"In the Fasano hotel, the hallways are softly lit, the walls and doors made up of rich, dark wood from the ground (a deep red carpet) to the ceiling. When we first opened the door to our room, the sunshine poured in, and as our eyes adjusted to the contrast, they fell on the view: a sparkling sea stretched out before us, with Ipanema Beach in the foreground. From our balcony, we could see the entirety of the beach as we sipped fresh coconut water and snacked on Globo biscuits: the surfers at Arpoador to our left, the steamy stretch of sand leading all the way to the iconic peaks of the Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers) to our right, with all of the energy of the beach (people cycling along the boardwalk or purchasing bikinis and partying at each posto, or lifeguard stand) in between. To make the view even better, our balcony was mirrored on each side, allowing us to take in both ends of the beach, no matter which direction we faced."
