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Published: January 8th 2006
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Mini-bar raiders!
Fun & alcofrolics in Sao Paulo So we left Argentina and Paraguay behind us and caught an overnight bus to Sao Paulo - largest city in South America and usually jostling for 4th/5th place in the biggest cities in the world rankings. Half way through the journey (just before 'lights out' one of the passengers came round and collected the equivalent of GBP4 from each person. We had no idea what it was for; nobody else on the bus spoke English and we did'nt know the Portuguese translation for "what's all this about then, pal?" Anyway, we paid up and could only assume what it was for.... either a tip for the driver (very nice, thank you very much - the bus was full) or a police bribe - cops often stop buses and search them, much to the inconvenience of the passengers.
Anyway we arrived in Sao Paulo the next afternoon (we though it would be arriving in the morning but mis-calculated the time!) and decided to splash out on a 4 star hotel as we would only be there for the one night. We checked in and spent the rest of the day lounging around in our swanky room, swimming in the pool and
Night scene
in Sao Paulo making the most of facilites we'd pretty much forgotten had existed! After a great meal in the hotel restaurant and a few too many
caipirinhas, it was time to raid the mini-bar back in the room! Needless to say we were both a bit worse for wear the next day!
We then went to a place called Paraty, a 6 hour bus ride from Sao Paulo through some amazing scenery. Paraty is on the Costa Verde (green coast). A Portuguese colonial town with pretty, narrow cobblestone streets and some of the most spectacular beaches in Brazil. We spend a few days swimming in the sea, swimming under waterfalls, drinking caipirinhas (Rachel found a chocolate flavoured one!), driving our landlady's car around and generally putting our feet up. Until it rained, that is!
After the 2nd day of non-stop rain we checked out of our hostal and caught the 4 hour bus ride to RIO DE JANEIRO. Guy was very, very excited about this as it's been a boyhood dream (you all remember Moonraker?!) so he was ready to burst by the time we finally arrived. we decided to stay in the Lapa district which is synonomous with Samba.
Floater
Rachel in the Costa Verde waters We has a couple of days exploring the Lapa, Downtowm and Santa Theresa districts before heading to the beach.
We stayed in Ipanema Beach, a great location and a great beach. We spent our days on the beach, shopping, drinking coconuts, eating large plates of meat and just having a great time. We went up the Sugarloaf Mountain on the cable car (Moonraker again) and also to the statue of Christ on Corcovado Mountan, both offering very different but spectacular views of the city. We went on a tour to Rochinha, one of Rio's favelas (slums) and were amazed by what we saw; a thouroughy enlightning experience, we left feeling very different about the whole thing (ie not a bit like
City of God ) A lot of fellow travellers we met didn't want to do the favela tour as they thought it would be just looking at how poor people live but it was so different to that, a fantastic, scary, funny, sad, humbling and rewarding experience and one of the highlights of the trip so far...
Another highlight was the hangliding. We were taken up into the hills, strapped onto the hanglide (alongside the pilot - a tandem
Schooner
One of Paraty's many excursion boats flight) and made to run off a ramp at the top of a mountain until we were running in mid-air as the ground dissapeared beneath us. 15 or so exhilirating minutes later we landed on the beach, both of us shaking with excitement and adrenaline.
Rio De Janeiro was certainly one of the highlights of the trip so far (especually for Guy) and is possibly the perfect holiday/travelling destination as it's got it all. Guy wants to come back for his 40th! And it wasn't nearly as scary as we though it'd be! Lapa was a bit dicey but Ipanema was great - felt really safe both day and night. We were dissaopinted to leave as it marks the end of our (mainland) South America experience - its been 3 months of sheer and utter delight and excitement, we're already panning our return to this fantastic continent!
Easter Island next blog... we trust, as always, that this finds you in the filthiest of good health!
Pip pip,
Guy & Rachel
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jellycat
kerrie pyecroft
hows u?
i cannot believe you jumped off a cliff!!! hopes all's well. love kerrie, gary and kids xx