Hello Blog Fans!

B here! Bitten and peeling!

So lets start with yesterday! Had a small breakfast at the hostel, fruit, weird toast that sort of thing, and then got the subway (which is not very extensive) as close as possible to Christ Redeemer and walked up a long road (again bags held very tightly!) to the cog train station. Disappoinment No 1 - Cog train wasnt working because of the mudslides a few weeks back. This meant that we had to pay about twenty quid to get up there in a taxi! Disappointment No 2 - The Big Man himself is covered in scaffolding for a big clean up! So take a good look at the library picutre for this entry! its more than we saw!

Still the views were amazing, and even better we got close to some wild monkeys! For me a highlight so far! Spent a little bit of time up there taking it all in and then headed back down. Managed to order some lunch on the way back to the subway station, which included two massive wedges of cake, one coconut, one toffee and nut, both made with large amounts of condensed milk! we shared both and loved it!

No hot water when we got back to the hostel, so had a rather unpleasant shower and went and sat in the bar in the hostel, drinking caiprhinihas (again not spelt right!). Got chatting to a couple of people and we played cards. Then decided that we were gonna play some pool, but as the table was already occupied, we just joined a couple of Portuguese lads! Won one game each! One of the guys, Fernando hardly spoke any English, so we managed to have a slightly odd conversation using the emergency phrases in the back of our guidebook. "How are you" "Im well thank you" "Help there is a fire" that type of thing!

So on to today.... Walked and pre bought out bus tickets for Monday and then walked/got the subway to the bottom of Sugar Loaf Mountain. Weather is very warm here, but not always sunny, so it was very hot and sticky lining up for our tickets for the cable car! Once these had been purchased, we grabbed a quick bite at a nearby cafe (and fought off a persistent wasp!) It was then time to get the cable car up to the first platform of the Mountain, and despite Tiffs fear of heights etc, she did very well! More monkeys (smaller this time) greeted us at Urca. Was really lovely up there, gorgeous day and great views! Spent a little time taking pictures and wandering about before getting the second cable car to the summit. Again, amazing views! Lots of couples floating about. Me and Tiff didnt know whether to punch them, cry or embrace each other and kid ourselves that the other was Jamie/Matt!

Got a taxi back, relatively cheap and no way were we walking back! Drive like bloody manics tho! Few more drinks at the hostel bar tonight, then maybe head out into town!

Hope you are all ok! Miss you all lots!

xx