Rio Carnival

Hi everyone, I thought we´d better write you an email before we head out of Rio. We´ve had a brilliant week, carnival has been fab. Everyone goes round with costumes on or flowers everywhere. They also tend to wear VERY little and Baz goes around with an amazed look on his face. I even got Baz to wear a wreath of flowers for the carnival - cant send you any photos yet as I havent figured out how to do it. Our hotel is in the centre of parties area. Every night there are street parties and bands playing and last night we even had the drag queen parade come past our hotel. There are so many drag queens and prostitutes parading our road. /some times it is very difficult to figure out if they are male or female. There is also an amazing number of gays here, we have a gay club just down the road and there is a gay beach somewhere else. They are all very open, both gays and lady-boys, and you see them everywhere and get so used to it you dont bat an eyelid. Everyone here seems to be fitness freaks so when you are on the beach you often pass gorgeous guys (and girls) going for a run or doing exercises. Baz and I started trying to get fit but gave up after about day 2. We went for a 4 hr walk up St Theresa which is soooo steep and the next day I was very stiff so we´ve taken it a bit easy since then. We´ve done most the tourist things, Christ the Redeemer, all the beaches etc. This place really is gorgeous. We even went to a football game in the largest capacity stadium in the world. There are 100´s of helicopters everywhere, Andrew you´ld love it. Barry has taken some good video of them for you. The carnival was amazing, we all went with our new group of friends and only got home at 5;15am.

Our group from the bus seem great. So far we have met half of them but our group meeting is tonight and we start the tour tommorrow. Apparently there are 2 couples, 13 single girls and 4 single blokes, lucky them!!!!! Baz wishes he was single again.

Well, gotta get everything sorted as we are leaving tomorrow for Parati, just south of Rio. Cant wait, its meant to be stunning. Hope you are all well.

Lots of love
Baz and Jen
x x x