University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Johnny Moran Blog in Rio de Janeiro
8/6/2011 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
University of Northern Iowa senior guard Johnny Moran (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs HS) will be keeping a blog throughout the Panthers' 10-day trip to Brazil.
Aug. 6, 2011
Greetings Panther Fans,
It has been quite a phenomenal few days. Rio De Janeiro is spectacular. We got into town a couple days ago and it has been great. Rio is known as a destination city and it has not disappointed. There are so many sights to see. We have a great hotel called Impanema Plaza which is a block away from the ocean. The beach is incredible. There is bright sun, white sand, and cataclysmic waves crashing ashore. We have been able to do some fun stuff since we've gotten to town.
Our first day in Rio we got here at 2 pm after a long bus ride. We left early so we had quite a bit of time to scope out the scene. We walked along the ocean, got to play on some rocks overlooking the water, and ate a nice meal just down the street from the hotel. There is a lot of people and a lot of tourists. People have been very friendly and outgoing even though there is a language barrier.
Our second day we visited the Cristo Redentor, or The Statue of Christ the Redeemer.? What an incredible statue. It sits atop a tall hill overlooking the city. We took trolley cars to the top and were able to take photos of the Statue itself, as well as pictures of the scenic view which showcases the splendor that is Rio De Janeiro. Later that day we went to our game and played well, winning by a large margin. The game was a good one to learn from and we played in a small, quaint, gym. It is so interesting to play in very different style gyms. They are much different than McLeod, but filled with character nonetheless.?
Thanks for following us on our trip. I will check in again soon.
Go Panthers!
