And so it begins

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Well it has only been a week, but what a week!!

Places Visited: Rio de Janeiro

It may surprise you to learn that i have actually endured about 5 days of on-off Thunderstorms and rain in Rio. But before you start reaching for the violins i should also point out that when it rains here, the temperature has remained in the mid 20s, and following the showers we tend to then get engulfed in blazing sunshine.

So the hotel i was staying at in Rio was certainally at the basic end of low cost accommodation. I was in a 5 bed dorm that had been crammed into a room that was just about big enough for one. then there were the showers where you actually felt cleaner before you went in. Questions began to arise in my mind as to whether i was cut for this sort of travel anymore.

But any doubts quickly faded away as i met everyone in the hostel and got involved in Carnival. It has been absolutely amazing. Days spent relaxing on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema and then afternoon till morning spent in a variety of street parties and processions, knocking back Caiparinas - it is a tough life!! the atomospere is really friendly and i have met a great mix of travellers and locals. I have witnessed some pretty amazing displays of footballing skill on the beaches of Rio, but also managed to attract many gasps and shocked looks from my displays of close control and precision in some attempts at beach football, i can only assume this was positive!

I managed to make it along to the Sambadome for the main Carnival parade which was incredible and have also fitted in the tourist musts of Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer (a brief selection of the photos are attached to this blog).

So now i start my first organised tour which takes me to Ilha Grande, Paraty, Iguassu Falls, Montevideo and then Buenos Aires. Really looking forward to this, as long as i can find an alternative mosquito repellent as they seem to be quite attracted to Deet here!

Hope all is well back in the UK

Ciao

Charlie

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Photos

My hotel
Safety was a big priority here

Not my hotel
Where i occasionally went for a bit of calm

Carnival
The entrance to the Sambadome

Carnival Parade
One of the most impressive floats

Sugar Loaf Mountain
The bond-esq view of Sugar Loaf Mountain

Ipanema beach
Football on the beach

Copacabana beach
The view from Sugar Loaf Mountain

Cristo
Christ the Redeemer

Street Parties
One of many evenings spent enjoying the hospitality of Rio

Comments

[M and D]

Postcard from Rio
Darling. Already we know more about what you've done in one week in Rio than in 7 years in London. We enjoyed it.

[jo easton]

finally!
i was beginning to think that you had forgotten you were writing a blog..........but pictures well worth waiting for. xx

[Alex]

1 week in
Bravo mate post 1 completed, looking forward to writing the next one? Enjoy Iguazu!

[Guillaume]

Cool
mate, looks good, seems you are already enjoying it big time! Moving to planning my own "short" trip this week so will be in touch shortly. Enjoy! Guilllaume

[jo]

waiting
do you realise that if you were going for a vague once a week blog that you are way overdue???? some of us are relying on your news so that we can live vicariously through you. xx