Rio de Janeiro, Day 1

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The drive in to Rio was exciting with anticipation. We had come such a long way across the vast continent of South America, and done and seen so many things along the way, and here we were, finally heading to our last group destination. As we drive in to topwn, we spotted Corcovodo ( the Christ statue ) in the horizon. Our tour leader played 'Time of Your life' by Green Day, as a send off for our last time together on our Bus, who is called Frank!

We pulled up at our hotel, The Granada at 2pm, and checked in to the rooms. Immediately at the hotel, the receptionist is one of the most beautiful girls we have ever seen on the planet, typical Rio! Me and a some friends then walked in to the part of the City we were near, and looked around some shops. Its a bustling and nice place, with skyscrapers dotted everywhere. There is a giant poster of Ronaldo on one building that dwarfs the City. For dinner our tour leader took us to a self help buffet in a restaurant not far from the hotel, for our last group meal. We had some farewell speaches. Our driver Simon was quoted at one point as saying we were the best group he had seen in 11 years?! In the afternoon, we had heard that Franz Ferdinand were playing that night in town. I had already got the hotel to make a phone call and find out if tickets were available, but it was sold out. lucky for us the gig was just down the road from the hotel, and the restaurant, so I gathered a few together and we went to the gig, which was outdoors.

We just stood outside the outdoor constructed stage, which was surrounded by fencing, and listened to the whole concert without paying to go inside, it was great. There were vendors selling beer, and plenty of people around, maybe 2,000 inside the actual stage area. Unreal they were there, and what a place to play! It was 2am, and there was plenty of people in the streets, drums banging away and people doing the Samba. I got back to the hotel, and made sure I got a nights sleep for the next day, as there was plenty of sightseeing to be done. What a start already!

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Photos

Christ The Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro
The amazing statue that guards an amazing City

Copacabana Palace Hotel
Apparently where The Rolling Stones and Madonna stayed the week before. We sat on the beach in front of the hotel

Hot Hot Hot!
A cool day in Rio on the beach

Copacabana Seafront
Palm Trees on the seafront