So in between the obilgatory partying, we did manage to squeeze in some cultural sights! Visited Christ the Redeemer Statue to pose with all the other tourists arms outstretched humourous styleee; took an extremely steep cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain to watch the sunset and cycled along famous Copacobana beach whilst humming Duran Duran. Also did a fab walking tour of Latin America's largest favela where over 300,000 people live in ramshackle houses with open sewers. The 24 year old ghetto boss, who cannot read or write his own name, is untouchable by the police and earns $4 million each month selling drugs and weapons. Nice work if you can get it. According to our guide he puts a lot of money back into the favela so now there is running water, electricity and even a medical centre. It was really was a great experience, and despite our being a little apprehensive, everyone was really friendly....even the scary man who "kills people who make mistakes" as he walked past us carrying a huge machine gun!

Also went to a mental football game at the Macarana stadium to watch a semi final between two rival Rio teams.....our side of supporters were proper super fans, waving huge flags, beating drums and everyone was given coloured balloons to do the mexican wave and then pop all at once just as the players came on. The game was all very tense, went to penalties but finally our team showed the others who was boss!! Fav offensive chant of the afternoon "Your mother is as loose as a basket!" This may have lost something in translation.

Spent most of our days lazing on Ipanema beach watching the world's beautiful parade and suffering repeated bikini malfunctions in the huge surf. Discovered it is not possible to be knocked flat on your arse and then dumped unceremoniously on the sand and still maintain any semblance of cool. Also noted the Brazilian beachgoers trend for flashing the flesh.....teeny tiny thongs and barely-there nipple guards are strictly beach uniform. As for Tim in his board shorts, he was without doubt one of the most over dressed men on the beach. Apparently Brazilian men like to indicate their religious persuasion up front. Sadly no amount of cajoling or flattery would get him into a pair of rubber speedos.

On our last night we went for a DIY Brazilian BBQ at the restaurant where the ditty 'The Girl from Ipanema' was penned. And whilst there a bejewelled heavily made up old crone was getting serious amounts of attention and photograph taking.....not sure but we're thinking perhaps....we were in Ipanema......she was a girl (well, once)......The choice is yours, but we choose to believe.

Final thoughts on Rio: Everyone wears Havaianas, everyone drives a camper van and everyone eats in restaurants where you pay according to your plate weight. This is a very dangerous concept and the phrase "Just a wafer thin slice" has since sadly been much abused.

Heading to an island retreat tomorrow for some much needed R n R!!!!