22:30 - I got up late this morning. After breakfast I made my way to the beach here in Copacabana and rented a chair and umbrella from one of the kiosk's. There weren't many people around today as I am guessing most cariocas are back at work after the holidays. I made myself comfortable and intended to start a new book, but I fell asleep for two hours :-)! When I woke up I found myself in the middle of little Italy. The umbrella people had put 3 youngsters from N...

20:00 - Jeep Tour day! Today I was picked up at 9am to go and visit the Christ Reedemer on Corcovado, Sugar Loaf mountain, the botanical gardens and the Tijuca forest. Our guide Augustus was a carioca and the only brasilian NOT into football. There were only two other couples on the tour, a russian couple that lived in New Jersey and another from the UK (near Leeds). 4 really nice people. The UK couple were farmers that loved travelling. David, the bearded husban...

23:00 - I took it easy this morning. After a leasurerly breakfast I went walkabouts in Copacabana and Ipanema. On a Sunday, the road right next to these two beaches are closed to traffic and the cariocas take to the sand in numbers. There was a hippy market, street performers and street vendors all along the road. I bought a ticket for the military museum which happens to be on the peninsula that divides Copacabana and Ipanema. It's got great views and people go ...

11:20 - Rio! I arrived late last night. The guide and driver picked me at the airport and on the way told me that Prince Harry is here! :-). He's playing volleyball somewhere today and was at some VIP party last night. In about 20 minutes I am being picked up for a favela tour organised by a local group that do voluntary work in poor communities. I should have been on a jeep tour of the main sights but JLA messed up and I am doing it the day before i leave (does ...