Hi Guys!!

So We´ve finally made it to Brazil! Sorry its taken a while to put some stuff up, but its unbelievably hard to ask for locations to an internet cafe just using english and a form of charades!!!

.... Rose and I got here two days ago, and are currently staying in a really nice hotel, with a pool and bar on the roof, in the middle of what we have come to think of as ´the rough bit´in Rio! Is great fun! We spent the first day just chilling out and trying to find out where to get food and it is so difficult to do things here! It´s 35~40 degrees every day, and it drops to 25 at night, so understandably.. it takes a while to do things and we are quickly getting into the relaxed and lazy way of life over here.

On our first day we went up to the top of sugar loaf, which is the mountain in the picture, (the sticky up one) and its amazing, after queing for about an hour i nthe heat and getting to the front, we realised we had to spend all our money on the cable car so only had 7 dollars between us left for the day which was about 2 pound!

The views from the top were so breathtaking, you could see the enitrety of Rio, and the cities surrounding it, and had a brilliant view of Christ the Redeemer, hte big statue from the top. Cheers for recommending it Dad, was stunning! Everything was just so beautiful, and there was such a strange contrast between the old and new buildings. Apparently over here they dont knock down old buildings, they just build new ones next to it!!

But, for more fun things.. the nightlife here is well fun! So far we have learnt ´funk´dancing which just involves shaking your bum loads with your hands too, and samba which is just shaking your bum! People everywhere we have gone so far have tried to teach me how to dance, so inreturn i taught them a little bit of English dancing, so now lots of Brazilians are doing the macarena!!!

Everyone here has been so friendly, and have got chatting ot loads of Locals, who have shown us the local nightlife, and taken us to Samba bars until the early hours of the morning, and told us all the bits to go see...

Last night, as you all know was new Years, and we spent it on Capachabana Beach with 2 and a hla fmillion people!! It is by far THE best new years i have ever had in my life! Loads of sun, beach games, good food, crazy waves, which unfortunatley claimed my aviators... sob sob... and music. Over here everyone flocks to hte beach to new years, apparently its something to do with a sea god, but i shall find out more about that and let you know, but junt incase you were thinking of trying... attempting to jump into the sea after having a little to drink + big waves over your head = one nealry drowned Christine. I wouldnt recommend that!!

But, i am goign tohave to go , am goign to put some piccies up when i get to the next town, havent got any yet cos ~ve been using the plastic cameras, which might i add the locals have been pointing and laughing at!

Hope everyone is well!!

Chrisitne

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