We left France with tears in our eyes but excitement in our hearts. After a few fabulous days in London with my best friend we checked into our flight in the huge Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Before we went through security the lady told us we had to catch a train to our gate that is how stupidly big this airport is!
On board our 11 and a half hour flight we settled in and quickly made the most of the films and free food on offer. I was more preoccupied with a guy next to me who sanitised everything he touched from the arm rest to the tv screen with stinky lemon wipes god knows how he is going to cope in busy dusty Rio!
We arrived exhausted but excited and the guy from the hostel (Samba Green – which I may do a post on later as it is one of the best I have stayed in during all my travels!) met us with a handmade name card and chatted the whole 30 minutes to our hostel
After a great deep sleep we headed out into the warm but cloudy day to explore. I wish I had read my Lonely Planet guide better as e headed into 5 different banks to get cash out and each one said there was a problem. Cue mini heart attack counting the shrapnel we had and mentally calculating how we were going to survive when I spied a HSBC and our money woes were forgotten! Apparently there are loads of banks just for Brazilian cards hence why ours were being denied.
Padding on the soft sand of Copacabana beach taking in the jagged hilly mountains, guys kicking footballs around and tiny thongs riding large juicy bums it felt like we were finally in Rio. Feeling flash with our new wad of cash we had a caipirinha cocktail on the beach looking around in awe at everything feeling so happy and lucky to be here.
Also please bear with me with this blog as I am trying to figure out a new teeny tiny laptop that seems to be allergic to my chunky fingers! Im hoping after a few posts I will get into the swing of things but I am just so happy to have you along on this journey with me!
