RIO

Well, we made it out to Brazil on 8th January 2007 arriving in Rio at 10.00am. Were immediately identified as virgins (ahem) and several people tried to bundle us into taxis telling us that they were official tourist greeters and that it was not safe on the buses (12 people had been taken off a bus in the city and shot in retaliation for the arrest of 75 allegedly corrupt policemen). We did, however, decline their kind offer as we had been warned that it was common for people to be driven away to a quiet spot to be mugged!!!! Caught the bus into the centre instead with no hassle at all, in fact it was a very scenic way to get ones bearings ......So, first impressions of Brazil ? Well, Rio is incredibly beautifully set with the jungle coming right down to the citys edge. The views from Christo Redemptor and Sugar Loaf are truly awe inspiring and Emma and I spent several hours on sugar loaf with a bottle of wine watching the sun set ..... truly an unforgettable experience.Rioitself, however, is not without problems ..... the gap between rich and poor is vast and homelessness is a common sight. It seems that many scratch an existence out of eating other peoples left overs and collecting tin cans / cardboard which are then sold. Despite this people seem to still keep their dignity intact and even appear cheerful.Memories : the heat!, people on push bikes with surfboards strapped to the back, first experiences of rubber toilet seats, joggers in speedos in the city centre, night volleyball on Ipanema beach, Christ the Redeemer, Picnic on Sugar Loaf, Blood Pressure monitors on street corners using antiquated equipment, Favelas, homeless, drinking from coconuts on Copacabana, poodles in boots (!!!!) - Rio must be the poodle capital of the world, wandering into dodgy areas where everything imaginable that was of no possible use (smashed old TV´s, empty milk cartons, stool with two legs)was for sale by people with no shoes, supermarket with door guard in full body armour and pump action shotgun, police pill boxes and not forgetting baconzito crisps.Overall then a beatiful city with a definate ´edge´ to it.

PARATI

Complete contrast to Rio .... very relaxed coastal town which is protected as a UNESCO site due to it´s collection of Portuguese colonial buildings. We stayed in a beatiful Pousada run by second generation Swiss Brazilians. The town is washed by the incoming sea every full moon / high tide and it´s a great experience to just wander the streets. Came across an impromptu Capoeira demonstration in the square which was amazing.

Memories : Pousada Geranium´s Roald Dahlesque housekeeper, semi-tame monkeys joining us for breakfast, breakfast itself ... cake, bananas, custard and jelly, architecture, painter on island, no drains ... toilet paper in bin, motorcyclist drinking beer whilst riding.. Basically recommended to recover from hectic pace of Rio

SAO PAULO

Basically just a very dangerous city with little to recommend it except it´s immigration museum and it´s expensive entry fee art museum (MASP) which had an excellent display of European Artists.Memories : not getting mugged, stabbed or run over, Manuel telling us that we should not be in the neighbourhood and walking us 15 mins to what he (I think) judged safety!, contrast to the homeless of Rio ......Gets my vote as the best place to leave! Although we did get to try our first Brazilian experience here of eating at a restaurant `per kilo`. A great opportunity of loading up your plate and paying for exactly what you`ve got (although Tony did get a shock when he bit into a battered banana - not what he was expecting!)

CURITIBA

Definately has a European feel to the place .... spotlessly clean and has integrated the colonial architecture into the centres fabric well. Beatiful Glass Opera House, interesting Niemeyer designed building housing the museum, and a well designed car free shopping zone. Used Curitiba as a base for travelling down to Paranagua through the coastal Rainforest - beautiful scenery on a vast scale.

Memories : private cars with loadspeakers selling donuts door to door (spent 3 days thinking they were politicians), coffee on cornflakes, very polite beggers, great shopping malls, first time in Brazil not looking over my shoulder, motorcyclist with two crutches strapped to back, German restaurant .....with its revolting bratwurst and accompanied by a disco oompa band..More bizarre obervations included the number of adults wearing train track braces..plus the craze for women wearing wedge heels - from 8-80 they were all wearing them!
Our favourite city in Brazil so far..

FOZ DO IGUAZU

Splashed out on an overnight `leito´coach from Curitiba to Foz, with its fully reclining seats, blankets, pillows and snacks - very cosy!

Arrived to incredible heat and humidity and headed off to find somewhere to stay. Quick turnaround to take our first trip to see Iguacu falls, which are split beween Brazil and Argentina - so we planned a couple of final days in Brazil before heading over the border to see them from the Argentine side.

You can hear the falls before you actually see them - so you can realise the force of the water. Actually seeing the waterfalls is breathtaking - so much water falling over so many drops, with the rainbows appearing in the spray. Plus the butterflies - it was like a colourful butterfly confetti at times - beautiful. An added `tourist attraction` are the coatimundis (small raccoon type animals) who look so cute in order for the tourists to give them food! Find a picnic table and a coatimundi is sure to be nearby!

Stayed for a couple of nights in Foz - with the nights bringing to life all sorts of different people..For a small town - it certainly had its fair share of women on street corners and not forgetting the local transvestite!