Update on Rio

Imperial Palace side view
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Well - some adventures - especially when you travel by bus.  They run along like horses on a track and bus stops are only there to suggest they will stop - even at red lights.  If you ring the bell, they offload you at the lights.  On the other side they are friendly and helpful and the wholeof the queue gets involved to make sure you get the right bus - and it works.  Once on board, anyone who knows where you want to go gets you off at the right place.

I made my plan for Monday (S Teresa Museum) only to find when I got an up to date leaflet that it is closed on Mondays.  Too late - I was already in the Botanical Gardens (which I could have put off until today) so now cant get there.  I think I´ll stay inRio when I get back in March as my programme has fallen apart.

Lapa aqueduct and cathedral
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How did I get to the Botanical Gardens?  Naturally I spent the time getting to the tourist board, only to find it was closed and not open till Wed.  The security guard gave me lots of (and the up to date info) and told me how to find the bus to the gardens.  All went well and I spent the whole day there in the cool green expanse under the Christ the Redeemer mountain. I got back late as I wanted to try another Tourist Board at Copacabana - un,arked and probably closed, so not mcuh success there.  To my dismay when I got back to my room I found Ihad lost my exercise book full of details and useful info that I always carry with me.  The only place I could have left it was the first tourist board in town so this morning I went back.

Botanical Gardens entrance - Tribute to Matisse
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Downtown was very quiet, noboldy about and everything closed.  So plan J, K or even L was to go to the Fine Arts Gallery and when I got there it was also closed, opening at midday.

Never short of things to do, I went back to the hotel, packed up and moved to the group hotel - having found out today is a public holiday.  The hotel is v. nice, modern and upmarket (I hope this is a sign of things to come).

My room mate arrived shortly after - not long out of uni and now starting her travels.  Karen is about 23 and interested in artso we went back to town to the Fine Arts Gallery.  She left to go up Sugar Loaf and I finished seeing the paintings ranging from 16 century to present day.

Lakeside statue
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The daily shower was in full downpour when I came out so I came back to the hotel and found this internet cafe.

For some reason I can´t have access to the usb to upload photos - which is a bit annoying as they take ages to do and the longer I wait the more I have.  Maybe I won´t bore you with these initial ones.

Tonight we meet up with the others and go for a meal together - this will be my first since I arrived having mainly snacked and somehow survived these three days.

Tropical flower
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We leave at 2pm tomorrow and I think I´ll try again to get mybook back.  Forgot to mention that the man on the reception at my first hotel went out and bought me a new one!  How´s that for Brazilian kindness?