Touching down in Auckland still sporting Santa hats and a hangovers from our lost Christmas in the air, we checked straight into an airport hotel at 5am. Having only just drifted off to sleep we were rudely awoken by the (false) fire alarm at 7am. "Do you think we should get up and go outside?" a grumpy Emma asked, probably best. She soon cheered up at the sight of two strapping kiwi firemen! We picked up our hire car the following morning and promptl...

Sat in the surprisingly smart Holiday Inn opposite Santiago airport we had all day to reflect on our time in South America. Ecuador wowed us with her volcanoes, wildlife and Colonial architecture; Bolivia left us breathless with its diversity from Altiplano to jungle via salt lakes and angry miners; We treked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, felt the earth move and learnt to kite surf in Peru; Chile let us climb an active volcano to marvel at her jewelled lakes ...

We have visited many towns and cities, not only on this trip but in our lives, and we both think it is safe to say Rio has one of the mose spectacular settings of any city anywhere. It's just an awsome sight and no amount of hype will distract from that first view you have looking along Copacabana beach. We'd only been in Ipanema a few hours and had firmly decided Rio rocks. It blows bits out of Buenos Aires, kicks Quito into touch and laughs in the face of La Pa...

Praia do Forte is definitely more geared towards tourists, but thankfully the Brazilian variety. We checked into the only 'backpackers' in town which was absolutely gorgeous with large rooms set around a central courtyard strung with hammocks and only 5 minutes walk from the beach. Yet another stunning Brazilian beach with clear warm waters for swimming between the moored fishing launches whilst looking back to the palm fringed shore and the small town church ove...

It was hot, even at 9am it was hovering around 35 degrees. We walked sweating to the main road out of Salvador to flag down a local bus to Arembepe. On the local buses in Brazil you board at the back, pay the man and pass through a small turnstyle. Not an easy thing to do with a massive backpack on, much to the amusement of the entire bus! Once out of Salvador palm trees took the place of buildings as we cruised along the coconut road. A couple of hours later...