Ok so I didn´t sand board (the pic) but there was sand, a lot of rainforest & lots of chilling!! So Ilha Grande (big island - should be called big green island) is ~ 5 hourse from Rio in a Bus/ferry combination... after negotiating the fact that all information said there was a ferry at 10 o´clock (it was at 5 o´clock!) I pursuaded some fishermen to take me to the island with a few brazilians, coming along later for the ride... Not that this...

So the last few days at the hospital were quite boring!!! but I liked the clinic with my Prof as ever - with his long term Aids patients - I got all my forms & boring stuff signed off so that´s all sorted! Also on the last day the guy who "organised" my elective got me a book of postcards to try to help replace my camera & a book on Rio - which was really nice, & made me feel a bit sad to be leaving the hospital (up to then I&acut...

So I hooked up with the guys from Plastics again in the afternoon & the new English student (John - who´s actually from Kenya, but studying in Leicester) he´s a good lad. Went to the Feira Nordestina (a huge covered market that specialises in things from the North East - that typically has a greater African influence) which was awesome. Had a few beers & lovely meal, before walking around & spotting some bargains for a later date. Then wen...

So, Petropolis - Retreat of the King of Portugal after he ran away from Napoleon & was "fighting" from Brazil; and now - retreat of the wealthy from Rio - And very nice it is too... So, after a fair amount of stress organising buses there, buying an overpriced disposable camera, etc... I went off to the mountain getaway. Honestly, the journey there would have been worth the price of the tickey - as cheesey people say. It was amazing to be travellin...

Hello all, Glad my tales of Woe have amused you all - sorry about my appaling Engleeesh - I probably was caught up in the moment like, init. So, after my attempt at hong kong fuey, I decided the best thing to do was go out on my own to another dangerous place (horses, falling off etc...) this ended up in disaster as I ended up being mugged again!!!!! Banter - of course I didn´t. I had a great time - I went to a ´unique´ neighbourhood - really...