Hello everyone,

Well after crying all the way to London (crying down the phone to Phil and nearly not getting on the plane) and half way to Rio I´m here! The flight was fine, went really quick and i slept alot. Turbulance was bad but that didnt really bother me.

Towards the end of the flight I talked to the guy next to me called Cleve from OZ and freakily enough he was staying in the same hostel! Of all the seats on the plane and all the Hostels in Rio! Weird.
He´s a nice guy so I spent the first day with him, walked along Ipenema beach and Cococabana, got a coconut, they just chop of the top and you drink the milk! Then to Sugar loaf mountain which was spectacular! BUT i got severly sun burnt you should see my back! Its even got a strap mark from my bag! The backs of my legs too! And blisters! What a brit abroad! It was a very long walk others couldnt believe how far we walked in 45 temp! and Cleve even got burnt! I was wearing factor 30!

Rio is fantastic great beaches, good surf, great places to run and cycle, very interesting culture, great street culture and good new and old buildings! Fantastic fruit that i havnt ever heard of! Ipanema is def the place to stay not coco. Hostel fab, people nice, got a little pool and hammocks!Nice breakfast and 5 mins from cool shops and beach! Sugar loaf mountain was good but scary getting there, two cable cars and its very high but it was fine actually and worth it for panoramic views of Rio.
Had a night in the first night, jet lagged and very sunburnt... my legs and feet swollen! The other went to a football match which i would have liked but maybe another night. Just walked to the supermarket got some bread and water and a plum! Living life on the edge! was just going to sit in a hammock and read!But got talking to somemore people and stayed up late talking in the hammocks! Did me good really coz I was very homesick on the first few days.Still am abit but the first week is always like this.

The next day (thurs) was having breakfast and said that I wanted to go to Christ the Redeemer and Cleve and a couple of girls wanted to too so off we went to the bus stop. But a man called Nelson (his dad was a fisher man and liked the statue in London) approached us and offered us a really good deal for a taxi for a day, we cheacked it out and it seemed safe so off we went. It was fantastic just like you imagine. After that we all got bikes and cycled round the lagoon for sunset! On the way to the bikes though I saw a real life mugging! A brazilian lady was stopped by too guys with a GUN! She still wouldnt give them her money and the police were there, a poilce chase followed and i think they got the guy! You would think it would be scary but it wasnt (Sisters... dont show mum and dad that part!)
Then we sat in a bar by the lagoon, we actually sat right in a photo shoot of some really famous model! All the brazilians were crowed round! After that we went for food and had an early night.
Got up today and did the bike ride again! Its really cool, Wendy you would love the bikes they have baskets and bells! Then I checked out of the hostel and into my hotel for the tour. Going to go back tonight tho to go out with the others to Lapa, which is apparently the place to go in Rio for nightlife, outdoor bars etc. So I am now in Coco rather than Ipanema, i do prefer Ipenama but im only here for one more night. Lets hope the people on my tour are ok, the woman in my room seems nice, Irish from near Dublin. Think all the others are Scandinavian.

So this afternoon is the first time i have been on my own since the plane, mets loads of mates, mainly english girls travelling alone so I have not been bored but nice to have some time alone. Leaving for Ihle Grande tomorrow evening which is an island down the coast. Will be sad to leave Rio , esp as will miss carnival, the city is getting ready for it already, pre carnival nights and samba dances everywhere. Will def come back to Rio one day and spend a couple of weeks going up to Salvador! (good route for honeymoon Wendy and Richard... great citys and secluded beaches).

Its still boiling 27 at night and about 45 in the day! Brought too many clothes with me but not enough for hot weather! But i HAVE stayed away from the shops! so far!
Well will sign off now and hopefully next time will have my blog up and running so you can decide whether to read it or just press delete!

Hope you have all been building snowmen!

Take Care Love Emma.xxx.