Oi from Rio de Janeiro. I just got back from Ilha Grande and thought I'd write about it before spending the next several days back here in Rio. So this past Wednesday Tom and I split up -- I headed towards Ilha Grande and he headed later that day to the airport to fly back to the US. I left the hotel around 9 and got a cab to the main bus statio...

The worst thing about missing my flight to Rio was the fact that I had plans to meet up with Beruman and Jess at my hostel bar the night before. I was really looking forward to seeing them and thought it would be awesome to see familiar faces on my first day in a far off and unfamiliar land. The cab ride from the airport was quite the eye opener...

Well we finally made it Rio and it is Brazilliant!!! The city of almost 12 million people, surrounded by mountains and skirted with beautiful beaches. It is an absolute kaleidescope of colour, the people are every shape, size and all with smily faces. We managed to fill our time easy-peasy..........Sugar Loaf, Cristo Redentor, Copacabana beach, ...

After finishing up work on Friday, I got a ride with Mariana to the bus station downtown. I knew my neighbor left for Rio every Friday...but I just didn't wanna keep asking him for rides and having to leave early from work to go with him. I made it into Rio around 9:00 PM and grabbed a cab to the hostel I was staying at in Ipanema. See, after ha...

Our return to Rio was literally a whirlwind tour, enough time to see Corcovado and catch our flight to Santiago. Rather than return to Ipanema we decided to see another part of Rio and after consulting the Rough Guide travel book we decided on an area called Botafogo, it sounded great so we headed out that way! There appeared to be a severe lack...

This is just a short entry to get Rio on the map! Our actual date of arrival in Rio was on May 14th. Rio..... nice beaches (too bad the weather was not great! no one on the beach)...... checked out a local football game (which is a must do as the fans are crazzzzzy)..... hooked up with the group 'Be A Local' and did an amazing tour of the Rocinh...

I believe it was Ric********** who said "one must go through the darkest valley so that the glory of climbing the highest mountain will be truly appreciated." We have reached our goal, we made it to Rio in time, now the hangover is setting in. What do we do now? We knew this day would come, we are stranded in South America, sort of. Both me and ...