7th dec

went out on another schooner (all portugese speaking) Great day. swam with loads and loads of fish near one of the island stops. Jim kept throwing crisps into the water and causing a feeding frenzy and robin got scared and screamed and then got out of the water but i love being in amongst the fish. robin loves jumping off the boats now but will not practise his diving. We had a singer/guitar player on this boat and he looked like Trog Jims mate from Colchester!!! Jim spoke to David who was on his stag weekend and i think its made him homesick as they seemed to be having a great time at the rugby club. they sang my brother silvest to him and he thought it was lovely to hear them.

8th dec
settled our hotel bill twenty pounds per night for the last four nights. what a bargain, should stay here a bit longer. Jim moaned cause san paolo won their league and piraty partied all night...I looked on internet and rio looks expensive, maybe cause its getting near xmas cause when i booked canada that was quite expensive too. Am on a bus to rio at the moment 41/2 hours, but beautiful coastal road apart from their nuclear power plant which was a bit of an eyesore and it is quite worrying cause we were told it was buit on a fault that suffers earthquakes. Still not while we are here hopefully.

9th dec
Well we landed in rio yesterday and i thought its about time we had a bit of luxury (and also did not want to spend too long hanging around the bus station trying to find accomodation) So we grabbed a cab to the Astoria and i went in and asked for a bit of a deal...So instead of just one night which is what i intended i ended up booking for the week! Its heaven! One week in the same place and with an adjoining room for robin. Jim then had another splurge and took me to Maxims for dinner (says we have to live on McDonalds for rest of the week) Very civilised the white coated waiter cooked the meat at our table. Had a lovely day and evening yesterday.
Today it was *eat as much as you can* to robin for breakfast (cause its included) and then straight to beach. Copacabana is a massive beach and we had a long walk along the length of it, then we swam and played (Jim said its a bit like Yarmouth, but apart from being sandy i cannot see a connection) Then we sat under a brolly with drinks and had 19 people try to sell us things!!
Very chilled day Walked 3 mins from beach to hotel and went out for dinner. Its like being on a rich persons holiday!!! We will have to camp inNZ and Oz though the pound is still going a long way here.

dec 10th

After breakfast we boarded a public bus (once we found the right road to catch it in) to go to sugar loaf mountain. we had a fantastic day. up in the cable cars admiring the spectacular views , in the education centre finding out about the history, mechanics, tourism and also a little about the films sugar loaf has been in. Robin wants to see Moonraker quite badly now as he saw *Jaws* the baddie bite through the cables of the cable car to get to 007. We saw the monkeys who live on sugar loaf as we walked around a bit of the mountain and also lizzards etc. The views are indescribable you can see Christ the Redeemer and all the beaches and various districts of rio. We then ad robins first helicopter ride around the christ the redeemer statue and over copacabana. It was awesome. as we got in the helicopter robin had been going to sit in the front seat but the noise was so loud he went in the back instead so i shoved jim in the front. there was only the 3 of us and you could not speak cause of the noise but when we took off both boys said it was scary but great!!! I loved it even more than my first ride in helicopter. Worry a bit about robin getting spoiled, my first outing in helicompter was at Yvonnes 40th so i was a bit older than 10. Had Mac Ds for tea and went back to hotel about 8.30 to chill in front of tv. (nothing on but never mind) Bought robin a bodyboard today onway home (he has been on about having one since california) He will now nag us until we get to the surf. Took some great photos today.

Dec 11th
Up early cause we had to get to beach to use bodyboard. Could not get robin out of the water but the beach and surf are great here. Need to find a cafe called copa you would have though they would have known the song and named at least one cafe copa at the copacabana. When we managed to get robin out of surf we went to corovodo up the cog railway and to the top to view the statue of christ the redeemer. very impressive. views are spectacular. got vack to hotel and went swimming in poool. had a meat feast a a restaurant everyone is raving about here. it was good food but they rushed you, so us being in a state of chill at the moment did not appreciate it but we did appreciate the marketing and how that works.

dec 12th
Cloudy day so we went to the botanical gardens for the day. the clouds covered the christ the redeemer statue but it looked very pretty with the clouds over the mountain and jim said he would draw the statue in the photos!!! The gardens themselves were beautiful through the Japenese Garden was disapointing. The medicinal plants garden was very interesting as was the orchid garden and robin learned loads. The races were on at the Jockey club (we got race card as the jockey club was near the botanical gardens) but we did not get back for the races last night.

dec 13th
Bodyboard on beach, nearly all day. surf was high and robin would not get out.Waves were at least 8 to 10 foot high and knocked us off our feet a number of times but sea warm and robin eager. are going out for tea/dinner soon but blogged first.

If i do not get a chance before xmas i would like to wish everyone who reads this a really lovely happy christmas and promise i will blog again before new year.
to everyone we know
cheers

1st Dec
Went for a walk around the center of San Paolo in the morning, bought flea comb, cause i felt itchy, you should have seen the girl back away once she understood what i was asking for. Its ok though did not have any but will keep the comb for future use. Paulina said i would fit in in Pirate Town with a shaved head and no teeth......
In the afternoon we eventually got the right bus to the jockey club and went wandering around as we were a it early for the races. We walked down one road and saw a few ladies of the night and i was quite shocked when robin told me they were 'hookers' and quite glad when he could not properly explain what hookers were....
We had a great meal and great time at the races, they all seemed to be quite young horses and we had no luck on the betting but it was a lovely afternoon'evening.

2nd december
We left San Paolo quite early to catch the bus 7 hours to Paraty. Was very glad to arrive in Paraty it is a lovely little town bit like Cornwall, cobble streets and friendly people, loads of beads for sale, boats and sea and sunshine. Rivers, lovely colours and plenty of t shirt shops. Went to a lovely restaurant with music and quite an early night but a very good one.

3rd Dec
Up early in Piraty and dressed in pirate clothes and down to breakfast when we had to practise our yo-ho-hos and our arrrrrahs...... Then to our Pirate schooner, but first i went to look at new hotel an lost jim an robin who went to get supplies for the day.We all found each other again at the boat and our supplies turned out to be mainly beer.....
Set sail on the Rosa for shores ahoy. Visited 3 desserted islands with lovely sandy beaches a fantastic day was had by all. Had beaches to ourselves swam, snorkelled, walked on desserted beaches, dived off boat, absailed up rocks, a great day for everyone. Robin has never seen so many people pissed. Jim got really bad sunburn as wouldnt put on sunblock. Robin was happy all day. God job i didnt drink as the box of beers was empty at journeys end so someone else would have had to go without. Robin 'forgave' everyone for being pissed (he only spelt it did not say it) and helped us get them home.
In the afternoon on the boat while swiming in the sea robin got a message in a bottle from captain rubber left leg and he kept looking at horizon trying to spot him. He was absolutely made up.
In the evening had our last meal with tour gang but hopefully we will meet again

Dec 4th
Said goodbye to 'gang' quite upset will miss. Moved hotels and went for walk. Had a lzy day, lunch by the harbour and then walked up to the fort. What a view. The cannons up there are from the 1700s Spotted fish in river and admired the scenery, beach and boats. Shopped at supermarket and then went on internet to email some of those we love and miss.

Dec 5th
caught public bus to Trindade. I was quite a journey the bus was packed and we did not think it would make it up the hill and was quite surprised when the brakes worked downhill.....The beach was great and robin made a friend. The beach had quite big wave and robin and i and his mate roberto had a great time in the water for about 3 hours. We then went for a walk down the beach and climbed rocks and admired the big waves. robin really wants to learn to surf and i hope he can swim well enough by the time we get to aus. Managed to get the public bus home again and robin and jim watched a video while i did some reading so really relaxing evening.

Dec 6th
Went canoeing first thing, saw loads of birds along edge of one island an 3 vultures making a meal of a fish on another. Saw a few fish jumping bt no big ones. Then we went for a walk round the fort and into the next small village and went for a walk along the beach then had lunch and played hangman. robin found a nice piece of wood and is using his penknife to whittle something, still a work in progress so i do not yet know what it is...

Nov 27th
Went to a bird park while some of the tour went on a helicopter ride over the falls. The park was great alovely walk through lots of big averies. Very relaxing except for the fact several toucans wanted to eat us. Then back on coach to go to the /brazillian side of the falls. Had a wonderful day walking along the viewing platforms watching the wildlife as well as the falls. The falls need a poet or someone with some literary skills to describe them as they are soooo beautiful, noisy, changable, every view is awesome. On some of the walkways we got soaked from the spray but it was so sunny it did not take long to dry and then we got wet again as it was so refreshing. Left at 5 as we had to get back to hotel to go to a show to celebrate Gemmas birthday.
The show was tacky but really good fun. Jim ended up on the stage and someone videoed it so it will be good for a laugh later. Robin put a napkin over his head cause he felt embarrassed... I said he had better get used to being embarrased, having us as parents.... Late enjoyable night had by all. Great dancers here in brazil.

Nov 28th
Jim got up very early on his own for a tour of the hydro electric dam, the biggest in the world which was a joint project between /brazil and paraguay, but paraguay only use 20percent of their half to supply their whole country and sell the rest. good deal or what.
/got bus to argentina to visit the national park and their side of the falls. Awesome.... /we got on a boat and went right under the falls and got absolutely soaked the noise was tremendous and the colours of the rainbows amazing. We also got a raft down the river and saw loads of the big and small lizards and aguanas and racoons and toucans etc. etc.... The falls were stunning,, everyone should go there once in a lifetime. A bit like Machu Pichu, it was very emotional a perfect moment in time.
Went back to the hotel about 7.30 to grab our bags and go to catch the overnight bus to Curitiba. Jim and /robin slept within half an hour of getting on the bus and did not wake for the whole journey. I still cannot sleep on the busses.

Nov 29th
Spent day catching up on washing and shopping (socks and pants for /robin) they keep disappearing in the laundry here. We wandered around the parks and looked up rugby scores on the internet. Went to a nice dinner with everyone, very relaxing day. Caritiba is very cosmopolitan, nice place. Jim said he could live in Brazil...I said he could too but alone.... Hoawever i would prefer to live here than spain it is beautiful and the weather is good but there is no place yet to beat living than England....

Nov 30
Back on bus at 7.30am heading for San Paulo. There was a bit of a delay as there had been a crash between a coach (laying on its side) and an onion lorry. Onions all over road and people from the coach looking very dazed, but we got here safe. A big town. Went to a posh tower for drinks and the view over city, relaxing. Then back to hotel and ordered Chinese take away for Robin and just relaxed for evening.