Rio!

---

We made it!

The eleven hour flight turned into 13hours because we were late taking off and then had a hiccup in Brazil. I say hiccup but it was more like a collective gulp when the plane pulled up sharply during landing and then the captain said he couldnt land because there was stormy weather around the airport. So he did the sensible thing and circled for a while.

Needless to say we were glad to step off the plane - only to be greeted by the swine flu patrol - masks and all. Queue second big gulp of the trip. But all we had to do was sign that we hadnt had a fever or cough in the past 15 days. Then on through passport, smirked at all the people waiting on luggage and skipped our way out to arrivals.

As arranged Junior (pronounced 'Hoonioh') was outside waving a sign with our names. So we hopped into the taxi (Volkswagon Santana) - no seatbelts - gulp! - and were whisked off to our hotel. It was 11pm, so no traffic and a rapid guided tour of the town. Quick look up at the lit up Christ the Redeemer, and then we arrived at the hotel.

Its a lovely hotel, run by a french lady, so no language issues. We fell into bed.

Final hiccup is that our mobile phones arent working - but its actually quite a liberating feeling. Philippe is working on getting them sorted, but we've already sign languaged our way into buying phonecards, and have assured the parents that we are still alive.

No one really seems to speak English, but we both listen, nod and then walk away to confer on what we though he said... Philippe spanish seems to be a good basis, but its quite fun when we both understood completely different things from the same conversation!

We'll try and post photos soon.

Ate a vista!

Sinead & Philippe

---