Brazil - bums, beaches and buses

Ola! Voce fala Ingles? Non....Ah sh*t...do you know charades?

This is how many of our conversations in Brazil have gone for us, it probably had something to do with the fact we learnt all our Portuguese on the flight over!

We are now in Puerto Iguacu in Argentina (Spanish speaking) and thought it was about time to update and let you all in on what we've been up to in Brazil.

Rio

When we landed in Rio we got pretty excited by the view out the plane window, the whole coastline between Sao Paulo and Rio was littered with white beaches and islands everywhere and seeing Christ the Redeemer overlooking the city was postcard perfect. We had booked a hostel late and ended up in a 12 bed dorm, pretty hilarious when we walked in and found the bunks stacked 3 high and no room to put our bags down.

I was lucky enough to get the penthouse bunk next to the window while Yas got to slum it in the basement.  Those stairs are not easy to scale after a few caipirinha's (a white spirit speciality of Brazil which they ingeniously mix with....just cut limes and sugar...packed a punch!).  Just out of shot is a very large Italian man sleeping in just his jocks and snoring...Francisco was a legend though.

Other than the "cosy" quarters though it was a pretty sweet hostel with great people and close to Copacabana Beach.

Rio is wicked because there is always something going on. We had a great time heading to the beaches, walking round the historic areas, going to a football match to watch Ronaldhino be treated like a deity, heading to Lapa for a friday night out and generally relaxing. Here are a few pics so you can see for yourself:

A view of Rio from up in a suburb called Santa Theresa. The toy of choice for the kids was kites...didn't let me have a go though.

Way to block the view Yas

The end result of 10 failed selfie shots. The stairs we are on are really cool. There are about 6 or 7 flights that a Chilean artist started tiling in 1993 and he is still adding and remodelling them everyday. 

Doesn't matter what you look like, if you are Brasilian (or in Brazil) you pose for photos like you own the beach!

Yas hasn't quite got the Miss Universe poses down yet...luckily she's still pretty cute

Bums

Ipanema Beach - just a few people out and about

 At the Copa, Copacabana
The hottest spot north of Havana
At the Copa, Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion

Thanks Barry Manilow

After 5 days of beautiful sunshine we waited until our last day to catch the train and see Christo Redentor...he was in a meeting with the big guy upstairs

It gave Yas a chance to show off her tan though.

Ilhe Grande


After the hustle and bustle of the big city we thought we would check out one of those islands we had seen on the way up to Rio and caught a bus and ferry to Ilhe Grande which is about 3 hours south of Rio on the coast (note the facts there Tim).

The island was beautiful and fairly quiet in the low season and after a day of nothing much (read "rain") we hiked for a couple of hours round the island to have a look at some of the beaches and work on the tan a little more. Yep...it was pretty stressful.

Yas went for a classic pose

I chose something a little more unconventional

By this time we were really starting to get into the swing of this whole relaxing thing...

Pretty easy to relax in such a beautiful spot

Not so easy when your boat driver thinks he is Tarzan

Paraty

A little further down the coast is an awesome wee historic town called Paraty with cool cobbled streets and amazing beaches and islands all around too. So off we went for a couple of days.

That's it! Now say "all I want is World Peace"

Foz De Iguacu

From Paraty we wanted to get to Iguacu, which meant a 7 hour bus to Sao Paulo and then a 16 hour bus to Foz De Iguacu, only problem was the bus company's (only 2) that go to Iguacu had no ticket agents in Paraty and there is no such thing as online booking in Brazil (a bit frustrating for those of us that don't really plan ahead that much). We got into Sao Paulo at 7pm and were told (in our stunted sign language) that the tickets for Iguacu were all sold out (crap) but we could try catching 2 metro trains to another bus station and asking another company...a bit of panic later and one extremely helpful lady on the train who jabbered away in Portuguese and kept saying "San Francisco"...we managed to get tickets and get on a bus. By the time we got off we had been on the road for 26 hours. But the falls are worth it.

　
Things that will stick in my mind about Brazil:

Flesh - doesn't matter what shape, colour, age or bum size...flaunt it! I have never seen so many bums, big, small, cottage cheese or geriatric. Also, if you have spent many hours in the gym (or on the beach) working on your muscles, it is perfectly acceptable to spend 20 mins standing and oiling your biceps and abs up...so I did.

Football - it's everywhere and everyone is goooood at it! I feel really sorry for the unco kid at school;

Bus drivers - they are mad. If there was a Formula 1 for public transport Brazil would take out the bus classification hands down (I imagine that China and Japan would battle it out for train supremecy and the Botswana would put in a good showing in the donkey race); and

Expensey! - not sure how the average Brasilian affords what is being charged for supermarket goods and public services etc. We burned a bit of cash in Brazil (worth it of course) but glad to be on the Peso now.

Right, this has gone on too long but now you know what we've been doing...what's going on with you? We love getting emails from everyone so keep them coming in. I hear it is a bit of a pain trying to leave a comment on here (Mum tried for 25 minutes to set up an account but couldn't quite grasp it...can somebody make sure she hasn't hurt herself?).

Next is Argentina and a bit of Uruguay, will post again soonish.

Much love
Mike and Yazzy

PS:

Ankit - I hope you enjoyed the sleeveless shot of me (it was for you specially).

Reg - enough facts?

Coops and G - we are planning on doing a weeks spanish course in BA from about the 22nd, where are you two gonna be?

Johnny - top work on that Ironman.

Al and JP - Hebblesworth and the team?

Sparkles - keep shining.

Burpa - waiting to hear the news that you have a dog, cat and baby on the way.

Mitchells - any advice for North East Argy?

Ma and Pa - love you lots, hope the snow is good and we will skype soon (Deb you too!)