Hellllo!

How is everyone?? Not a lot has happened since I last updated you guys - went on the city tour which was good, not amazing lol but a good way to see the sights and cheaper than doing it alone.

The giant Jesus was pretty awesome, and there was an amazing view from the top - but it's so high up that the clouds are actually around you which makes it hard to get good photos!

We also went to the Marcana stadium (we were hoping to go to a game while we are here but they finished for the season like 2 days before we arrived! dumb!) and also to one of the many cathedrals that Rio has. I have to say it was pretty impressive, even though I'm not really the church viewing sort!

Yesterday we went to Copacabana and also Impanema. New Zealand definately holds it's own in terms of beaches! Seriously, I mean Copa and Impanema were massive and I can see why people go there (lots of sand, sunny, nice view etc etc) but I would definately pick a beach from home if I could choose! Apparently these two beaches are quite polluted as well, and that the picture perfect impressions everyone has are quite misleading (or so the guidebook says).

Cherie had a run in with a couple of crazies, but she is safe and sound thank goodness! A oldish man (wearing a santa hat, yellow singlet, bike shorts and blowing a trumpet) was walking along Copacabana beach and started yelling at Cherie for her water bottle.. What does she do?? (I'm sure you Mex people reading this can guess....) Gets a massive fright and runs away from him. What does crazie santa bike man do?? Runs after her! So there I am watching this unfold as these two run around in circles lol. I shouldnt laugh, but it was amusing! We watched him walk off after and he went up to some guy on his skateboard and blew the trumpet right in his face. Weird....

Rio is still not growing on me - it's strange because everything I've read (and also, a lot of the people I've talked to) says that most people leave Rio with a longing to go back! Def not me though hahahaha! I think it's mostly because out of everywhere on this trip, I held very high expectations of Rio... Anywho, I'm not complaining cause I mean, hey, I'm in freaken Brazil!

The weather has turned a bit s***ty today (I am definately NOT complaining about this, because it has been insanely hot the last couple of days... zomg hott even!) but hopefully we will be able to make it to a samba band rehearsal for Carnaval. Exciting!!!

Tomorrow we are gapping it out of the city, still not sure where, but will let you guys know soon!

xxxx Also, it takes too long to load photos onto this blog so have added more to facebook - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=174989&id=754266194&l=d9f0ed3235