So lots has happened since my last entry. I have been to the famous Cristo Redentor (the biggest art decor sculpture in the world) to see the views of Rio and been up on a v dodgy old school tram up to Santa Teresa, a beautiful old colonial part of Rio. That day was topped off by sunset at the Pao de Azucar (sugar loaf mountain) to see more breathtaking views. Oh and made even better by an all you can eat Brazilian tapas with hostel buddies, led by Haroldo who works at the hostel.
Other highlights include hanging out on Ipanema beach with the locals, going hang gliding onto one of the bays (great fun, felt like a bird, don´t think I was nearly so graceful though sadly), going on a favela tour and to Lapa to a samba club which was a brilliant night out. The favela was really interesting and despite fears of it being voyeuristic was really worth seeing, we saw Rocinha the biggest favela in Latin America run by a 24 year old drug baron who earns 1.25million a month (I think?) but can never leave the favela as he will be arrested or shot.. he probably won´t live to beyond 35 at the most..
On a more cheerful note, Jax and I went to a big samba display to get a taste of carnival last Saturday and then headed to Ihla Grande on the Sunday, a beautiful island with one of the 4 most beautiful beaches in the world on it called Lopes Mendes. The weather wasn´t brilliant but we had an awesome time regardless. Back to Rio after and shopping, museum/churches in the centre and a trip to see Brasil´s female football team somewhat thrash the Canadian team (sadly) at Brasil´s main Maracana football stadium for the Pan American Games being held in Rio at the moment, the atmosphere was awesome, those Brazilians certainly know how to support a team.
Feeling really sad to leave, flew to Sao Paolo (only slightly nervously after the devastating plane crash which killed 186 there on Tuesday), arrived in Lima Saturday for a little bit of exhausted exploration and am now in Cusco with my VentureCo group of 6 Brit girls. I meet the Peruvian family I am staying with tomorrow and start my Quechua lessons... v exciting if not surreal. Cusco is brilliant and beautiful with the Andes surrounding it - am just adapting to the altitude which is having a crazy effect on everyone.
Adios for now and mucho amor for one and all. xxx
Sunday 22 July 2007
Monday 9 July 2007
BRASIL UM PAIS TROPICAO!
So Jax and I finished off our week in Washington. After the fireworks and bbq of 4th July I spent the next day with Wing (some of you have met her when she came to the UK - my roommate from the conference in Washington in 2000). We ate an all american breakfast in a diner (I'd forgotten how much the yanks eat - huge everywhere) and a trip to Washington zoo to see the pandas - never saw these in China kind of weird to see them there! They're v cute though! Then we munched through some traditional southern cooking of stuffed cabbage (was delicious despite its description) made by Wing's boyfriend's mum visiting from Oklahoma!
Friday was spent packing and flying to Miami to arrive in Rio Sat am (and buying video camera batteries M&D!). Jax was supposed to be on the same flight but she wasnt able to get her flight as the first one was delayed so we met at the Lighthouse hostel in Ipanema, tired & just in time for the LiveEarth concert with Macy Gray, some cool Brazilians and Lenny Kravitz headlining on Copacabana beach - how kind of them to put that on for us! Since then we've been the girls from Ipanema on the beach and walked around the lake and the botanical gardens (got some photos for your portfolio Mum!) and got v drunk on Caiprinhas (cachasa is vicious) with the people from our alley of hostels. We had 15 nationalities drinking together around one table. We won as the British obviously.
Tomorrow we are going up to see the big famous Christ. We havent started a course in Portuguese and am not sure we will now, I seem to be mangling my Spanish with a few portuguese words - its working fine! 2 more weeks in Rio and the surrounding beautiful country and then on to Peru for the project.
Com amor, buena noite x
So Jax and I finished off our week in Washington. After the fireworks and bbq of 4th July I spent the next day with Wing (some of you have met her when she came to the UK - my roommate from the conference in Washington in 2000). We ate an all american breakfast in a diner (I'd forgotten how much the yanks eat - huge everywhere) and a trip to Washington zoo to see the pandas - never saw these in China kind of weird to see them there! They're v cute though! Then we munched through some traditional southern cooking of stuffed cabbage (was delicious despite its description) made by Wing's boyfriend's mum visiting from Oklahoma!
Friday was spent packing and flying to Miami to arrive in Rio Sat am (and buying video camera batteries M&D!). Jax was supposed to be on the same flight but she wasnt able to get her flight as the first one was delayed so we met at the Lighthouse hostel in Ipanema, tired & just in time for the LiveEarth concert with Macy Gray, some cool Brazilians and Lenny Kravitz headlining on Copacabana beach - how kind of them to put that on for us! Since then we've been the girls from Ipanema on the beach and walked around the lake and the botanical gardens (got some photos for your portfolio Mum!) and got v drunk on Caiprinhas (cachasa is vicious) with the people from our alley of hostels. We had 15 nationalities drinking together around one table. We won as the British obviously.
Tomorrow we are going up to see the big famous Christ. We havent started a course in Portuguese and am not sure we will now, I seem to be mangling my Spanish with a few portuguese words - its working fine! 2 more weeks in Rio and the surrounding beautiful country and then on to Peru for the project.
Com amor, buena noite x
Wednesday 4 July 2007
Dude I'm in DC!
So I finally arrived in DC after a somewhat troublesome start. BA wouldn't let me on my flight as it was overbooked (all airlines do it don't you know, like I care) did get upgraded to WorldTraveller/clubish class though so wasn't too bad. However, wasn't best pleased at being in a US immigration queue (or should I say line, am down with the lingo) for nearly 3 hours till 3am (8am in my head) when the computers went down.
Anyway since being here, have caught up with friends, been to Georgetown, the National Portrait and Art Gallery, the Natural History Museum (think Titanic heart of the ocean = Hope Diamond meets Night at the Museum with the T-Rexes), all the many memorials and one monument and been out and about with the horrifically patriotic today for the 4th July. The people in their red, white and blue made me quite glad we handed over their independence quite frankly (yes handed over hmm). We got to have a bbq with Jax's boyfriend and his mates and watch the fireworks so all in all a v good day. Particularly after quite a heavy night drinking lots of liquor with said boyfriend and friends at the Wonderland Ballroom. Wonderland it was.
Just a couple more days of sightseeing before the long flight to Rio on Friday!
Hope y'all are just swell. (Get me out of here)
Ta ra for now xx
Anyway since being here, have caught up with friends, been to Georgetown, the National Portrait and Art Gallery, the Natural History Museum (think Titanic heart of the ocean = Hope Diamond meets Night at the Museum with the T-Rexes), all the many memorials and one monument and been out and about with the horrifically patriotic today for the 4th July. The people in their red, white and blue made me quite glad we handed over their independence quite frankly (yes handed over hmm). We got to have a bbq with Jax's boyfriend and his mates and watch the fireworks so all in all a v good day. Particularly after quite a heavy night drinking lots of liquor with said boyfriend and friends at the Wonderland Ballroom. Wonderland it was.
Just a couple more days of sightseeing before the long flight to Rio on Friday!
Hope y'all are just swell. (Get me out of here)
Ta ra for now xx
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