Landed in Rio

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Landed in Rio last night around 9pm Rio time. We're 2 hours behind ye here. Weather is fab-about 28degrees today. Flight was fine- them sleeping pills are unreal-had trouble waking up when the plane had landed. Our hostel "The Mango Tree" is fine-lots of Irish here- met a few different people just over for 2/3 week holidays and one backpacker at the end of his journey. Took a stroll down to Ipanema beach-v nice-just a few mins walk away. Took an excursion today wit this looney Brazilian guide-v enjoyable! He took us up to the Christ Redeemer statue (the sheer size of it is unbelieveable) and up through the rainforest to get there. The rainforest is the largest one of its kind (within a city) in the world. Rich and poor are mixed together throughout the city. For example, in one area there is a private members exclusive golf club and right beside it is a farvela (slum). Anyway, good impressions of Rio on our first day-we plan to stay til Sunday-hopefully catch the big football game between flamencos (locals) and Sao Paulo on Sat-seemingly its not one t miss!!!

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