Intercontinental Rio Rio de Janeiro

... time. We received our bags quickly, were picked up by our taxis, and were driven through Rio to our “apartment.” On the way, we passed through hills and ocean front. Everywhere around us was littered with tiny shacks, some different colors like red, lime green, and brown. The roofs were made out of scrap tins, and most of the concrete buildings looked condemned. We were in the northern part of the city, were most of the true rio population lives. The ...

I woke up at 6am the next day and took the opportunity to start writing these travel notes. After a breakfast of tea, bread, cheese and banana, I left Cata to work on her essay which is due on Monday and accompanied Fred to "Light" the local telephone company where he had to run an errand. I listened carefully to his conversations to brush up my Portuguese. I found that I've surprisingly picked up a lot of vocabulary from the Rosetta Stone course. I was very proud ...

... in South America - tomorrow I join another intrepid group and start making my way south on this vast continent towards Buenos Aires. Can this intrepid tour top the last one - its hard to believe so - but looking forward to a whole new batch of characters.

On my ipod

The Girl from Ipanema - Pery Ribeiro
and.....for Aisling....Rio - Duran Duran

PS - will upload pictures of Sao Paolo and Rio tomorrow - computer is blocking the program here :)

... mic. Singing with a beautiful rasp and with full emotion behind the lyrics, the grandson of Ibrahim Ferrer (of Buena Vista Social Club fame) entertained us. Adding to the experience for me, we were sipping our caiparinhas less than three feet away from the musicians.

After a magical music experience, I took Chris, Robben and the girls just down the street to the club we had previously visited that blares the barrao funk. Olivia and Syrena ...

... I love the people, even the dramas with some of the people - I feel very at home here. I said yesterday to the taxi driver that Australia and Brazil are so very far away in distance but so very close with me. I felt very certain I would return with a future husband this time. Either Loi or Flaviano, although Loi was my favourite. I think I will continue my lifes path of being in community, with many ...

... most bikinis consist of 4 tiny Lycra triangles held together with dental floss - ALL the women wear this style regardless of shape, age or size so for every Gisele-like teen goddess there are numerous normal women who somehow are still completely happy being effectively naked in public. Everyone's just really comfortable with themselves and it's all very sexy indeed. Interestingly, topless sunbathing is not allowed, but Brazilians probably wouldn ...

... finishes the night with the hostel crew, while I play wing-man to an American dude trying to hook up with one of a Brazilian pair of girls, who we end up spending the rest of the night on the beach with, and most of the morning.  It never ceases to amaze me just how much you can communicate without speaking the same language.  Between the four of us, Will spoke only English, Deborah spoke Portuguese and some Spanish, as did I, and Rafaela only ...

... to turn the first troublemaker into an organ donor - I'm hardly surprised.  We got the feeling however, that if this club somehow uprooted to the States or even to Britain, and that much testosterone, steroids, bare skin and alcohol were floating around still, there would daresay be some schmuck who might test his inebriated, insecure machismo against the steely, crippling consequences of such foolish violence.  In this Brazilian favela, however, not a hint of it.  It's ...

Well, we made it everyone, we've arrived in Rio! ;)

We arrived a little after 5am, when it was pitch black outside so we didn't rush to get in a taxi.

We tried (unsuccessfully) to find an internet terminal in the bus station to check the address of our hostel ...

... worries. I dont like to look at my map
in public so i simply donīt and make it a fun little guessing game. Its
been a long walk so I decided to take a break at the internet cafe; really
in no big hurry.
Am sipping my mamoa. They have juice bars on nearly every corner
here...where they blend up fresh fruit in any combination you choose. Iīve
decided sometimes less is better since I usually go overboard and pick just
about every fruit. I have no idea whats in this ...