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So, I'm back home now, almost a week to the day we said farewell to Rio & the continent of South America. I still haven't unpacked & I've been stalling writing this as it really means that this is the end of almost 4 months of travelling. Well here's the last entry, I hope you've enjoyed reading our adventures, just as much as we've enjoyed experiencing them?
9th August 2007 - Our last day!
I got up early today in preparation to finish Rio in style, by visiting Sugar Loaf mountain. However, my plans soon changed unexpectedly. I'd just finished breakfast at the hostel & was wasting some time (before Helen surfaced) on the internet, drawing 'I love Rio' pictures on my Facebook graffiti board, when the receptionist told me that Paulo (the hang-gliding guy) had called to say that the weather conditions & wind direction were perfect today, if I fancied trying hang-gliding again (my third attempt by now!). Needless to say I jumped at the chance as I'd practically given up hope & had resigned myself to the fact that it just wasn't gonna happen.
The following thirty minutes after his phone call I spent running around like a lunatic. I ran back upstairs to tell Helen (& wake her up!), finished my packing (the quickest I've ever done it), then ran to the bank to withdraw the money to pay for it (I'd spent it twice over by this point - considering all the previous days shopping & treatments). Oh well! The taxi arrived & off we went again - this time accompanied by two Americans rather than Swedes.
This time the nerves didn't hit me until the point of jumping off the ramp & this wasn't because of the sheer height. It was due to me thinking my harness would get twisted round the hang-gliders metal framework & that I'd be the cause of us both plummeting to the ground. Ok, worse case scenario - I know, but all sorts starts flooding your head when your about to jump off a cliff, lol! A few seconds later & I was running off the cliff top & straight into thin air, swearing my head off in the process (much to Paulo's amusement!). Then it hits you that you're silently flying over Rio, just like I'd imagined.
Birds (vultures to be precise - not particularly a good sign I thought at the time) were flying below us. The rainforest trees looked like fields of broccoli heads from above & skyscrapers looked the size of matchboxes. Before I knew it we were out over the ocean watching surfers catch waves & preparing to land. Seconds later I was standing on the beach with the biggest grin on my face, totally in awe of what I'd just done. I was on such a high that I'd FINALY gotten to glide over Rio. My Rio!
By now time was creeping on & we still had other stuff to do before leaving, so I hugged Paulo to death, got my photos & another instructor gave us a lift to Sugar Loaf Mountain. We caught the first cable car up (with Helen sitting in the car's middle, eyes tightly closed).I wasn't surprised when we got out & she refused point blank to go up in the next cable car. So I left her there & headed to the top on my own - the views were breath-taking. When we got back to Impanema, we had lunch in yesterday's pizzeria, then returned to the hostel to settle up, say our farewells & collect our bags.
It was at this point I decided to carry my backpack (for the first time ever!), rather than drag it behind me to the beach where we were catching our airport bus. I thought it'd be easier?..WRONG! Instead of turning up for the bus cool, calm & collected - I arrived sweating like a pig & bent double with the sheer weight of it all. Never again - those things had wheels for a reason! The bus took about an hour to reach the airport, in which time it seemed to pass all the main sights in Rio & all of our favourite haunts.
I love you Rio!
16th August 2007 - Back Home:
The journey's over, I'm back home after almost 4 months of travelling. I've seen & done the most amazing things; I've had all-time highs & lows; I've met some amazing & unique people; I've had experiences that I wish I hadn't & I've longed for others never to end. I've taken my life in my hands each time I've travelled on another mode of transport (even so, each one got me from A to B, just!). I've loved places & I've loathed others, but in the end thank you; Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia & Brazil for making it challenging - but oh so very worthwhile. I've had a blast!!!
Lots of love,Kez xxx
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