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Thought I should at least write something as been here for a couple of days now! Plane was fine, took us 14 hours in total so pretty shattered when we got here but once we got out the airport the sun was shining and so all was ok again! It´s winter here and apparently unseasonably warm (well when I say that I mean it´s usually around 20 and at the mo it´s about 26-7ish so just perfect!
Hostel is really lovely and people here are so friendly -already met one person who lived next door to where we did in Didsbury and a guy (Nick Keyer) who was in the year below at uni who I remember! It really is a small world! It´s more like a house, with a nice bar, hammocks and three blocks from the beach. The staff come and sit with us and tell us all about Rio and its good to chat to people who have been elsewhere in South America to get tips from them about where to go.
Already done loads of stuff and think am in holiday mode as spending way more than my budget but it is expensive here for travellers. We´ve been to a local club in Laranjeiras called Casa Rosa with live samba and foho music and really friendly people and guys who want to teach you to dance! Got a taxi there with some girls we met -not safe to walk around at night ever. Although everyone warns you that RIo is one of the most dangerous cities in the world as long as you keep your wits about you and don~t take stupid risks you can´t let it stop you from enjoying it here. You have to stay away from the favelas (the slums) as any gringos wandering in there would not receive a pleasant welcome -you can do a favela tour but there seems something very distateful about going to look at someone else´s misfortune. I think it would be a bit like doing a tour round a council estate in the UK... They are interesting though -drug lords usually control them, the police leave alone, they are proper communities with illegal hook ups to cable (most have this but no bath or shower) and people still have to pay around 600 reals (about 200 quid) to rent one per month. It is either this though or live really far out which is not practical for many with jobs.
THe city is amazing, so much to see and do -the beaches are beautiful and the scenery is incredible. We hiked up to sugar loaf (originally known as the peak of temptation -use your imagination why!)yesterday with some guys from the hostel and got the cable on to the actual mountain. Loads of monkeys around - one of them was eating a blue M&M now there´s globalisation for you! Also popped in on Jesus in the morning -he´s massive I don´t even think I´d be as big as one of his eyes. Apparently the people from Sao Paulo say about the ´work ethic of the people in Rio -´the day the Cariocas do a days work Jesus will clap his hands!´
On the same tour we went to see the steps done by an artist out of tiles from all over the world. Can´t remember too much about the story but the artist lives at the top of the stairs still and is often around to speak to (he was on his lunch when we were there!).
Highlights of the trip so far include hangglidin over the city and sea which was incredible although it did feel a bit weird throwing myself off a mountain. Also the home made mojitos we had last night with some other travellers -served in a pan it´s the way forward. And just seeing some sunshine -I´d forgotten what it looked like.
It´s brilliant travelling with Kate-we keep each other entertained and some of the guys last night just wanted us to chat amongst ourselves as apparently we were keeping them entertained too!
Of course lets not forget about the food. Lots of sucos bars serving all types of fruit juice imaginable and amazing sandwiches and lots of good pay per kilo restaurants -it´s costing us a fortune -would probably be cheaper if I got on the scales myself!
Anyway we´re staying til Saturday. Going to a market today and relaxing this afternoon, then botanical gardens, cycle round the lake and coast again tomorrow and street party in Lapa on Friday. We were hoping to do a tour then which would take us down to Buenos Aires for the 6th Sept but they won´t let us on it as it´s too close to the departure date so we may go up to Salvador in the North East then work way to Panatal and back to Ihla Grande to then do tour but not sure yet (Simon and Lucy I´ll email you separately when we know what we´re doing as think it may be more towards end of Sept now but if a prob no worries we know of lots of cheap hostels!)
Best go before I bore you all to tears. Hope all of you are well I do think about what you´re all up to and would love to hear from you. I can still send and receive texts on my old no.
Lots of love Ellie xxxx
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