Blogs from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America - page 209

We arrived in Rio at our luxiourious hotel the Ipanema Plaza overlooking the beach to our left and the statue of Christ to the right - which even to this distance looks magnifico! The weather wasnt that great when we got there but in true British style we headed to the beach in our swim suits, whilst the locals in their thick jumpers handed us towels and offered as grilled cheese. The sand is the best we have ever seen - so fluffy! but obviously we didnt stay there for long. That night we headed for a Brazilian buffet. Maz peaked early and faded away as many do! It was very nice. Basically we learnt early that the buffet consists of providing the diners with a picture of a cow disected into 9 pieces and then ... read more

So last time i left you we were shopping it up in the dizzy heights of Curitiba... We survived a rather posh night bus to Rio and then another bus ride down the coast before a 90 minute boat ride took us to Illa Grande. On a side note to anybody planning a night bus to anywhere...its ALL about the medicinal products. Any of the -azapam (valium) family will do and I´ve used a fair few varieties on this trip. (of note you can buy almost anything over the counter in Bolivia - much cheaper than at home, including antibiotics and antimalarials) This was well worth the trip. Its on all the must see lists for Brazil. A small island off the coast South of Rio with jungle inland and tropical beaches surrounding it. The town ... read more

To escape Rio de Janeiro, I traveled 4 hours south to a little colonial town called Paraty ("Pah rah chee") whose main attraction was its small size and lack of crime. I was fed up with feeling like a hostage in Rio, not being able to go anywhere by myself and feeling always on edge because of the very real possibility of violence at any moment. Paraty was the perfect antidote. When I arrived there, I decided that what I most wanted to do was to practice my new kayaking skills that I had learned in my kayaking class last month. Though everyone told me that the bay was smooth as glass and I could go out by myself, I wanted a guide and I was told that the nameless Big Bearded Man was my only ... read more

----------- Vi er ankommet Rio! Det er smaakjoelig, men likefullt fantastisk fint! I følge en brasiliansk avis saa HAGLET det i Rio for et par dager siden. Det var nok et forbigående fenomen... La oss gaa litt tilbake i tid: Vi lettet fra Gardermoen 15:45 onsdag ettermiddag og landet i Paris droeye to timer senere. Paa Charles de Gaulle er det jo alltid spennende, og denne gangen var det "unattended luggage"(gjenglemt bagasje) og "stramme fjes med maskinpistol" som stod paa programmet. Etter at en kvinnelig fransk soldat hadde faatt flashet vaapenet i tjue minutter, var hun fornoeyd og slapp oss videre til terminalen (en veldig kjedelig terminal) vi skulle til. Her ventet vi i fem lange timer foer vi kunne sette oss paa flyet til Rio. Flyet til Rio var digert (Boeing 747) og det ... read more

It was so good especially the last few nights, missing you both so much. But bring on the 22nd! TC reformed!!!... read more