I've heard before that Copacabana occasionally get flooded by the ocean but I hadn’t seen it until this Sunday. There is usually a wide sand beach separating the water from Avenida Atlântica. Sometimes it shrinks. This time it was mostly gone. The sidewalk was also gone in some parts, and occasional waves splashed all the way to the road divider. Luckily, on Sundays they reserve half of Atlântica for pedestrians, so at least there weren’t any crazy people trying to drive in the water.

I have no idea what the reason for this was. I would have guessed “global warming” except that it was freaking cold… I checked the thermometers outside and they said 17°, but it felt so much more cold. Luisa said “wind chill factor”. I never thought that concept would be applicable in Rio. Seriously, we keep joking that we can’t wait till we can get to New York and finally feel warm.