Saturday 26th Another early start, another bus ride in on the busy roads. The surfers are again out in the bay, and the waves are still breaking on the beach... Where there should be NO waves! At 630am it's already 23 degrees, so it's going to be another hot day. In the city, back on the internet trying to sort out my hotel in Sao Paulo. When Gaynor's assistant arrives about 11am I get ready to head out. Decide to walk down to the Botanic Gardens... Takes 2.5 hours before I arrive as I go via a few shops and Park [View Full Entry]

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Thursday 24th After another 530am start join Gaynor on the bus into town. She's going to show me how to make my own way back if I like. Takes the usual 1.5 hours this morning. I get time on the internet again then head over to the hotel to meet Linda. Lila is there but Linda isn't... My fault! Get into an internet café and we arrange that I'll wait there. Meantime is a message from Gaynor that the ferry has had an accident which means that traffic won't be great tonight! Once we meet, go for breakfast at a juice [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday 23rd April Another public holiday, another bit of a lie-in. Before too long we're headed into Niteroi where I get a few photos of the view across to Rio, see the island of the Monks, Niemeyer's 'spaceship', before we head round to the fort. Given a really interesting tour of the fort (yes, it's in Portuguese, but Gaynor translates), given lots of stories about events of the past. It's still an active fort so some areas are out of bounds. We head to Bob's Burgers for lunch (bit of a Brazilian institution, and means still haven't had a McDonald's for [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday 22nd April Managed to get up 530am, and was ready to leave by 615am. Gaynor usually gets the bus from central Niteroi but as yesterday/tomorrow are public holidays the city should be quieter. Amazingly we make it in in 45 minutes - normal day would take about 1.5 hours. Get an hour or so on Gaynor's assistants computer before she arrives for work. I thought the city tour I'd signed up for with the rest of the group was meeting 1pm, but messages on Facebook indicate otherwise so I catch a taxi to the hotel for 1030am. Everyone turns up [View Full Entry]

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Monday 21st April Bank Holiday in Rio. Good sleep in, then spent most of the day reading before we headed out for an afternoon tour of the beaches. Abraham, his girlfriend and Rebekah came with us. We found Gaynor's favourite beach where she had a chance to relax and I wandered down the beach with the others. Amazed at how good Abraham's English is and hope he can soon put it to good use in a job. After reading a bit more trash walk up to the rocks with Gaynor before we head back via a couple more beaches and the [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 20th April Up by 8ish, fully packed and down for breakfast. Most of the others are up to join me before I jump in a taxi at 945 to head to the English church in Botafogo where I'm to meet Gaynor. Helen comes to greet me at the end of the Portuguese service, before Gaynor turns up with a car full of Cherith, Abraham and David - none of whom come into the service. Great to be in an English service again, and after meet a few people plus raid the bookshelves full of English books (R$2 each, preferably to [View Full Entry]

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MORE PHOTOS FROM DISPOSABLE CAMERA TO COME Saturday 19th April Early start, quick breakfast, and we're all ready to go. We expected to be catching the ferry but Lila has a surprise for us - we're back on the schooner (minus the music/capirinhas). Not so nice in the rain but in an hour we've docked and are in a private van. With only one stop we're in Rio de Janeiro by 1130am, and fortunately the hotel lets us check in. Nice hotel and nice room - excepting the smell of cigarettes! We have a meeting to discuss tonight/options in Rio post-tour, [View Full Entry]

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Thursday 17th April 9am still felt too early but got up for brekkie, then came back to my room and sorted most of my stuff out. Bag is getting pretty full now but doesn't seem worth posting anything back. 11am head out for a last look at town, decide to buy the hammock I looked at yesterday although not sure how I'll get it back. Post Office (2.2kg) is too expensive... By 12 have been on the internet and checked out of my room. 3 taxis were en route and soon we were at the bus station and getting the local [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday 15th April I must be improving at this sleeping on transport lark... Although I kept feeling cold I 'slept' til 730, then dozed til 822 when I was woken by my phone buzzing... Winchester number, not sure who! 830am we stop for breakfast... See my egg sandwich cooked in front of me! Back on the bus for the last leg to Sao Paulo, hopefully arrive about 1130am, as our next bus to Paraty is 1pm! Oh well, it's now 550pm and I'm STILL on a bus! We're not sure where the end is.. Maybe another hour. Thought we were getting [View Full Entry]

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Monday 14th April By 1030am we need to be checked out so enjoy another good breakfast, check luggage into the storage rooms and are ready for our 3rd country in 3 days! We're off to Paraguay (optional extra). No messing around at the border this time... They're there but there's no stamping in/out this time. Across the bridge and we're into Paraguay... Or one town of it where electronics, branded goods, etc. can be purchased cheaply. Just interested to see but manage to replace my camera case and get another memory card. Help Lila and Staurt replace their stolen mobile phones... [View Full Entry]

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