Rio de Janerio

After the rainy day we had in Rio, it was pretty much around 30 degrees for the rest of our time there. Everyday we went to the beach on the Copacabana. Whilst we were in Rio we visited Sugar loaf, Christ the redeemer, Maracana football stadium and we went out to Lapas street party. Sugar loaf was 2 cable car rides up these hills to the top where you got a really good view of the whole of rio. We went up sugar loaf just before sunset so we got to see the city both in day time and at night. Christ the redeemer is a huge stone statue of christ that overlooks the whole city. We went to a view point there ans saw these very small monkeys with tiny, tiny faces no bigger than an inch or so (cant remember the name of them, but i know Christine will know what they are lol). The Maracana was absolutely amazing. We happened to arrive in rio the day before the 2nd leg of the Copa America semi final between Boca Juniors and Flumenese a local rio team. The match was totaly sold out. It was everything I had imagined about South america football, Flares being lit in the stands, Smoke bombs, Flour bombs lol, Fire works shot over the ground after every Flumenese goal. The stadium was never quiet, there was a contant roar from the fans and from whilstles blowing. At the end our ears were ringing as the fans never took a rest. Since Flumenese won 3-1, the whole stadium went completely mental on more than one occasion. Out of 100,000 seats I rekon there were a few thousand that were empty. The stadium being a perfect circle meant that from where ever you sat your view was excellent. We sat more or less at the top to get the best view of the stadium, but you could have sat where ever you want, there not seat allocations. The match ticket its self only cost 27 R$ (9 pounds), but in total we payed 30 pounds because went went with a tour group for ease and saftey. ONe night we went to a huge street party, ther ewere literally thousands and thosands of people, it was hard to estimate the amount because we didnt see the whole thing as we sticked to thie side street with some street venders selling the alcohol, but it was still packed even on the side streets. I happened to have a friendly portugese gentleman put his hand blatently in my pocket even though he has in front of my with his back to me. My wallet was in the zip pocket so he didnt find anything, but he the the cheek to come back for a 2nd go even though i caught him out the 1st time. The 2nd time I gave him a quick tickle on the hand and he left lol. Rio is one of the most expensive places in brazil so at the hostel we were paying 10 pounds a night each! for a dorm bed. I am used to paying Asia´s prices. In general Brazil as a whole is the most expensive country in South America. We have now left Rio and we are in Campo Grande to start a tour of the Pantanal (largest wetlands in the world). We had to get a 23 hour bus from Rio to get here as we have gotm from rio on right on the rest coast to nearly the other side of the east sode of the country that borders with Boliviar, so it was pretty tiresome by the end. The 3 day tour of the Pantanal includes the usual wildlife watching, we are camping right next to one of the rivers tributaries which will be good, piranah fishing and then eating them for tea after, boat trips etc. More on this when we start it tomorrow. Pics will be put on as soon as we have found a computer that doesnt have restrictions on it, because at the moment they have all denied access to my computer which is where we wana get the pics from the camera from.