"Queuing Madness"

Nick at Sugar Loaf - sweating it out in 30 degrees of queueing madness!
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So on to our 1st proper day in Rio. The weather was hot, hot, hot (as in 38) so we thought what a great day to go sightseeing!! Off to Sugarloaf we went, camara in hand feeling well up for it......However the scene when we got there was crazy with half of Rio and a full cruise descending on the same spot at the same time. This meant we had to queue for about an hour in intense heat just to get on the 1st cable car. This endurance test could only be described as akin to 'Endurance' the Japanese gameshow of the 80's. Infact at one point I was sure that Mer was going to start wrestling with an American octagenarian to gain a couple of spaces!!

View of Rio
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When we finally 'got up top' the views were amazing with a full panorama of Rio in all it's baked glory. We've got some lovely photo's to share with you when we gat to a compatable computer!!

as akin to 'Endurance' the Japanese gameshow of the 80's. Infact at one point I was sure that Mer was going to start wrestling with an American octagenarian to gain a

After negotiating our way around Rio public transport (better than the UK) we got back and prepared for the main event....CARNIVAL!!!

Sugar Loaf
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After some mad traffic getting there we eventually pulled up at around 9pm to the Sambadrome. This is just one huge purpose built street with banks of teired seating and boxes either side full to the rafters with sambaing Brazilians. The schools then take it in turns to come down the street one by one except each school has about 4000 people, drums and 10 HUGE floats with them...it takes a while. Think cup final and you might be close in terms of maddness. We got through 3 schools in 4 1/2 hours and after much Sambaing (mer) and Skol (me) we headed off to rest up for our next day. The energy, vibrancy and life associtated with this Carnival is just crazy and you can't help but get carried along with it...

Just the two of us..
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The energy in this place is amazing and we are trying hard to keep up!!!