05.11.10 Rio De Janerio

Woke up to clear blue skies and glorious sunshine so decided that a trip to Corcovado (Christ the Reedemer) was on the cards.  We made a valiant attempt at catching a local bus there, there was an abundance of bus stops but no numbers noted on each.  After one bus flew past us in the third lane, we moved to the next stop and flagged one down shortly afterwards - result.  Christ the Reedemer was huge, but not as close to the city as most of the images depict.  It was an excellent opportunity to view the city from above and gather our bearings.

Lunch was a complicated affair.  We had thought Spanish and Portugese was similar and we'd get by with our lessons - how wrong we were!  Still, we managed to eat a nice lunch and bought a Portugese phrase book at the next opportunity.

Next, Copacabana beach - with both tanga's and shorts in abundance (lucky for Ry as I thought he may stand out a little).  As it happened our milky white skin, not our clothes, made the brits abroad statement all by itself!  Used the Metro to get back to Lapa (at rush hour) and it has nothing on the tube.  We were crammed on so close we were almost kissing!!  However, unlike England no-one got angry, and we all just smiled at each other - must be the way of the Cariocas (term for the inhabitants of Rio).

Lapa Arches - near Rio's main Salsa nightspot of Lapa. It's the real Rio. Proper downtown area well away from the beaches and rich folk. Life here is a struggle. Until darkness when the area comes alive with people ready to party - Hard!