| 27/28th Oh Rio, Rio Well, I had a late nite as the swines in the room just would not go out, eventually they did so at 12am, at which stage I was almost dead! Slept really well though! Up early yesterday and went to see JC. It is a nice ride up thru the hills and national park. The views on the way up are stunning! The views from the top are even better...we could see almost the whole of Rio - from Ipanema, to Copacobana, downtown and the huge maracana stadium (holds 200,000). JC itself was alright and funny watching all the tourists pose like him with their hands up in the air! Headed back and had such a hassle trying to change dollars to reals...after 30 mins I found somewhere! Then me and a dude from our room went on the Favela tour (shanty town). We rode up there on motorbikes, which was scary! As most people can�t read, never mind ride! Mental note: Never get on bike again without helmut or more clothes than shorts and tshirt! We walked through alleys though where there was shops, schools and restuarants. We stopped off to see some local kids painting the scenery, they were pretty good. There is electricty in the favela�s but very few people pay for it - so there is heaps of wires hanging down from pylons where they have stolen electricty. The police do not stop this, as they are afraid to enter the town! They also do not pay any taxes, and surprisingly the houses are alright, I have seen a lot worse in Bolivia! A was chatting to a English guy last nite, and seemingly the police stormed a house there and killed all the occupants!! Yikes! Sat around in the hostal �wine tasting" till about 2am. Also tried some of the local moonshine made from sugar cane. Wow, it is potent stuff! 29th Hassle and more hassle... It wasn�t till late morning that I managed to drag myself out from bed. But then I had to withdraw money to pay for my bus ticket to Florinopolis. Could I find a bank that took visa, no! It took me ages to find a bank, then I had to queue in the slowest moving queue to buy the ticket which took 5 mins. I wanted to buy it today, as tomorrow is a holiday (COrpus Christi) and Friday will be world cup fever, so most things will be closed! So I leave here on the 3rd on a fully reclinable, fully a/c, all flashing and dancing bus for $55 (17 hrs though!) I went to a buffet place for lunch - you pick your food, the its weighted and you pay for the weight, so for about $2, you get a really nice feed! It seems like most people here having a top or item of clothes that either says Brazil or is in the Brazilian colours. To say there were fanitical would be an understatement! I went on a old tram to Santa Teresa, which is a nice little suburb, but you just go there for the tram ride. I caught the bus back, scary as anything. The bus driver thought he was Ayton Senna and raced round corners and down hills.. Headed to bed after all this excitement...hopefully going out somewhere later, see what the boys are planning! Richy out!. Well, I didn� go out, I just stayed and chatted and drank with some folks in the hostal till late! 30th Ipanema #9 Headed down to the beach for the best weather and surf. We went to tower #9 as this is where all the beautiful people go to be seen and to see other folks. There were many beautiful people there, each tower attracts different crowds, so at number 7 it is a gay crowd. But ts at number 9 where all the beautiful people go to be seen and see others. I used to think that yanks where the best looking people in the world, then I came to Rio. There are some amazing people here - its amazing what a few hrs in the gym can do and a good plastic surgeon! The women where incredible, if it was back in the UK, they would be treated as models! Reluctanly, I left the beach for about 4ish and then headed back via the off licence. Had a few beers, then headed out to the Lord Jim pub. Its an English style pub, very bz ,but not a lot happening. Left there and headed to the bar outside help for a nightcap. 31st Copa De Mundo Woke up early to watch the opening game in bed. Good game, shock result. I headed into town for a wander. There is not much there to see, but there is a small imperial palace. The Portugese royal family used to stay there before Brazil gained independence in 1880. The bus rides there and back where amazing, the buses all race each other and do some sort of time trial. They must also go round corners on 2 wheels! After a wee sleep, we got dolled up and partook in some drinkies. We wre going to go to Lapa (the area where there had many shootings in the last few weeks!), and then on to a club. There was a massive street party with bands playing on the street, and dancing, and general partying. It was good fun to see...still no guns! We then went ound the corner to the club, six. You get 35 reals to spend on drinks and this is the min level, so it forces you to drink, rather much (although its only $15!) The club was amazing, it was so busy, and it contained most of the people from the beaches. Excellent fun...although, I enjoyed watching and chatting to this american couple who were slapping each other. I left there at 5,30ish...i think! 1st June Today I basically took it easy...after waking at 12, I had some lunch. Then I messed around trying to cash out for about 30 mins - it is so hard here. Then I went and sat on the internet for a bit. I went to see the film Dragonfly with Kevin Costner in the evening. It was OK...not my fave though! Home for an early night after that. 2nd The Griffin�s descent I met Aioden (Sinead�s bro from Manchester) early as I had some stuff to give him to take home for me...my ruck sack is noticably lighter...not! We then chatted for a bit then headed to the beach. At around 11,30ish, Aoiden�s mate, Lee went for a walk. By 2ish, we had enough of waiting and went to find some coconuts and lunch. We then played some football on the beach with some of the guys from the hostal and the locals. We lost that game... Met up later for some beers and then sat outside help disco and chatted to the folks there (its a long story, but very funny!) They went to the disco and I headed back - Brazil were playing early in the morning, so I wanted to watch it. 3rd Farewell Rio! Woke up at 5am and dragged some folks with me to watch the game...Aoiden and Lee were dead I think (but they joined us later), so we sat in this pizza place watching the game. It was a really good atmosphere, but only about 35 folks there. Whenever Brazil got the ball, there were screams and you could feel the excitement. So watching the game on Copacobana beach, watching the sun rise over the bay...heaven, what a moment. There were TV camera�s there, so I now famous in Brazil as well as in Peru! Went for a wander all morning to kill time until my bus which was at 3,30pm. Got a taxi to the bus station - it was the hottest day so far, and I was sweating loads from carrying all my gear! Eventually the bus arrived, and you have never seen such comfort...there were only 26 seats. Like first class on a plane, they tilted back and had headphone sockets. But alas, no movies. I however, was knackered and slept until our first stop at 7ish. We stopped, and everyone piled out, I was last and could not find anybody. So I stayed near the bus in the cafe and wolfed down some food, then realised that we were going to be there for another 30 mins. I was rather annoyed! But its hard when you don�t speak the lingo as I can�t ask how long the bus will be there for, so you need to stick close to it! Slept all nite though, so comfy...mmmm 4th Florinopolis This is a wealthy resort town about 18hrs south of Rio. It attracts wealthy Rio types who all have apartments here. Some of which are lovely. Its not like blackpool, it has some classy shops and its again where the beautiful types go. It was off season though now. Florinopolis is an island with a lagoon in the middle of it and beaches all round the coast line Then I arrived...there was only 4 (me, an ozzie, a dane and an isreali) of us in the hostal. I met the ozzie guy Ben, who remembered me telling stories in Rio. So we went down to the beach together. We headed to a beach on the other side of the lagoon on the atlantic coast. We passed through really nice houses and some great bars. Most houses were empty and bars were shut as it is low season. But the beach was amazing, set in a cove with only about 30 people there. It had lovely clean beaches and the sea was nice but rough. Chilled there till about 4ish. Headed back for showers and some food. Had some beers on the veranda thingy, then headed down to Cafe Cancun for some more. Left there at 1ish as there was nothing much happening there and our conversations were getting more and more passionate (about the EU, health care in a third world country and beer!). 5th After buying my ticket for Foz Du Igacu, i headed down the beach where I met the others. Played some frisbee, sunbathed and just chilled! In the evening, we went to cafe cancun after making some dinner and having some beers at the hostal. There a new brazilian girl staying there, but I think she is mute! We went into the club, which was rammed full! I wore my brazilian top, and had people chatting to me all nite. God knows what they were saying, I just said, "champion" and smiled... Again, this was one of these places were we had to drink a set amount, so even though I don`t normally do this type of thing, I gave it a good go! Staggered out of there at 3.30am, so watch the Denmark game. The Dane and I had picked up this local dude - so he came back to watch the game as well! I feel asleep on the couch and had to go bed... 6th Bom Dia! |