Left Rio yesterday on the night bus and have arrived in Curitiba, 12 hours bus ride to the south. Am quite glad to have left Rio, it just felt like a bit of a party town with not much character of its own. Copacabana is just like a a really dull, dirty town situated next to a really nice beach. Ipanema is supposed to be nicer and had nicer bars when we went out there, but is more expensive.

Not that I didnt enjoy a bit of partying after 3 months in New York but I didn´t come to S America to go out drinking until 6 o´clock. I also didn´t come here to get on the wrong bus at 7 o´clock and end up miles from copacabana! That said there are some nice neighbourhoods. Santa Teresa to the west of Centro is only accessible by tram which travels along a 3 metre wide bridge over centro (the bridge is as wide as the train tracks and has no sides!) This is a rather bohemian area with cobbled street and many museums, small arty boutiques also dot many of the street corners. In fact its a bit like the picture above (only that is of Olinda)

Curitiba is a much more modern, cleaner city with a large student population and is much more welcoming. There´s not that much to see but its a good pitstop before heading to Paranagua and Ilha do Mel or Canela. Ilha do Mel is a small deserted island and Canela prvides access to many parks and adventrue sports such as rafting. If time allows I hope to visit both.

I´m currently travelling with an Isreali guy (Mum and Dad - again I know! they must be drawn to me!) after spending time with a couple of giggly Swiss Girls (who had bags full of chocolate) and American girls from San Francisco. The Isreali guy (whose name i can neither remember nor say) is the biggest stoner I´ve ever met and cannot even go a 12 hout bus journey (at night!) without a joint. He has travelled through the amazon howeverand is a good laugh so its all good. He disappeared about an hour ago saying he needed to make a call but has not yet returned - hopefully I will see him again (!)

Will adds some pics now....