Recently people in the ME department have started calling me the ship's explorer rather than pop star... so I think once we get to the falklands I'll have to really live up to my name...
Following on from the last post then, having got up at 4am in Salvador to catch a 7am flight to Rio, eventually got back onboard the ship at 11.30am. Good timing, as all the stokers were just off to see the famous "Christ The Redeemer" statue, so I went straight back out. That statue is pretty amazing-didn't realise it was the biggest art deco statue in the world, but the view from there is even more amazing. Rio is an awesome city- it's like it shouldn't really be there, it's a load of mountains, but they've just carved tunnels and bridges through them and around them to continually expand... It looks really cool. Definitely the coolest looking city I've seen from the top of a mountain next to a big statue.
After that, All the stokers ended up on copacabana beach... well, not actually on the beach, but drinking at the various bars next to it, And then had a meal at a restaurant nearby. Some guy on the street came over selling hats... We bought about 15 in all, without even bartering his price at all! You could see pure elation in his eyes! He probably had a banging night out that night...! 
One of the things I was really keen to do in Rio was to go to a place called "Lapa", which is where all the samba bars are. If you want to listen to live Brazilian music, and go dancing, apparently Lapa is the place to go. I got bored of Copacabana about 9pm and went to Lapa with 3 others, and paid to get into one of the bars with live music. It was awesome. The band were brilliant, and there was a professional couple on the dance floor... We met up with 2 locals who spoke really good English- and after a couple of drinks, we were on the dance floor too, being taught some proper steps!
One of the things I was really keen to do in Rio was to go to a place called "Lapa", which is where all the samba bars are. If you want to listen to live Brazilian music, and go dancing, apparently Lapa is the place to go. I got bored of Copacabana about 9pm and went to Lapa with 3 others, and paid to get into one of the bars with live music. It was awesome. The band were brilliant, and there was a professional couple on the dance floor... We met up with 2 locals who spoke really good English- and after a couple of drinks, we were on the dance floor too, being taught some proper steps! I also met a Brazilian girl called Anita. She is officially the most beautiful girl in the world. I ended up dancing with her mum, got hugged by her brother and ate chocolate cake, celebrating her grandad's 80th birthday (that was the reason they were there)... Infact, I don't think I spoke to Anita much at all- although I may have asked her to marry me... I couldn't tell you for certain though... Actually she may have been put off by my beard. It's getting rather long now. I probably need to invest in a comb soon. This week the beard-growing competition participants were halved, as the XO deemed that any beard with gaps in it must be removed... but I have a nice "full" beard apparently (despite it being ginger). Mind you, I'm not growing it for the competition, it's actually a signal to indicate which side of the equator I'm on...
So, that was an absolutely brilliant Friday the 3rd -(actually ending at 3am on Saturday 4th)... and then I was duty for the Saturday, giving me just Sunday to get the most out of my remaining time in Rio. So I went to the hard rock cafe for lunch. Great.
Lots of vultures doing what that one above is doing- apparently just "warming up". They really are everywhere, floating about aimlessly.
So, since I had such a good night in Lapa, decided to go back there for the Sunday night too, even though we knew it wouldn't be as lively as Friday night. It was really good again- well, perfect for a night out the day before sailing. Most of the places were shut, but there were a couple of small bars still open with live music, just the kind of music I could listen to aswell, very similar to "Buena Vista Social Club"... The music in this place is worth the holiday, it's all brilliant. Anyway, the two photos below are the 2 bands we saw on sunday evening. Me, Sid (so called because he looks like "sid the sloth" from Ice Age) and Olly (so called because that's his name) sat and chilled for a whole evening. It was awesome. I've decided that I'm coming back to Brazil again, possibly to Ilha Grande, which has been recommended by everyone that's been there, and is apparently the same as paradise island, but also because Rio, Sao paulo and the Iguassu falls are all nearby... and must be worth the visit. (Although I've heard Sao Paulo's a little grumpy). I could have seen so much more of Rio if I had time, but what i did do there was awesome.
So that's the fun part of the trip over for now. Monday early afternoon we sailed from Rio, a bit of a shock to the system since I haven't been sailing in 8 days! We are now heading south. The temperature is dropping several degrees each day, and the weather is getting more overcast and bleak. We're expecting to deal with conditions up to Sea state 9 and 10 (Storm conditions)... so I'm expecting vomit. (Not from me though- I'm a hardened sea-farer, don't suffer from sea-sickness at all)... Only thing is, that usually brings morale down, which means homesickness will be just round the corner... yippee.
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"..........she is officially the most beautiful girl in the world...." Presumably we will now never see you again. All the best - Dad
Anonymous
8/7/09 12:02
In a dream world you'd never see me again! Unfortunately you can't go from a pub football team to the premier league over night... (I think that sums it up quite well!)
Doug
8/7/09 20:41
pub football team- i don't know whether to be insulted- lol! only joking. Glad you're having a good time and the photos look great- altho the statue picture would look better without the thug in the corner! hehe ;-)
Gem
8/7/09 22:28
Whoops! ha ha! My timing and sensitivity is as great as ever...!
Doug
9/7/09 03:59
don't worry gem he'll insult his family next ;)
hey doug great to see your updates. and paraty was EVEN BETTER than ilha grande, so there! (though you need to walk/get a boat to the beach). anyway... you'll love ilha grande. so go if you can!
obrigada!
your cousin emma
Anonymous
9/7/09 12:52
Me insulting, well, anyone? Never!
Obrigada! the only thing I said in native tongue over the last 10 days! Oh, except "Comprende?"...
Brazil's done for now... until sometime in November perhaps... Will definitely one day come back though and I'm sure I'll visit one of those 2 places... or maybe both as it's so cheap!
Doug
9/7/09 16:27