"All-Access" Fun In Rio Sun!
On Friday, Dave Price picked Charece Williams out of a crowd at Universal Studios in her hometown of Orlando to accompany him on an "All-Access" weekend excursion to Rio de Janeiro.
It was the first in a new round of "All-Access" fun for Dave and lucky folks he'll pick each week as trip companions.
On Wednesday, Dave gave The Early Show viewers a taste of what he and Charece experienced.
They flew on American Airlines from Orlando to Miami, then on to Rio, where folks from the carrier threw a party for Dave and Charece as soon as they landed.
From there, it was on to Copacabana Beach, where Dave found the water so inviting, he dove in, clothes and all, urging Charece to test the waters, too. She did. But at least she had a bathing suit on.Check out our behind-the-scenes photos!
Then, it was time to check into their hotel, the JW Marriott. They were still wet from the ocean when they walked into the lobby.
Next, an "All-Access" lesson in Rio beverages.
Dave drank from a coconut, explaining that the locals chop it open, put a straw in it, and that's your drink.
Charece was a little more daring, indulging in a Caipirinha, made from liquor, sugar and a lime.
Back on the beach, there were lots of very scantily-clad people, and food of all varieties for sale.
Dave explained that the food in Brazil is delicious and inspired by several ethnic influences: Indian, Portuguese and African, to name just a few.
Dave and Charece shared a meal at a churascurria, a genuine Brazilian steakhouse.
The food in Rio is great, Dave understated, and the sights are stunning. In the heart of city is the world-famous Sugarloaf Mountain. The granite and quartz monolith towers 1,300 feet above sea level and is said to get its name because of it's resemblance to loaf of refined sugar. The only way to get up there? Cable car.
Dave pointed out to Charece that it's been operating since 1912, "but they've changed cables" since then!
"Thank goodness for that," Charece deadpanned.
That was, Dave said, a great way to see Sugarloaf, but he had an even better way: by helicopter!
The Christ the Redeemer statue towering over the city from the top of Corcovado Mountain is Rio's most recognizable icon. Finished in 1931, it's a popular spot for baptisms, weddings and tourists. The lines to get there can stretch for hours, but not for All-Accessers!
Dave and Charece got up there on the chopper.
"For all my friends back home, please don't hate on me," Charece said. "I got lucky, am having the time of my life, and you're all in my heart. Really! … I can't wait to see you, but not right now. I'm having a blast!"
When most people think of Rio, Dave observed, they think of bustling city or the beautiful beaches. But Rio also has the largest urban rainforest in the world.
He and Charece visited a waterfall.
"When is the last time that you saw a waterfall in the middle of a city?" Charece marveled.
The sites and sounds of Rio are amazing, Dave stressed, but a single event — Carnival — defines the city and "was the highlight of our 38 hours on the ground."
Their All-Access passes meant Dave and Charece didn't watch the parade, they were in it.
The first night of Carnival was such a blast, the All-Access adventurers went back for night No. 2, when they sat in VIP seats and took it all in one last time.
The trip was arranged with the help of the Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Tell us and, if you can be in one of the cities Dave is visiting across the country on Fridays through March 23, you could be whisked away on an "All-Access" weekend, too. On Friday, Feb. 23, join him at the Navy Pier in Chicago.
If you can't get to the cities Dave is heading to, you can win an amazing "All-Access Pass" weekend by playing at home. Each Wednesday through March 28, we'll ask a question about his past weekend's "All-Access" adventure. Every correct answer gets you a chance at the ultimate "All-Access" weekend — a trip for two to the Tony Awards, to be broadcast live on CBS on June 10, 2007.
The question on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007 was:
Rio has the largest urban ...
A) Football Stadium
B) Monorail
C) Rainforest
