Melia Confort Barra Rio de Janeiro

... lunch in this place where everyone looked very local and so felt very good about "keeping it real" - except for the fact that we couldn`t understand what was going on and we potentially frustrated the lady trying to serve us (but she was nice enough - we didn`t start any fights!). It was a buffet style thingy where you paid according to the weight of your food - like pick`n mix.
Anyway ... now we`re in internet "place" on the 11th ...

... Unfortunately i was the only English speaker on the tour so felt a bit of a plum - this was going to be my first real day of socialising! Ah, well, hostel time tomorrow will bring that - triple bunk, mixed dorm, should be interesting... Tour was good, taking in Corcovada, Sugarloaf, Maracana stadium, centre, carnival area, cathedral and included a rodizio lunch (BBQ buffet type thing).

More tomorrow, or the next day.

... the night with Norm*n, with only * Portuguese dubbed h*rry potter for entert*inment. ( I h*ve written in my di*ry something *bout missing keys in *n *shtr*y, I h*ve however no ide* this wh*t this rel*tes to but *m documenting it here on the off ch*nce th*t it ever comes b*ck to me *nd m*kes me smile *t * much l*ter d*te)

H*ngover free (there were beers in reception so it w*s * free will thing) we he*ded for Beritog* on the co*st *nd stopped off for * delightful ...

... prepared by the hostel´s kitchen and decided I would join a large Australian by the name of "Rocky" to a bar in my Lonely Planet guide book. We jump in a taxi and give the very vague instructions to locate the bar on the main street, but after we realize we either missed it or it no longer exists Rocky suggests a place he knows of in Copacabana. I´m game, so we redirect our laid back taxi driver to it. Rather quickly I notice this isn[t just some bar the ...

... reggae music playing enjoying ourselves rather than fretting about which cab driver we could potentially overpower before choosing one. We have only seen a bit of the hostel so far, we arrived at midnight Brazil time but it was about 4am for us so we had a quick tour round and it really looks amazing. Swimming Pool, bar, cocktails, hammocks, fairy lights and candles what's not to like! We'll make the most of that this evening!

Then we went to check in and were told that ...

... imagine! the atmosphere was electric as two local teams played out in a derby match. the supporters went whole hogs too...banners, drums, flags...and huge ones all over the place contstantly being waved. hooters, flares, glitter...and chants that were infectious with the dances to go with them. now lukey being a pro, settled into this but to be honest i was like a kid in a sweety shop, i didnt know where to look. the sun was intense even before ...

... world, because he was so lucky to have a student like me.... :-) We all went out to dinner later and Jennifer and Neide joined us. It was me, tracy, jennifer and Neide and Ujamha and a lady from the UK Catherine. We had a lovely dinner and all of us bonded over muqueca. It was nice to go out socially with Ujama, our first time that we made it out together. He said he woudl drop Catherine home and come out with me, but as it turned out, we didnt connect up ...

... beaches, everyone has access to all the beaches so people from the favelas swim right next to the guests staying at the Marriott. when we went for lunch in a beautiful neighborhood called Santa Teresa, which was establish back in the 1600s, the restaurant had a dish called "batanjana" which is indeed eggplant stuffed with minced meat; i.e. our well known musaqa3a.. now how about that?!

... Gilberlei Oliveira Diretor Nacional do Movimento Estudantil Alfa & Ômega um ministério da Cruzada Estudantil e Profissional para Cristo Realmente, Deus estava sinalizando para mim e a minha designação é da vontade de Deus. O mesmo Senhor, que falou com a minha liderança é mesmo que já vinha me direcionando para isso. Fiquei impressionado, muito emocionado e quase chorei após ler o e-mail. Senti um grande regozijo em minha alma e renovação das minhas forças e visão dos ...

... br>
Our lift buzzed the front gate and we went outside; I assumed it was the mini bus full of young tourists and Katie laughed when I knocked on the window and it turned out to be completely the wrong tour!

Katie then tried to open the door to the big black car parked next to ...