After a very long flight at opposite ends of the plane, it was a lovely surprise to check into the fabulous Rio Arcos Palace Hotel. We were expecting a fairly basic hotel as we are on a budget but instead have a view overlooking the Lapa District (one of the biggest party districts in Rio - especially in carnival!), a rooftop pool where we had our first (free) caipirinha (Brazil's national drink - lovely and refreshing but lethal! One is enough!) and 24 hour room service brought to a lovely, private, clean room with a hot shower (we were expecting a dorm!)

After a poor nights sleep - well, what can you expect being right in the middle of the carnival - our breakfast set us up until a cocktail in an Irish pub we found later in the day by Copocabana beach. We know it's not very Brazilian, but after Colette heard the Smiths playing she couldn't resist!

So after breakfast we headed out to get our bearings, planning to find a quaint little market that was recommended to us, but managed to stumble upon the Cordao Do Bola Preta bloc party, which is one of the most traditional street parties and also the biggest! We heard that last year 2.2 million people attended this party and it definitely felt like it! We stood and watched the bands and floats go past, not that we had a choice as we couldn't move! We also grew to realise that Brazilian men know only 2 words in English: 'beautiful' and 'kiss'!! Thankfully after watching the feisty Brazilian women we learnt how to deal with them.

After the floats had gone by, we managed to make our way to a street where the more elaborate floats for the famous Sambadrome parade tomorrow were being prepared. It seems most of the men like to dress up as women at the street parties, so Thailand won't shock us in the slightest!

We then made our way to the famous Copacobana beach and walked all the way across it to the adjacent beach Ipanema. We thought we'd do the same and walk all the way across it, but when we found ourselves in the gay section of the beach it reminded us of when we walked into the first class lounge of the airport yesterday, another place we shouldn't have been in!

Tired and sunburnt, we made our way back to the hotel via one of Rio's juice bars (where we saw and spoke to the Brazilian Mr Lane. The resemblance was uncanny!) to the hotel's rooftop pool and bar.

When the guys in the juice bar asked us if we knew if the bloc party at Ipanema had started, we said yes as we had seen people dancing in the street, but they laughed and said 'that's just Brazil!'

It's been a heck of a first day, and we still have 116 more days to go!!

Love Katie and Colette
Xxx