After deciding to leave the exciting town they call Sao Paulo, we jumped on a bus to Rio (abit like the national express). No more than 20 mins into our 6 hour, turned out to be 7 hour journey, the bus got stopped by the police. Safe to say we were pooin ourselves for a few minutes when they started talking a lot of Portugese but then they handed out some safety leaflets to everyone and we were on our way.

We found ourselves a little hostel which is at the top of a ridiculous hill, the rake in ramsbottom would be jealous, made a couple of new friends and went out for drinks.

Getting to bed at a reasonable hour that night, we decided to get up at a reasonably early hour on Friday to do the tour of Rio. (I´ll add photos soon). So all in one day we managed to go up Sugar Loaf mountain (see picture) which was pretty high up when going in a rickety old cable car that probably hasnt been replaced since the 16th century-ha! We went to see the Christ the Redeemer statue, we had a traditional brazilian buffet, we went to the Maracana Stadium (apparently famous) and we saw some weird looking cathedral. Good day all round. We´re staying in Rio for a few more days yet so will update again before we leave.

Hope everyone is ok. Speak soon xx

Continued...

Had some amazing weather for a couple of days so decided to hit the beach and then went out at night with a few of the guys and gals from the hostel. Amazing night with a few sore heads to prove it the next morning. So we had a quiet day watching films and then went to a football match at the Maracana Stadium. Was like nothing you´ve ever seen in your life. They are mental. Only once did they stop chanting the whole match, when they scored. Today (Monday) has been quiet as most people have left - as we are doing tomorrow - so the new blood has come through and most are foreign so communication is limited.

Off to Panama tomorrow for the night so chao for now!!! xxx

ps - one small thing that i forgot to mention whilst on out night out, nothing of any importance or exciting....Jade had her foot stood on. And it was only when she was being sick that night back at the hostel (standard end of the night for Jade) did she notice that her once pretty coral pink painted big toe-nail had now disappeared!! So Jade noe only has four fully functioning toe nailson her left foot. One down, 9 to go!!