Up early,breakfast- major panic when we couldn't fine visa forms - Linda had tidied them away into the cases we were leaving in Rio! Driver took us to airport - plane on time and arrived to blazing sunshine and excellent views of the igasu rainforest and river . Picked up by guide and take into the Brazilian side of the national park. Stopped and had pictures taken in among thousands of yellow butterflies all around us- surreal!

Weather a bit iffy- warm but showers- Hired bikes for the day -£8 - bargain. Cycled the whole of copacobana , ipanema beach, Rio lagoon - excellent big ride- stopped off for a drink of coconut juice - served in a whole coconut , others had 3 bottles of water - all for £3! Result- !

Brazil bird s*** scam ! Just walking along copacobana beech when bird s*** - appeared on jims right shoe. As if by magic, a show shine guy appeared and theatrically pointed it out to Jim , and kindly offered to clean it off.jim took him up on the offer , just as he realised it was his mate who had squired a yellow bird s*** like substance on his shoe ( he had just felt a guy had been too close to him seconds earlier). As he finished he demanded $30! ( £6)! - ...

2.1 million dollar beach front homes with views over the slums.

Dangerous Rio ? Although Rio is great - you must take common sense precautions . Fancy watches, cameras- although ok at main attractions , shouldn't be taken down the beaches- you can very easily wander into a Favella area , which in some cases are just a few streets back from the beach area, where the locals would Seize there opportunity.