Hello all! WE went up Sugarloaf mountain on Monday - when I say we, I really mean Paul went up as I am too scared of heights to get in one of the james-Bond-esque cable cars...pathetic I know, but you should see these things - clear glass and full of american tourists trying to get the cars to move faster etc..I hyperventilate just at the thought of it...anyway. WE agreed as it was a bit of a lcoudy day we would walk up the first part of the hill (a mere 230 metres). Neither of us is particuarly fit, but we quite impressivly totterted upo the very steep forest páth, in amongst amazing trees, flowers, monkeys, birds and no doubt nasty spiders and snakes(although we thankfully saw none of these) and managed to get up to the first cable car stop. Then Paul got the second cable car up to the actual Sugarloaf part, and the photos he brought back were stunning. It was a shame it was´t a cloudy day but it was good to see a different perspective of Ruio which is such a huge sprawl of as city. We walked back down the same track although it took us twice as long given the steepness - if we had thought to bring a sledge all would be well, butinstead we had to totter down like old grannies (well, I did)....many photos to follow of all of this anyway - we´re trying to remember to get our memory card contents transferred when we get a chance. We´re now staying ina different part of Rio called Santa Tereza - the old part of otwn up in the hills, with a windy cobbled streets, amazing spanish colonial style houses that have got a bit ruined sadly. Best of all to get up here you take a wee old tram from the centre of Rio - like the ones in San Fransico I imagine. They´re typically Brazillian in that the people who use them have scant concern for their lives and hang off the sides in clear path of oncoming cars, buses and trees. I am beginning to suspect that this combied with the drving and their sheer lust for life that Brazillians are in fact immortal? Like the elvesin Lordof the Rings, but with smaller ears, and marginally better hair. Anyway, best go - we´re off to Lapa tonight - not lap dancing capital of the country, but a small part of town through which an acqeduct (no idea how to spell this?) runs, and there are lots of bars and dancing and best of all caiprinihas...(potent rum cocktail)yum yum. I want to tell you so much about the place we´re staying which is incredible - a huge house in the hill with a pool, and a viewof the whole city centre. It is run by guys who work in a circus, and indeed the person staying in the room next ot us is a self proclaimed àctor and clown, haha. I´ve runout of timethough, so will update you more soon. byeee!
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