Monday 18th May Amazingly the night passed quicker than imagined. I even managed to doze sleep. We check in and go through security. I doze through most of the first flight. For the first time ever We didn't have to get off the plane when it landed: just wait for the next passengers to board! Who would have thought. The next flight to our destination is longer. Dozing passes the time. We arrive: it's an hour behind here. Our friends are waiting for us. So nic...

Saturday 16th May Breakfast and a restful morning. I'm still not feeling 100%, but Malcolm went to a church nearby, but no exuberant friendliness exhibited. I think one person spoke to him and it seemed like the rest avoided him. I guess language barrier is hard. After snacks we catch the bus to the park. It's a large space with lakes, sports areas and art museums. It's very busy today. We catch the bus- but in the wrong direction for a quick trip. At least we ...

Friday 15th May Breakfast is included which is nice! Have a good breakfast and you can skip lunch. Saves money. I have a nap and then we go for a walk. I'm not sure I like this city. It just seems drab. There are quite a few homeless sleeping on the streets and a smell of human waste in the air. We see ppl singing in the streets and a weird clown in stilts. We stop at a shopping mall and Malcolm changes money. I start feeling very ill, tired and feverish a...

Thursday 14th May It's a long quiet day of travel. We leave the hotel by 11 and catch the bus to the airport where we have to wait for our 4:50pm flight. Then we connect to our further flight at 8:12pm. We reach São Paulo by 9:30 and catch a bus at 10.05 to town. It's a short walk to the hotel and we check in!

Wednesday 13th may We spend a mostly quiet day researching and relaxing and in the afternoon take a bus out to the Buddhist temple. There are lots if Buddha statues. It's a peaceful place with a good view of the city.