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Backpack Party!!
Hey Im getting positively influenced by Mum and Pauls presence here- Im updating this journal all the time!!!lol.
Well, today we had a bit of a lie in because we were kept up a bit late by the sound of two aspiring recording acts composing a ditty...along with double guitaration.
So...got up and went to the Rodavario( Bus Station) to book some tickets to Curitiba on Sunday. Was relatively easy, but I really dont know how anybody who doesnt speak any Portuguese survives here solo, as I even struggled to understand what the ticket dude was saying at times!! But Portuguese brain provailed and it was all good!
Then we decided to go back to the hostel and get the camera as we wanted to go to Lapa to see Selarons stairs. En Route, we thought that a guy had had a stroke at the wheel of his car or something because he was slumped over at the traffic lights and not moving, but he was just playing with us the crazy fool- he was zzzin it!! tsskkkk... I thought that there was going to be a good bit of drama to report on! But, oh well. (hehe what I should say is that its good that he was ok!!!)lol.
So we went to the bus stop and got onto a bus saying Lapa on the front- which seemed pretty sensible, but after a lap(a) hehe- see what I did there- of the city, and about an hour sat on the bus we still hadnt reached the arches, and the ticket man was screeching Ponto Final!!! at us.
Darn it, we got the bus in the wrong direction! So we had to pay the fee again and travel another half an hour in the opposite direction! But, we got there eventually!
After a short walk we reached Selarons stairs and were greeted by the man himself- hes oldy-worldy-funny-looking, with a comedy moustache (that is actually real) that flicks up at the ends! He was lovely, though, and signed a postcard for us, and we bought three of his originals, so I think that may be why he was especially nice to us!! I have been there before though, at night, when Selaron has his bo bos, but we were just sat there chillin, and chattin crap together!
The stairs themselves are really impressive. There are 215 of them and they have all been hand tiled by Selaron into patterns and murals- its actually pretty amazing that he has dedicated his life to this continual work of art. (the steps are apparently the biggest on-going sculpture in the world, as every time he finishes tiling all 215, he starts again so that the work is constantly evolving).
Your probably all thinking why the heck have I never seen this then- if its so famous, but you probably have, you just dont know it. If I said think back to Snoop Dogg and Pharrells vid for Beautiful- you know the one where they are in Brazil and they are sat on these multicoloured stairs in the sunshine...ahhh...you remember now!!!lol.
( I was getting chuffties- Pharrell Williams- the hotness-actually sat HERE! oh, yeah, and Snoop Dogg.lol)
Pictures are to follow, but thats Pauls department so Ill lat you know when they arrive!
Mum and Paul were saying that they werent overly blown away with Rio, and that they wouldnt be sad to leave, but I am!! I absolutely love it!!
They were saying that they dont really feel safe here, but I suppose that thats because Ive lived here and participated in the culture for the best part of three months, learned the lingo (a bit) and made loads of friends, and found favourite places here now! It feels like I will be leaving home all over again!
Just different perspectives, I suppose. I will be gutted to leave though- Im definately coming back!! Mum was taking the piss saying that I fall in love with every place that I go, but this is different! I REALLY DO LOVE RIO!!! awww...it makes me so sad just to think of leaving everything here, but onto the next adventure and all that!! Its all good, and Im sure that Ill really enjoy everywhere I go!
Im just sat in the hostel now, chillin. Tasting the banana Caiprinia that Bernadino has just made for Paul. Mmmmm....its so....good! But those things are lethal- just ask Adrian!!lol.
OO by the way, the pic is of Lapa arches- with the Bonde (bon-jee) going over it. The Bonde is special because it is the only one route left in Rio-and it goes to and from Santa Teresa(where the volunteer house is). They used to go all the way around the city, but when the roads were built, all the tracks got covered. Just a little bit of Trivia there for you!lol.
Anyways, going now am I.
Its Brazilian Independance Day today- to mark independance from the Portuguese Rule, and I think theres gonna be a free concert on Botafogo Beach later(thats if I dont go to Samba- I cant decide..) oh, Im chattin on now!
Take care everyone! Miss you all!
As always, here is my plee to you all to keep in touch PLEASE!!!
loadsa love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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