www.trandy.co.uk

[trandy]

Salvador, Tuesday 27th January 2009
Good evening from Salvador
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador,_Bahia). We arrived this afternoon after our 26 hour bus journey. One of my longest journeys on a bus - but not my worst. Brazil buses are poor compared to that of Argentina, Chile and even Peru. Brazil buses are just normal coaches like in that of England or Australia. The buses in Argentina, Chile and Peru is like your on an international flight. They come with waiter service, free drinks and food and you have DVDs to watch throughout.

The journey today wasnt too bad - but mainly as Katie and I got two seats each to try and get some sleep.

Anyway, as you can see we arrived in Salvador, which wasnt in our plans so early. We had planned to go to Ilha Grande, near Rio - but the weather was really quite depressing. It was warm (in the high 20s) but grey overcast and with heavy rain. The day we arrived in Rio, the city had major floods.

We have booked into a nice hostel called Open House (http://www.openhousebarra.com/) and here until the evening of the second of Feb. We may even stay longer - but we were told about an island. We´ll see how things go. But for now, we have a possible football match to go to at the weekend and a festival next Tuesday.

Other than that, I imagine it will be days spent like today.

This afternoon we discovered the local beaches and soaked up the rays. Its hot weather here - 33 degrees! The other good news is that Brentford won - and some of the other contenders slipped up. Fingers crossed we can still be in the automatic promotion hunt when I return in just under 11 days now!

Iguazu - Brazil side, Monday 19th January 2009
As I mentioned in my last diary, we had planned to leave Puerto Iguazu and head to the falls on the Brazilian side, before getting the bus to Rio the same day. That didnt happen and Katie had a bad stomach overnight, so we stayed another night.

However, we did visit Brazil for a day. The waterfalls in Iguazu was just as spectacular. However, it was a panaromic view of the falls. Being in Brazil was a strange expereince in itself for us both - and we felt a little bit uncomfortable/stupid.

We have been comfortable with the language barrier around South America - and we can communicate with the little Spanish we know. However, Brazil speaking Portugese has thrown us a little! We are still communicating in Spanish in the hope that they know that!

Puerto Iguazu to Rio, Tuesday 20th January 2009
The next day we were up early to head to Rio. We had to get a local bus to the border, then a bus to the local bus station, and then another bus another bus station!

Once we booked the ticket - leaving at midday we had 2 hours to kill before our 23 hour bus ride to Rio!

The bus as I said earlier was rubbish - but the views were very English. Beautifal green fields - Katie was very surprised as she said she imagined Brazil to be a very dry country with little rain. If only she was right..

Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday 21st January 2009
The next day the bus pulled into Rio
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_De_Janeiro) with grey clouds looming. We headed to a hostel and found out about an apartment going at Copacabanna beach.

In our tired states, we decided to go with the hostel without seeing it, which was a mistake. It was also a little above our budgets, but we wanted a place to ourselves so went for it. In hindsight it was a bad decision as the appartment was tiny. The room in our hostel is just as big and we are paying less than half for it!

Later, the heavens opened so we spent the day inside playing cards and watching the news about the floods in Rio!

Rio de Janeiro, Thursday 22nd January 2009
Thursday it was still very gloomy but we ventured out and checked out the beach at Ipanema. The rain came later that afternoon so we stayed in again. We also decided that going out at night wasnt an option because of the dangers that Rio possessed. One little kid inparticular scared us on two occassions with his aggressive attitude for asking for money.

So it was a night of cards which Katie dominated again..

Chris Redeemer, Friday 23rd January 2009
The next day we headed to Chris Redeemer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Redeemer_(statue) ) - the big religious stature overlooking Rio. It also gave fantastic views of the cities, which our pictures will show. That was our day.

Copacabanna, Saturday 24th January 2009
On Saturday we walked along the Copacabanna beach front. This gave us all sorts of wonderful sights from the very hot joggers, to the walkers, to the wonderful sand castles and to the beach football! We walked for a few hours which was pleasant. At 1pm I asked Katie if we could head to a pub so I could watch the football - Doncaster Vs Aston Villa!

In the afternoon we went to the Internet and then to the cinema to see the Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/). A strange film where a boy is born an old man, and then grows younger!!

Macarana Stadium, Rio, Sunday 25th January 2009
On Sunday we were to decide if we were to stay in grey miserible Rio at Ilha Grande, or head to Salvador. But the sun was out! So we went and lay on Copacabanna beach for an hour! After we went to the Internet and decided that Salvador was the right decision for us.

In the afternoon we went to the bus station to the book the bus ticket for Salvador before we headed to the Macarana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Est%C3%A1dio_do_Maracan%C3%A3)

The Macarana is the 12 biggest stadium in the world, but it didnt look that big inside. The crowd was amazing - with chants going on 30 minutes before the game. However, the game itself was a little disappointing. The opposition were lowly and reminded me of the Bees. They scored a goal which was disallowed and then conceded a late equaliser!

Rio de Janeiro to Salvador, Monday 26th January 2009
A day on the bus - with little to report.

Thats it for now. I´ll speak to you all soon.
Love
Robert x
_________________
My Ecuadorian Mobile Number:
+59390076750

[trandy]

Salvador, Friday 6th February 2009
Good morning. I´m very tired at the moment - its just before 9am here in Salvador. But I woke up early thinking about my return home and hopefully the snow!! I have seen its been dominating the week news, and Katie and I are hopeful it will last a bit longer into next Monday and Tuesday (but not Sunday!) so we can make our own snowmen! Katie has never seen snow - and it would be a great introduction into England. My fear is its going to all be black sludge by Monday!!

Well I see I havent updated you since January 27th. Well the truth is that there is very little to report. We havent done a thing - not even visited the tourist area!!

The last week has consisted of going to the beach, reading a book, playing cards, doing tasks online and thats about it.

We did on Monday 2nd of February go to a festival. It was like the Nottinghill carnival, but the heat was too intense for us. The highlight was we got interviewed for a newspaper in Salvador. The reporter didnt speak English and we did not speak Portuguese, but he has produced a whole 2 paragraphs with our views!! Very funny. We have got the paper cuttings and Katie feels famous. She has only been in the paper once before. Another first!

Well thats it for my diary. We fly tomorrow evening around 7pm from Salvador to Frankfurt. Hopefully all goes well and we catch our connecting flight and make it back to London for Sunday afternoon.

I will see you all soon!
Love
Robert x
_________________
My Ecuadorian Mobile Number:
+59390076750