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Other entries in Rio de Janeiro

When in Rio...

Rio, what can i say? Its rained alot, its been hot, and i haven't slept in about 2 days except for a few hour bursts. As for the city, imagine like, Italy but more laid back and with a bigger party atmosphere throughout every street. Obviously that might only be because of carnival, but it is truly infectious. As for security in the city i dunno what the fuss is about, everyone is so friendly. Even without any Portuguese can still talk to the locals and be taught how to dance.

Anyway, what have I done? Well this morning I woke up at 8am after only half an hour sleep, ran downstairs to leave for the sugarloaf mountain to climb it,  only to find out it was the wrong day and that i wasn't wearing shoes. But then that's bound to happen after samba dancing on the street until the wee hours of the morning and then sitting drinking in the lobby until breakfast opens at half 6.

What else? Well the sambadrome is pretty much exactly what I expected, which is not a bad thing. It started at about 8pm and just goes until 6. I have never seen so many people dance so much and just keep going. To be honest Me and Colin were getting pretty tanked but not in the nobbish British way, just in a massive jovial "When in Rio Carnival" kind of way. One of the best things was one of the floats which was a baby with dancing flowers and things, which then flipped over, turning into a dead (or at least severely malnurished) baby in a wasteland. Needless to say the jokes were rife after that. Maybe you had to be there, I dunno. Either way, i know what i like, and i liked that!

What else? Well the Maracana football stadium is amazing, and I went to support Vasco against Botofoga (because we met this kid on the train who told us they were better) and stood in the middle of the biggest crowd group we could find. Just like a big party, I've never watched less of the sport at a match, but I had drums, balloons, giant flags, all sorts and songs that i only new one word to "VASCO!" Anyway, turned out the kid on the metro was wrong, they lost 3-2, so that was that. Still, what a great crowd.

What else? Apart from never dancing this much in my life, I don't think I've laughed this much either. Just wandering Rio, sitting in a hotel lobby until breakfast opens, or watching thousands of colourful people dancing, or just walking along the beach. Although actually we (being Colin, Rachel and Emily) weren't that amused due to the MASSIVE sleep deprivation. Still when in Rio...can sleep when I'm dead.

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