Welcome to Rio!

---

---

We left London Heathrow at 10pm and finally arrived in Rio at 8am local time after an unexpected stop-over at Sao Paulo. On attempting to board the bus we discovered they would only accept Brazilian Reals and not the US Dollars that we had exchanged. A kind man directed us to cash machines on the top floor, only to find out they were in portuguese only and didn't accept our cards. Our second thought was to find a bank to exchange our money but these did not open till later in the day. We ended up exchanging 20 pounds with a porter at the airport who actually gave us a better rate than exchanging in England! After about 3 hours of walking around the airport with our backpacks we boarded the bus to our hostel. The traffic and the size of Rio makes London look like a village!

We arrived at Alpha Hostel in Botafago hot, sweaty and very thirsty. We both overpacked and under-estimated how hard it would be to carry our packs around, especially in the heat and humidity. We left our bags at our hostel and went to try and find a supermarket to buy water, everywhere we went only sold coke or alcohol. It seems like on every corner is a drug store but there is a severe lack of supermarkets around. We've also discovered that barely anyone speaks English and eventually found a supermarket using our best international sign language. Even ordering our food that night was difficult with all the menu's being in portuguese.

We went to visit Christ The Redeemer the next day and on the way there tried out the Brazilian metro system. We missed our stop and being the end of the line Sam J tried to stop the doors from closing and jump back on the same train. It was only then that we realised if any body part is placed in the way of the doors, unlike London, whatever is in their path they will close regardless. We finally got to our station and looked for our bus, which was difficult but after immitating christ a bus driver drove us round to where we needed to be to get our bus. We took a trip up into the mountains and saw some amazing views over the city and below. We then took an elevator up to Christ The Redeemer where we had a 360 degree view of Rio including the stadium, rainforest and Sugar Loaf Mountain. Later on we returned to our hostel to cook some noodles in the kitchen which was full of ants. Hence the next day we changed hostel to Botafago Easy Hostel and left the luxury of our private room for the dorms. This hostel was cleaner but had cold showers, something we're getting used to and at the moment is quite refreshing because of the heat. That day we explored Botafago beach which had the softest sand we've ever experienced and the only way we can describe it is like flour.

The next day we went to Urca beach next to Sugar Loaf Mountain. There is a path along Morro Da Urca and Suga Loaf Mountain, which we went along and see lots of cute monkeys in the trees. They were really tame and ate banannas from a boys hand. Further along the path we noticed a trail going up the mountain. We decided to follow this trail not realising how far and how steep this was. After half an hour we finally reached the top, knackered, red faced and out of breath. We then tried to get down in flipflops, stumbling along the way. We reached the bottom just in time to get the cable car for sunset. The first cable car took us to Morro Da Urca from where we watched the sunset over the city and Christ The Redeemer. We then went up to Sugar Loaf Mountain and saw the city lit up at night. It was a beautiful sight the photos dont do it justice. To end the pefect day we had a disgusting beef burger on top of Sugar Loaf Mountain - guess not everything can be perfect!!

---

Photos

Botafogo Beach
Chilling with the locals

Sun setting over mountains
looks like a whirlpool

Sam on trek
Knackered at the top of the mountain

Comments

[Joanna]

Wow!
Your pictures are amazing and its looks so beautiful especially the views. I love the picture of the monkeys, did you get to feed any of the monkeys yourselves?

[Lee J]

nice one!
start trying out your portugese! ;) xx

[Amy]

YAY!
You made it ok :) I'm jealous- this had made me want to go travelling as well! xx

[Auntie Sue]

love from home
Hi Sam and Sam Glad to hear that you arrived safely hope that you havn't scared too many locals yet !! How is your new hostel are you still in the same one Hope tha tyou have found somewhere decent to eat afer your burger that was probably dog you should keep an eye on the local stray dogs if you dont see one for a couple of days it probably means that you have eaten it.. Victoris hurt her fingers in school last weekand we sspent 5 hours up the casualty but she enjoyed all the sympathy that she got wearing her sling.. The photos you snt were great it looks like a nice place and the views that you had were amazing all that in your first week.... Dont forget to e,mail regularly and let us know what you are up to and also s=end more photos my e.mail address is [e-mail] i dont think that you have it on your list Sarah and Victoria say hello John says to enjoy yourself but bee careful dont forget t stay together even if it is to have a wee wee speak to you soon load and loads of love to you both love Auntie Suex x x x x x x x

[Mal]

Wow
Hi Sam(s) I love this site, being able to 'share' your trip - how cool is that? So what happened to the last few weeks before you left? I thought I'd be round to give you a going away pressie but you're already there! Sounds like you are already having an 'experience of a lifetime'. Really wish I'd done something like that - maybe in my next life or when I retire. You can give me some tips. Love the photos - you have some really, really good ones there - thought you'd copied them from a travel magazine! Can I make a little suggestion though? Don't forget that you have a flash and you should have a setting that let's you choose when you can use it - even in the daylight. If someone is against a very bright background then the chances are they will look very dark/in shadow when you take the pic. Just turn on the flash and that should sort it. Hope you don't mind me making the suggestion but you've got some lovely photos and they will give you both such great memories in the future it'd be a shame to spoil some for the sake of turning on the flash button. Looking forward to hearing your next news. Can't tell you how envious I am of you both. Have loads and loads of fun girls. Mal xx

[jean, lucys mum]

well sam you certainly look like you are both having a ball, even tho you probably have sore feet. take care, and i look forward to the next instalment. xx

[Annette]

When can we all come and join you!!!
Hi Sam Have looked at your Blog site and am really jealous! Can we all come and join you! What an interesting start to your journey - i liked your comparison of London as a village compared to Rio. Will check your site reguarly for more amusing tales. Take care.