Ola, Kia Ora, Hello!!!!

Finally after years of talking about it we have arrived in South America!
We were welcomed at Rio airport by a black out across Brazil which made passport control interesting, there was clearly no plan B for these situations. After 2 hours sitting in the dark not knowing what was going on we ended up using the light from our cellphones to prove our identity and pass through passport control. After leaving Londons cool temperatures it was a smack in the face getting of the plane to temperatures in the 30´s with no breeze and sticky humidity but we are now becoming more acustomed to the heat and never being dry.
Our time in Rio was short and sweet. The landscape is breathtaking, a city built on the coast surrounded by jungle clad mountains, sandy white beaches, string bikinis and dudes in their budgie smugglers (speedos).
By far the highlight was visiting the Rochina Favela (Shantytown) the largest in Rio with a population of about 200,000 people. Prior to our arrival the guide told us that when we saw men with walkie talkies and machine guns to not take photos (F!@K what are we doing) and that to get to the top of the Favela we would have to jump on the back of a motorbike (F!@K they drive like maniacs over here). After surviving the ride up the hill without being squashed between buses, cars and trucks we started out decent through the favela's streets. It was like walking through any other community except the occupants do not pay for their electricity so the power line's were a scrambled mess of hundreds of wires, and yes there were men walking around with big guns. When we were in the heart of the favela we walked through a ladies house on to her roof top to come across one of the most amazing views, one that would be worth millions in any other country.

After the hustle and bustle of Rio it was time to head south to the beach and somewhere were we could feel more relaxed, Paraty.