Way hey - Christmas Day !! Slightly hungover again but way better than yesterday. Xmas day in a foreign country and a tropical one at that ! Drinkin all day seemed the only logical thing to do. Everyone went to the local Irish bar to start with, good ol' Shenanigans. Who was there...Rob, Ann, PJ, Myself, Michelle, Melissa, Liz, Steph, Donna, Raphael, Brice and Jim. Phoned home and got to speak to the family which is always good on Xmas day, never spent one apart ...

Xmas Eve and I feel rank ! Way too many capriana's last night ! Everyone else went to an xmas meal at the other hostel in Copacabana. Didn't feel like it so tryed to survive in 35c heat - not conducive to a banging head ! Lounged around and practised poor portuguese with the security guard who just kept laughing at me ! Went to the beach again in the afternoon - ha ha some things still work out ! Xmas eve back in Notts is my time looking for my 5th year in ...

Action packed day today. U ready ? Left the hostel early doors with our guide Eduardo and an Irish couple called Rob and Anne. First stop was Tijuca National Park on the other side of Rio past the Rochino Favela. Then came a 30 minute hike up a 1,200m mountain called Pedro Bonita. This was done in 35c heat and a tight white t-shirt, neither conducive to the task ahead. Walked through jungle-esque surroundings and I even found the one mosquito in Rio related...

Got up late this one..........definately going to get used to this !! Beach time today to get the tan going. Staff at the hostel are really friendly and helpful, even Maria telling PJ, Go to the beach "U are too white" I pissed myself at that one. Nice people staying too, think we're going to be ok here. Took a walk to the beach where I got ripped off by a lucky, lucky type fella. Bought a brazil beach sarong/towel for $20 and then PJ got the same 20 yds down f...

Arrived at last. Long flight and crazy flight too, never had so much turbulance every half an hour. Nice lady at check-in at Heathrow told us that we'd missed the plane as well when we still had an hour to go, what a way to start it all off !!! Managed to rush thruogh after another lady told us the first one was lying and that the palne hadn't left. What a place Rio is and how hot !! Surreal to see the Favelas for the first time in person, some places are so po...