Trip to Brazil - Rio

Well I've just figured out how to enter posts ... after my trip to Brazil so I'll do it in installments:

The trip was planned because I've wanted to visit Brazil for years since I was at school with my lovely friend Odila, and have been trying to learn Portuguese over the last four years because of suddenly having lots of other Brazilian friends. Alice, Odila's daughter gave me the best excuse to go by having a wedding in Rio. Thanks Alice!

Darcy and I arrived in Rio on Tuesday 7th November 2006. We had booked into a Hotel in Copacabana. I made a few phone calls when we arrived and arranged to meet up with Odila, the next day. Another friend, Martin Scott happened to be in Rio at the same time and I spoke to him too but he was at the other side of town so we decided not to meet up that night.

I was just about to order room service when Carlos, Odila's brother arranged to meet up with us. It was a surreal and fun time (having not had any contact for 32 years!). We went to the beach (in the dark) and had loads to eat and after all the travelling Darcy fell asleep on my lap (or we may have bored her to sleep with our reminiscing of old times).

The next day Odila and Joel (her husband) took us on a trip up to Sugar Loaf Mountain. Every time I meet up with Odila its as if we saw each other yesterday.

Then Darcy and I went shopping and Darcy got some roller trainers which turned out to be ideal entertainment over the next few days waiting in airport lounges for hours where the floors are smooth-as-glass granite!

On the Thursday Carlos showed us around the older part of town and took us on the Ferry to Niteroi and back and we did some more reminiscing and ate loads more again this time from a street stall which was amazing.

Friday was the wedding. It was amazing to meet up again with Odila's other two brothers: Fernando, who was a couple of years below us at school, and Mario who is an amazing artist. Again it was just like we'd seen each other yesterday talking to them. I only realise now how much we must have all hung out together. Vera, Odila's cousin was there too and she had been in the UK for some of the time back in the 70s and was also at school with us so it was a good old reunion.

I had forgotton to put the battery back in my camera after charging it so I owe a debt of gratitude to Sarah and Martin (Odila and Joel's friends from Hong Kong (but now live in Switzerland!)) for lending me their camera and managed to grab a few shots having swapped my card into theirs. Thanks guys.