Blogs from Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America - page 36

So as I explained Favella is basically shanty town and Rio is over run by Favella´s. The day before I went on the tour I saw the film 'Cidade de Deus´ (City of Gods) which is basically a true story about the gang war that goes on in one of the bigger Favellas in Rio (If you haven’t seen it you must, even though it is all in subtitles it is wicked - and perfect preparation for my Favella tour). The Favella we saw runs about 30% of Rio’s drugs and is estimated to turnover approximately US$ 5m per month and there is approximately 200,000 people living here. On the day we went there were certain parts that we could not go as there was a big massive funeral for a guy called Elloy who was ... read more

On arriving in Copacabana the first thing that I must tell you about is my hostel Stone of a Beach, definitely one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in with wicked staff, good food and the hot tub on the roof terrace......(hence the reason why I got stuck there for so long! So decided to go to a futbal match (how the Brazilian’s spell it) and watch the local side Botafogo. Brazil currently has four local teams and they all play big matches at the Maracaña which is currently the biggest stadium in the world with a capacity of 180,000. The Brazilians are renowned for their love of Football but what you fail to realise is that they are so passionate but there is no health and safety rules like back home. Hence the fact ... read more

Tina and I dragged James to a Robbie (otherwise affectionately know as Hobbie here in Brazil) Williams concert last night. We arrived after a home made caiparinhia 1/2 hour late (Brazilians are so laid back) and Robbie and his mate Jonny Wilks stop mid song to say 'look there are more people coming in' and he’s says 'what time do you call this' fairly amusing seeing as we were just strolling in. Robbie managed to learn a complete Portugese word 'Obrigado' which he mentioned at every given opportunity - In all seriousness he is a showman, and he knows how to put on a good concert - and it only cost us about 45 quid - so we did it! We are heading of to Ille Grande today and will then be working our way toward ... read more

The City of God & Football Her name is Lola, she was a show girl... This was the song of the day, week and month and having woken up on my 32nd birthday in a barn in the Pantanals, we were treated to the following over a 24 hour period: Ute from the Pantanals to the bus stop - 2 hours Wait for bus - 1 hour Bus to Campo Grande - 5 hours Flight puchase on the spot from Campo Grande to Sao Paulo - 3 hours Bus from Airport to city Bus station - 1 hour Bus ticket purchase (2am) on the spot from Sau Paulo to Rio - 6 hours Bus to Metro - 30 mins Metro to Copacabana -30 mins Sort apartment - 5 hours Not the most exciting of birthdays but ... read more

hi all, hannah and i have arrived in rio. 1st day went on copacabana beach got pissed and sunburnt how typical of me. spent the next few days scurrying round rio doing the sights. went to see christo (that big statue on the hill) and sugar loaf mountain, was cool went to maracana football stadium to see flemengo and flemenise play , was fun jumping up and down on the seats and eating cheese on sticks. it rained for the next few days so decided to do one and go to this jungle lodge with some of the others we met backpackers hostel. when we arrived we was abit tipsy off ye old vodka as had drunk all the way, got left in the middle of nowhere looking for someone called ralph, who the hell is ... read more