Freejan

Life is hell here! Slow everything – dont know when to get a beer, when to get a coke, when to get a water! Think, think, think, that,s all I do all day! It,s so hot I can,t do anything else! I did go to the Botanical Gardens today for 3 hours and whilst very wet and tropical, absolutely incredible too. I couldn,t believe the size of some of the plants. Busy Lizzies growing like weeds all over the place and the orchids, yes the orchids, my favourite flower, were amazing. I was in heaven and took nearly as many photographs as the Carnival! I had tea and water and set off back to the hostel for beach wear. The taxis are annoying me with their prices but I am stuck if i dont want to spend hours on some of the local buses. It became quite cloudy on the beach and a wind got up – brill! I bought a beer and settled in my chair whilst everyone else was packing up to leave! I am having a beach day tomorrow and then Thursday is home day – well the beginning of home so i dont think I,ll write on here again. So for this trip I say adios me amigos!
Chao Janxx

Yes glad I went – even though the getting there and the seating arrangements were not all they could have been. Dont go on the bus said the Lonely Planet. There was a good reason for them saying this as I now know! I was suppose dto get a bus to the Metro and then to Sambadromo, getting off at the correct station so that I was on the right side of the stadium when I approached it. So I got on a bus with a very helpful young couple, which did not go to the Metro but direct to the area of the stadium. There were many people on the bus and at one point 5 of them were discussing my route! I was put off by the conductor and waved in the general direction. On the bus were people who were not going to the Carnival but had decided to have a carnival on the bus. Mayhem! anyway I set off up the road and after an hour of walking first one way and then another I eventually reached my gate. Now I,ve been to a few pop concerts in my time and been in large crowds but nothing prepared me for the stadium – 130,000 people all lining the stadium on either side of a long narrow road in the middle. Each school has 80 minutes to get their presentation down the ´road´. Each school has about 4,000 people taking part and the costumes were absolutely stunning – and all really well made. The groups of people were interpersed with floats of such enormous proportions the mind boggled. The first school went down and then about 10.30 it rained and it realy rained! The `seats`were on concrete shelves so glad I had bought a cushion! Very expensive for a ticket for no real seat I thought. Nevertheless, my mind was distracted somewhat by the proceedings! There were people coming round all the time with beer, coke, water etc. and food. Quite an event. When it rained we all bought the plastic pull over macs and carried on! I managed to sit/stand it out until the 4th school had gone down by which time it was 3am. Four more schools were still to go down and i decided I had to go home! I got a taxi back who, knowing he had a captive market, ripped me off with a 80 Real fare (about 26 pounds)! Still I was home to my friendly hostel and I realised I was a star because the younger ones had given in and come back soon after the rain! It´s an over cast day today here so having a lazy time catching up on things like laundry – the excitement never ends here! I´ve sold my second ticket to a young man who had all his money and credit cards stolen – he will have more energy than me to enjoy it!

Chao from Rio!

Well I am still here and melting! Spend my time looking for shade and places with air conditioning! I had a busy day yesterday seeing some sights because I had burnt on the beach on Friday. I went to see ... [Continue reading this entry]

They were all in by dawn and not a peep - just the odd book falling on the floor! Bless em! I slept very well once the air con was switched on and I was not wet through with sweat! ... [Continue reading this entry]

Flight from Foz Igassau all went very smoothly after getting up at 3am. I just wake early when I know I have a flight! going crazy for definate. It is 34 degrees here and i,m melting. The hostel is manic ... [Continue reading this entry]

Made it! Yes the journey of 26 hours went amazingly well thanks to the buses here! SO different to Bolivia! A sandwich, cake and coke when we got on, tea and biscuits at 6pm and at 10pm dinner! I have ... [Continue reading this entry]

Holed up her euntil tomorrow at 6.50 when i get a bus to take me to Puerto Igasau - 26 houors on the road. Hair is wrong colour but at least has one now! got on wrong bus from Tupiza ... [Continue reading this entry]

It all started badly adn up to and including trying to do my blog now and email it has been one big problema! It was at 5am when locked in my hotel with the ´bus´as I thought leaving at 5.30am. ... [Continue reading this entry]

Now I am here I am experiencing something I have never seen before. a most amazing landscape where the land and sky seem to be jelled together - do you spell jelled like that or gelled? Is this the place ... [Continue reading this entry]

After the last few days I was beginning to wonder what I had got myself into but today after a good night's sleep I feel much better! The hotel is good - paid the most so far for it but tired ... [Continue reading this entry]