The Road from Rio

First of all, after a number of emails and comments on Facebook about my lack of blog activity...here it is! My first post! And if this is not how it is supposed to be then my apologies as I have never done this before and a massive thank you to anyone who is going to have the patience to read this :)

So far, I am loving Brazil. We flew into Rio on Thursday night, and hot, sweaty and humid arrived at our hostel...to find we were staying in something which resembled a prison (12 beds, triple bunks and tiny) but I very quickly grew to love it (although I must say the triple room I am in now is heaven!)

In Rio, we covered every possible touristy thing in the shortest time I think! The first day we went to find the Girl from Ipanema, failed but definately got a lot of sun lounging on the beach. I had an altercation with a huge wave and lost my sunglasses, but really a fabulous day - washing away all the February cold. After a while we went to the Botanic Gardens where we saw marmosets - which if course made my day (if not week!) The second day was Christ the Reedemer, which saw amazing views of the city; the favelas, the rainforest, everything. Then we caught a tram up to a little village on a hill called Santa Teresa. The tram was crazy - people hanging over the sides as we went over a one track bridge called the Arcos de Lapa. It was amazing and very quite and chilled out. Then on our last day we climbed the first half of Sugar Loaf Mountain, and caught the cable car to the second bit. It was hard work - but again paid off with glimpses of marmosets and snakes. It was a hard 30 minute climb, but so worth the effort.

Leaving Rio, I was so pleased to get out of the city. Its hot and humid and after powering through every possible high altitude sight, it was great to climb on a bus to go to Paraty, 4 hours round the coast from Rio. Winding through coastal roads, and being rewarded with incredible views of islands dotted off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state.

Paraty is a small seaside town, very hippy and beautiful with pretty buildings and giant cobble stones. The hostel has hammocks which help when gazing at the stars (or massive tropical thunderstorms - like last nights).

Paraty is like a dream place for me. Its next to the seaside, but a difficult (yet fairly short) cycle ride away are waterfalls and mountains. Yesterday we cycled the 5 or so miles, all uphill in the blistering heat, to Tabogan - a waterfall where you climb to the top, ask a local to kindly give you a shove, and slide all the way down to the bottom and land into a pool at the bottom. The locals surf down it barefoot stood up...I was a massive chicken and just slid on my bum...but a natural waterslide was the perfect solution to sweating our way up the hill to get to it.

I am going to attempt to upload some photos later on today...but it all depends on if there is a storm. In which case you will have to picture me lying in a hammock, drinking beer and watching the rain.