hey all. So Im in Rio atm. Its pretty darn hot! Flight over was immense, 12 hours is not comfy in a big old tin flying through the air, altho god bless british airways movies! 2012 was rubbish, But i watched Vera Drake which was good and then napped for 5 hours, Dave enjoyed dammed united and then got bored and made his own playlist on the music channels on the plane. Anyhoot, got to airport in Rio and got baggage ok. Then hopped on a bus local style! only to get off at the wrong stop, the difference between Copacobana palace, and copacobana plaza hotel seemed to be lost in translation.
We did find ourselves on the map with some help from a local who advised us to avoid the drug dealers on the way, (just what you want to hear your first day in a new country!) Found our hostel only to find some idiot had taken our deposit but not booked us in, bugger. So we are currently room hopping from doorm to doorm (so much for the private ensuite room we booked) and lugging our baggage to check in and out everyday, not that impressed! Altho it does have an open air bit with chairs and that, and on our fist day the local monkeys fancied our breakfast bannanas, (that god i got that rabies shot!!)
But Rio is lovely, Copacobana beach is massive as we found when we decided to walk it, and down to Ipanema 6 miles later we crashed back at the hostel. May not sound far, but in 35 degree heat plus, not so comfy.
Yesterday we went to the sugar loaf mountain, and of course trying to save money decided to walk to it, and taking the scenic route, (i.e walking all the way along the beach to find a mountain blocking our way and having to turn around) we did get there. We took the cable car up the first leg of the journey, deciding that at 22R$ a stop each, we would save some cash. The views were spectacular, you could see almost the whole coastline and the Christ the Redeemer statue, which is covered in scaffolding...... The airport is set on its own island, pretty amazing. (photos to follow when I remember to bring the handy little device mum bought me down to the comps!)
Today we walked all the way round this random lake, thinking we could get to the Botanical Gardens, but it took way longer than we anticipated, (the guide book map is rubbish!!) and never would have made it in there and out before dark. We did however find the posh part of Ipanema, with all the expensive shops, and book shops (Dave dragged me away a few times) And we made it back to the hostel to check into yet another different dorm (yay), all in all a 12mile round trip in the heat. (at least we will be ready for the hike in Peru, at this rate would be able to run it!)
Anyway, I should get on, I promised dave a game of snooker, so off to the rubbish tables we go!

xxxx

Sorry its rubbish, internet here is sketchy at best!!!