stopping one, and a direct one from certain points.
BRT to Alvorada, change to another BRT to Jardim Oceanica, then onto Metro line 4 to Gereral Osario, this is the new line put in for the Olympics, and almost empty, reminded me of being on the metro in Shanghai. From here another transfer to metro line 1 and eventually arrived at cinelandia just around 10am. Met with a young Canadian girl Shannon and we headed to find the stairs, going via the arches, a lovely bright white painted set of arches where a tram line runs across. Sadly no trams seen.
Walking through to the stairs, it was amazingly not completely packed out, possibly as it was incredibly hot and I was extremely grateful, I had remembered to bring water with me.
The stairs were incredible, a definite work of love. The artist states it is ever changing, and you can send your own tiles for him to include. Was great fun spotting them from all round the world.
Then time to head back, so I could get to my shift on time.
This time taking a direct BRT from Jardim Oceanico to Centro Olympica, cut quite a lot of time off the journey. We stopped only to buy some pao de queijo (small bread balls filled with cheese) and a tangerine juice, costing less than £1.25.
The journey back was far quicker, having taken the direct BRT, so it was then a quick walk back to the apartment to change and head to shift.

A short shift this afternoon, due to closing the help desk at 6pm, followed by an evening out for the team for a meals and drinks. Claudia very kindly gave me a lift there and back, though the route back was a little longer than it should have been due to a lack of knowledge of the particular area I was staying, but it enabled me to see more of an area I may not have made it to on my own, driving past the golf course and the Riocentro venues.