Hola!

We never seem to get around to sitting down and writing these and we~ve got so much to tell you...

We spent 3 nights in Rio. In that time we went to the Christo Redentor at sunset, the view was unbeliveable! I~ve always wanted to go there and it felt a bit surreal. Me, Ruth and some friends from the hotel spent Tuesday on Copacabana beach. Was gorgeous and the sea is warm with big waves. After we left some of our friends got robbed for their water, crazy! In the evening we all went to a pay by the kilo buffet resteraunt. Its so cheap to eat and drink over here (we are ashamed to admit we did have a McDonalds on Copocabana)!!

On Wednesday morning I went Handgliding off the mountain by Ipenema, was so good, but a little scary running off the mountain!! And we landed on Ipenema Beach which was crazy. Ruth was debating whether to do it, but decided not to at the top, maybe next time (I think she just wanted to ride back down the mountain in the car with a hot Brazilian guy)!!

On Weds afternoon me, Ruth and Mai-Britt were eating in a local resteraunt and got chatting to some local guys who turned out to be musicians. We ended up going back to their studio and having a jam. And went to an underground music club with them that night. I was very aware that out of all the people I was the only one with blonde hair!

We have been in Parati since Thurday. Its an old colonial Portuguese town thats not changed for centuries. The streets are cobbled with no cars but horses, its really unusual, feels like we~ve stepped back in time.

There was a local festival on over the weekend that loads of people from Brazil come to, lot of bands and dancing, so we~ve been pretty lucky with our timing. For Ruth~s big 26th birthday on Sat we went on a jeep tour round waterfalls and sampling the local drink - cachaca (think thats how you spell it). Its made from sugar cane and is about 40% alcohol. The Brazilian drink is called Caprinha and they have been going down very well!

Caught the local bus to Trinidade yesterday, its a hippy surfer beach, very cool! Been out on a boat all day today so feeling a bit burnt, but we~re working on our tans! They like blue eyes over here and I~ve been stopped in the street a few times with people saying you~re beautiful, even when I~ve just been knocked over by a wave and look a bit wild!!

Heading to the Ilha Grande tomo with new friends and metting an old one. Its a 2 hr bus ride and then 3 hours by ferry, but they say its like paradise. Not booked our hostel yet. Can~t remember if I said (that may be a result of sunstroke) but everyone is so friendly. Travellers and locals, they all want to help you and get to know you.

It feels like we~ve been away for ages cos we~ve done so much. We are both really missing work, haha! I~m sure we~ve loads more to tell you but can~t think. Ruth sends her love but is in the shower!!

We will upload more pics soon. Send e-mails cos we wanna know whats going on with everyone (mainly because we~re nosy)! We were both a bit tired and homesick last night.

Lots of love,

Cazz and Ruth (In Portuguese our names sound like Carolynna and Rutz)!