Rio was to be our last destination with the group and so I was feeling a little apprehensive but mostly excited to be heading off on our own. We were also getting concerned that someone up in the weather department wasn't particularly happy with us as we had been experiencing a lot more rain than expected!

As soon as we arrived we were whisked off to see a football match. The home team had disappointed in the previous match so there wasn't a massive turn out but the atmosphere was still fantastic. We sat by the band and they played constantly while rest of the crowd sang. The highlight however was that Ronaldinho was playing for the visitors and so we got to see one of the world's best players score a goal (even though it was a penalty)!! We shared our experience with 150 of America's most spoilt teenagers who were in the crowd with us (google 'Semester at Sea' it will literally blow your mind).

For our last evening with the group we went out for one last rodizio all-you-can-eat and then headed to Copacobana beach for a couple of drinks.

The next day was actually really, really full. In the morning we went on a tour of one of the city's largest favelas (Brazilian slums - see the movie 'City of God' for reference!). It was a really interesting experience, not least because I had my first ever motorbike ride to get into the favelas. Something I'd avoided my whole life but then was forced to do as part of a tour..... but it was ok, even if I did squeal the whole time! The favelas work almost like a city in their own right with hospitals, schools, post services included, and most would be surprised to learn that many people living there are definitely not under the poverty line. In fact we went to an artist's studio and between the group he made a couple of hundred pounds in 15 minutes! Crime is also much improved in the city's favelas and so whilst they know that there is still a real drug culture, you no longer see the drug lords with machine guns all over as you would have done 10 years ago.

In the afternoon we went on a city tour to try and fit in as much as possible. We went up to the huge, magnificent Christ the Redeemer statue, visited the colourful Lapa Steps and took the cable car up to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain. Unfortunately by the time we got up there it was completely covered in fog so we weren't able to see a thing from this famous viewpoint!!

We met up with a few of the guys from the tour after checking into our hostel and went out for some more drinks on Copacobana beach. We had ideas for a big night out but our plans were thwarted when our chosen bar turned out to be some kind of special destination for picking up prostitutes!!
Our suspicions started when we initially didn't see and women and then started to notice them scattered around but wearing very little and looking pretty ropey!!

Our last day in Rio we had left completely free to catch some rays on the beach. Any guesses???? Yes, we woke up and the rain was torrential!!! We did still head down there to check it out but it was raining so hard that we could barely see the surfers that were a few metres off the beach. In the end, soaked through, we decided to head to Rio's largest shopping mall just to escape the weather. Even leaving for our flight to Buenos Aires later that evening it was still pouring!!! Cursed, I tell you!!