Hi, Well we made it safely!! flight was a bit delayed as the cargo door was damaged so after settling down in our seats and getting all excited we then had to go back and sit in the departure lounge and change planes which was a bit dissapointing! Was really weird driving in to Rio in the taxi because all you could see were shanty towns built up massive hills and the whole place looked a bit scary. Then you drive through a long tunnel and at the other side it is all plush and green with palm trees and swish apartments. I managed to cut off half of the address of the hostel when i printed it so we got a bit lost in the taxi but got there eventually! Our hostel was horrible! we turned up and the room was llike a cupboard that they had somehow managed to squeeze 3 bunk beds in to! it was the most claustrophobic place ever! we all tried to put a brave face on it but it was rubbish! so we went for a little tour round and found a beaut of a hostel with a swimming pool just one road back from Ipanema beach so we are staying there now and are loving it!! It was a bit cloudy wed and thurs but the sun has come out today and rio looks stunning! the beach is amazing with loads of little mountains all around - like the pic. It is 38 degrees today and we are looking ridiculously pasty! people keep staring at us! We are just off to Copacabana beach - am resisting the urge to sing!! Sarah