Part of trip after studying in Venezuela. The girl part was a good friend from DC who happened to be home in Rio. This was before cell phones though and real email. I sent an email request and confirmed on a call, but that was a long time before I arrived. Luckily she met me at the airport and brought me to the penthouse of the family of another friend which overlooked Ipanema beach. 

I wanted to go hang gliding from the Jesus statue but the local friend said a lot of people die doing that. Figured better not to try it.