The French initially thought that Rio's harbour was actually the entrance to a massive river whose mouth they sailed into one fine January day. The Portuguese swiftly dispelled any further French colony-expansionist notions of settling there and moved them on and took possession of the verdant area themselves. Little did they know that this bay would be considered one of the wonders of the modern world by many that visited and Rio de Janerio is now home to six million Brazilians.

Besides Iguazu Falls in the south on the border with Argentina, Rio is home to Brazil's most iconic features; one is the giant statue of Christ. Christ the Redeemer stands upright with outstretched arms overlooking the city with a loving and forgiving countenance on a prominent outcrop which characterize the bay of Rio. The other image is that of Sugar Loaf mountain. With such a benign name, you would never think that it is a sentinel for the entrance of the bay. Brazilians claim that cable car that takes you to the top is one of the oldest commercial operations of its kind anywhere in the world.

Not only are the images iconic, but names are too. Hear the words Rio and immediately Carnival springs to mind! Never mind that the rest of South America celebrates the same festival in equally impressive ways, nowadays Rio is known as the capital of The Carnival and draws millions of people from all over Brazil and the world to revel in the glory of Brazilian culture unveiled and "get down" with some seriously beautiful people!

Many of those beautiful people head down to the numerous fantastic beaches that hide in almost each and every cove along the coast and inside the bay. Brazilians are completely at ease in their bodies. It doesn't matter what you look like, the Brazilians are happy to let it all hang out. Some people should definitely be wearing those skimpy costumes and beach kit. But there are others that need a word from the fashion police! But the great thing is that you find all shapes, sizes, colours and ages in manner of gear quite happy with themselves and not bothered at all what anybody else might think!

Ever heard of Barry Manilow? No? Nevermind. But somewhere, someplace, sometime you have definitely heard the catchy tune and memorable lyrics to Copacabana. Even now you can hear that harmony and feel the beat and see the words coming out from some dark deep closet in your mind. Relax, let them come and I am sure that you can see the white sands, Sugar Loaf behind, the sparkling blue sky, the warm beach weather and water so warm you don't want to leave! That is Copacabana beach where thousands congregate to celebrate New Year. But the two days that we were in Rio, we decided that if we couldn't beat them, we would join them!

Only a short bus journey away and the tan lines needed topping up. How could we refuse the chance to spend two days soaking it up and living like a Brazilian. Now if you ask nicely, we might even show you those little tan lines!

Ipanema Beach is another of those iconic names and another stunning beach. But since we had to get past Copacabana, we "failed" happily by not actually getting there! When you have seen one beach you have seen them all, right?

With the last night slowly approaching (and only a day at the beach left), and a slow soulful moon rising in the east and Christ the Redeemer blessing us from the west, we decided that an evening watching Rio turn from day to evening to night was just the way to bring our sandingsadventures to an end. The newly rising moon, fat and round in a clear tropical night sky, cast a long rippling reflected path across the ocean that seemed to beckon us on to more fantastic adventures. It seemed right that slow moving cruise ships and blinking light aircraft slipped across "our" path to remind us of all we had experienced and to think about all the adventures that lay ahead.

As they steamed from velvet darkness into golden and then silver light and back into the darkness, the beat of their engines mingled with the heady breeze of exploration and expedition, and said: Never forget, always remember, keep your dreams alive... Never forget, always remember, keep your dreams alive... Never forget, always remember, keep your dreams alive... Never forget, always remember, keep your dreams alive...keep your dreams alive!

"We will, we will" we both solemnly silently promised the moon, the sun and the stars!