Back to my blog... after a few weeks! Can´t believe I´ve been here 3.5weeks! Another 1.5wks in Rio, then off to explore the rest of South America... well the southern parts and west coast! So what´s been happening.... well... in no particular order... will give a bit of an update!

Rio - Ilha Grande

Spent a weekend on the beautiful island of Ilha Grande. A couple of days away from the concrete and cariocas...to a green laiden forest surrounded by clear blue sea and golden sands! Pure bliss! A quiet island, with only a few buildings, no roads, mountainous, that were lush green! It was on leaving the city of Rio we first saw how green the hills were an when we got to the island it was like a picutre postcard. A beautiful day was spent at the lovely beach of Lopes Mendes. It was a trek to get there, about 20 mins - a bit of a climb to say the least - but well worth it! We travelled by boat, as you do on the island, to get from A to B and C, D E... etc! But to get to this beach, one had to walk as no boats moored on this part of island. Another day was spent mostly touring by boat; snorkelling in blue lagoon and stopping off for a dip in the clear waters. Bliss! A ferry ride back to mainland and then a bus back to the city and the place I call home at the moment.

Rio - Santa Teresa

A quaint part of Rio, located on a hill and methods of transport to reach this part of the city are tram, bike, car or foot! The tram ride was fantastic and a bit mad! We travelled along the arches and were told, you can have a free ride if you are willing to hang on to the tram! I did mention the place is on a hill! Some entertainment was had by a couple of young local lads... who squeezed their shopping bags beneath our feet and then hung on for dear life! Though... seeing us gringos on the tram... I think they felt they had to entertain us... so they would jump off the tram... still holding on to it... whilst it was still moving...doing a little dance on the way! It was nuts!... never mind dangerous!

Rio - Samba City

The location of my day job; where the 12 premier league samba schools warehouses are located... the factories where the floats and costumes are made! Seeing the work being done is just´remarkable.... annd over the last few weeks have seen floats and costumes transform! Colourful and bright... there is plenty of sequins, feathers and foam to be seen! Tough conditions! No air con; some fans and at this time of year - it is very hot! Carnival is this weekend, so they are busy finishing off the work that is to be done. I am working in one of the many rooms at the warehouse preparing the costumes for the Childrens carnival to be held this Friday at the Sambadome. Looking forward to seeing the Black Cat.... well we´ve been working with its fur and feathers since arriving and will be glad to see it over and see it complete and being worn! I forgot the musical notes.... the infamous notes that also adorn the cat... and the little fiasco of running out of notes!! The guys at work dont speak any english, or know only some words... so seeing them be a bit stressed is quite humourous, as you can tell from the animation and body language... but in fairness they are all good humoured and we do manage to communicate one way or another.... my expertise in playing cherrades probably has helped!!! Lol!!! :o)

TV cameras have been at the schools in the last couple of weeks too, so we have had a flavour of seeing what our school as well as other schools have prepared! Live TV too, as we could watch what was going on outside whilst eating dinner at the resturant! That I will miss.. the resturant! Good food and its air conditioned! So can truly say I make the most of the lunch hour!!

Rio - Blisters, Burns and Bites

My body has been in the wars.... suffering from sunburn... in the first week, which also caused some blisters on my chin and lip (like a cold sore!) and then the numerous bites I have had! I´ve had a couple of trips to the pharmacy! :o) The sun is incredibly hot... it only takes a 10min walk in the street to catch some sun; whilst sun protection products are not cheap here! Whilst in recent days a couple of my bites have gone a bit weird! Bubbling and then bursting! So am on antibiotics!!! :o)

Rio - Football - Maracena stadium

What an awesome experience!!! They are just mad for their footy and the evening at the match where Flamengo played Fluminese was out of this world! It was a colourful and noisy spectacle! Huge flags, flares, fireworks and the cariocas going absolutely mental!!! It was crazy... completely recommend a trip to a footy match in Brazil! Well, footy is one of their biggest passions... along with Carnival!!

Rio - Sugar Loaf

A late afternoon trip to sugar loaf with a number of the volunteers, to see sights from sugar loaf by day, then wait til sunset and then nightfall! The sights were just amazing and was beautiful to see. Then a trip back by taxi which was a bit mental! He decided he could take 9 of us in his car! 4 in the back seat and 4 in the middle row, then the driver and me in front! When he realised where we needed to get to.... he was on the wrong road... and decided to climb the pavement and central reservation to turn back.... on a 6 lane road... 3 each way... thankfully, the lights were on red!

Rio - Corcovoda - Christ the Redeemer

Christ can be seen from virtually any point in Rio. I can see it when I step out from the front door of the house! We see it clearly from work (at Samba City) and it becomes a kind of marker as to which part of the city you are at at any given point! It was wonderful to see when we were at Sugar Loaf and see the sunset next to it. Monday night after work, we paid a visit to this infamous statue. A trip up by tram... a steep incline. We reached the top and the views were just amazing! Thankfully it was a cloudless day! I spotted where I live (not quite the house - but have since zoomed in on it on my camera!); where we work and the Maracena stadium where we watched the footy! A huge piece of sculpture!

Rio - Blocos - Street Parties

The only way I can describe what these blocos are about, is referring to Xmas parties back at home. For about a month before Xmas we celebrate by having Xmas parties and get ready for Crimbo as shops are laiden with gifts, decorations etc... Well, imagine being in Rio a month before Carnival, the parties take place outdoors, along streets and at streets, before people stop to drink, dance and be merry! Afternoon and evening spectacles! The sound and sights of samba being performed! Bunting laiden the streets and the shops and street markets offer the party goer amples of nick nacks to make costumes/accesorize. From masquerade masks, flowers, feathers, costumes, hats, funny glasses, wigs etc..... People make an effort and dress up! The Bloco will have a band, mostly consisting of percussion instruments.. drums, triangle and this object they shake! Some resemble a mini orchestra with wind instruments too! Everybody can dance here - from little girls to the older gent! Its fantastic to see.... and its not officially carnival yet! Carnival is held on the weekend preceding Shrove Tuesday...Mardi Gras, so weekend of 13th Feb 2010 is this year´s carnival! Apart from buying your own costumes etc... I have also bought a costume from a samba school and will be performing with some of the volunteers at their parade!!! Thats on Saturday and we are picking up the outfit Friday!!! :o))

Rio - Rugby weekend and the Welsh

The weekend before carnival was also the weekend the Rugby 6 nations commenced... and Wales were playing England. Ok... we did lose... but what an awesome day! We first headed to Ipanema beach, before heading to the Irish Bar (Shenanigans) at Ipanema square. We then had intentions to leave the rugby an hour in to go back to the beach, as where we were located we knew there would be a carnival procession. But... we were enjoying the rugby and a couple of hours went by.... well, when I say enjoying the rugby... I hardly saw the game as ended up chatting to guys I met at the pub.... from Wales... from West Wales..... and the first one I met... was from Cardigan! I was dumbfounded! Meeting someone from my hometown! Photos with my welsh flag followed, before we eventually returned to the beach to see the others and catch up with this canrival parade we intended to see. Well.... we had a bit of a shock..... when we got back on the main road, which is a 6 lanes on the beach front.... there were no vehicles.... but thousands of people! In 2 hours.... the place was packed and it was madness!!! All of a sudden... we grasped what carnival meant for the people of the city!!! There were tv cameras about and people singing and cheering.... as I was lost in the moment of excuberance.... I got out my Welsh flag and got behind a reveller who was speaking on TV! I heard the words Galesa being said... so I knew they recognised the flag!!! The I made a quick sharp exit!!! :o))

Rio - Selaron Steps

In my first few days of being in Rio, we visited the famous Selaron steps; where a 62 year old, for a number of years decided to tile this particular stairway and make it a living and changing piece of art! We met him and saw him at his work. It is very impressive and we were told they feature in one of Michael Jackson´s music videos! We spotted a Welsh dragon... on a piece of slate! Apparently there are 2 pieces from Wales.... and he was telling us (or his english interpretator told us, as did his free postcards); that he hopes that the people who visit him return to their home country and post him a tile from their country! So... a task I must remember when I return home!

Rio - Mangueira Samba School - one of the best!! In the top league

I work for Mangueira samba school and is apparently one of the best Samba schools! Its one of 12 who are in the premier league. There are 120 samba schools in Rio and all will be parading canrival week. Mangueira and the premier league clubs will be parading on Sunday and Monday night; 6 on Sun and 6 on Monday. They start at 9pmish until 330am... which makes sense... given the heat of the day and some of the costumes they are expected to wear... albeit.. some will wear very little! I am performing on Saturday, which is when the First division parade and their aim is to get into the Premier league, a bit like in football; then as of Tuesay til Friday the Division C-J have their carnivals in their areas, usually the suburbs of the city. Like in football, each school has its colour and Mangueira is Green and Pink! On Saturday night, following the rugby, we headed up to Mangueira. It is in fact a Favela, a shanty town.... that is the basis of all samba schools... as its a community club! It was our first experience of a Favela... and it was by night!! We didnt know what to expect, but were told that there would be a good party at Mangueria - one of the best partie~; whilst we also had heared rumours that evening that Beyonce and Alicia Keys may make an appearance!! On arriving, the taxis had difficulty crawling through the masses of people that laiden the street. This was pure Carioca land! As we moved along, we saw this huge building, in green and pink with Mangueria across it. This was the Samba School and this is where we were heading! We went to get tickets, but we didnt have enough money! But I had my credit card! But they wouldnt take credit cards and there was no bank! A young lad came to our resuce and basically took us to a grocery store and we got cash back! We had to pay a bit of interest! :o) Whilst the lad wanted some reias for his help! We didnt mind paying and when we got in... it was worth every penny! Though we didnt see Beyonce nor Alicia (apparently, they didnt turn up anyhow); the atmosphere was fantastic! We managed to stay until 430am in the morning; then got a cab home.... who ended up paying us for the ride.... :o))

Right.... this piece of blog is getting log... and my wrist is starting to ache! Not typed for so long in ages!!!! :o)

Carnival is this weekend.... so will have to leave you for now and hopefully get a chance to update you once Carnival is over.... or at my next destination, as will be leaving Rio after Carnival! Ciao for now. Helen