Rio de Janeiro (pt 2)

So here we are in the barrio of Botafoga in Rio de Janeiro. Our hostel is just over the road from the beach, which is always nice, though when we last left you it was pouring of rain.

The rain hadnt ceased yesterday morning, so we got the metro over to the old historical centre of town, walked around in the rain and had a look in the National History Museum, which was pretty good, but suffered because it was being renovated and half the exhibits were closed.

Following this, more walking around, a trip to Bob´s Burgers and finally the Metro back to Botafoga. Too late to pick up our laundry (its still in the hands of the laundrette woman), we found a cinema and went to see FANTASTIC MR FOX (which was awesome) and followed it up by going to a late-closing book store and some late night milkshake at Bob´s Milkshakes.

This morning, Steve prodded me to wake up and declared that it wasn´t raining. At this point I didn´t care and went back to sleep, giving Steve time to eat his breakfast, have a chat with some Jehovah´s Witnesses and block up the toilet. He woke me again by throwing his unbelievably smelly towel onto my bed, forcing me to get up.

And so, in the sun for once, we walked over to our local beach, for the first time able to see the statue of Christ on the mountain behind us, then 15 minutes down the road until we reached the base of the Sugarloaf. Took the cable car up the big granite peak sticking out of the see, wandered around, saw lots of birds lizards and monkeys, and of course the brilliant panoramic views of Rio, including Copacabana...which is where we´re headed now.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio is one of the quintessential images of South America; the Sugarloaf, the statue of Christ looking over it all, the jungle crashing down into the sea, miles of the most famous white sandy beaches in the world, the beautiful people, the sound of Samba...

When we arrived, however, all of this was covered in rain and fog. And continues to be.

Dang.

Directions

so we asked for some directions to the hostel we're staying at in Rio. Here's what we got back:

From the tube station it takes buses 126/127/131/132/485/179/and it lowers to member state botafogo pria shopping, walks uma squares and average copacabana sense, crosses the street São Clemente, always straight, 40mts walks until arriving at uma street without exit (cut street) doubles to its right and would find hostel member state the 5 house of the left side. House 9

think we'll take a taxi

Brasil - Paraguay - Brasil

Staying in Foz do Iguacu, the town on the Brasillian side of the falls, we hopped over the border once again (we dont cross borders, we hop over them) into Paraguay to spend a day in Ciudad del Este. Sordid, intimidating, tacky and commercial...this is how the Rough Guide book describes Ciudad del Este, the supermarket of South America due to its duty free status. Pretty much anything you can think of is on sale here, at low low prices!

and yes it was a bit of a dump
but we had fun at least finding strange foreign energy drinks (like Pokari Sweat all the way from the far east!)

also of note was the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, at one time the largest in the world (now second). So we had a walk around that, but unfortunately were not allowed inside the huge engine room for reasons unknown (no hablo espanol!)

Back into Brasil for our 4th border crossing in almost as many days, a big pizza covered in brasillian sausage and spicy sauce whilst we talked with the owner.

The fat cockney bastard still snored that night.

The next day a visit to the Parque das Aves, a bird zoo with huge walk-in aviaries, was really cool. Parrots, toucans, ostriches, humming birds, rheas (looked like a dinosaur and have been known to kill humans!!), as well as anacondas, turtles, caiman and other such awesomites.

We chillaxed at our hostel for the afternoon, talking to our brasillian mate about buying an Apple Macbook in Ciudad del Este. Then it was to the off. As we grabbed our bags, the fat cockney shouted:
"On the move? You suckers! You don't know whats good for ya!"

Well, sorry. But some of us have to be out of this continent in a week.

And this twat had only been seen in that chair or snoring in MY bed for the past 4 days.

I have a feeling also that his short chubby legs wouldnt be able to handle the worlds 3rd largest metropolis...SAO PAULO....