Tom`s blog: Our third and final day in Rio was a cracker. Our gamble to wait for good weather to see the famous sights paid off a treat. We took in the iconic Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain)by cable car in the morning before an outlandish lunch at a typically Brazillian ´kilogrammer` restaurant. This consisted of all-you-can-eat grilled meats (amazing beef), salads and vegetables. I filled my boots. Well, us backpackers never know where the next meal`s coming from…

In the afternoon our tour bus meandered up the mountain known as Corcovado (Hunchback) to its summit 710m high. There stood the famous Christo Redemtor (Christ the Redeemer) one of the new seven wonders of the world might I add, along with 200 eager tourists all vying for the same photograph. Now, don`t get me wrong, this statue of Christ is impressive, and it is big… But, it`s not quite the dominant and imposing figure as portrayed in the movies and every photo of Rio you´ll ever see. The vistas, however, were sensational, and as it was a clear day we knew we´d got lucky. Our drive back down the mountain gave us our first sight of the favelas (in stark contrast from the middle and upper class neighbourhoods we`d only previously seen), a brief stop at the Maracana futbol stadium (Brazil is busily preparing for the 2014 World Cup, not to mention the 2016 Olympics (!)), the steps at Lapa, and the Sambodrome (the focal point of the famous Carnaval every January).

A few observations from our brief encounter with the Cidade Maravilhos (Marvellous City):

• All tables are wobbly - get used to it.
• Don´t touch the monkeys. Ever. Overly excited Russian girls please take note.
• No matter how hard you (Anna) try, your first three attempts at ordering a glass of red wine will NOT result in you getting a glass of red wine. (And it may come in a mug, or other strange looking cup-like object a bit like a laundry detergent holder. Oh, and it may taste like a completely different sweet beverage. Correct colour though, thanks to pointing at your dark red top you´re wearing).
• 99.99% of Brazilians are not in a rush. Except the lovely individual who caught my arm as he sped past me getting into the tour bus. Thanks.
• If you want to know the strength of your beer… tough, info not available. You will find out in the morning.
• I doubt you will find a church with its yard being used as a futbol pitch in any other country on earth. Futbol, here, is more important than life (or death…)

Next up was a mammoth 24 hour bus journey inland to Foz do Iguazu - at the Brazilian border with Argentina and Paraguay. We left Rio under dark clouds and heavy rain, passed through miles upon miles of favelas (seriously haunting), then dense forest until we got some shut-eye. By morning the landscape had transformed. For hours all we could see was lush, green rolling hills with farms and small towns. The earth was reddish, and we both couldn`t deny that this part of Brazil reminded us of some of the country found in South Eastern and South Western Australia. We hadn`t expected that.

Anna is sound asleep on the bus as I write this. I salute you Brazil, for your fine, luxurious long-distance buses and particularly your ´sleeper´seats. Now where can I get myself an ice cold cerveza…