Leaving Rio

This is the last from Rio til we return in March. Its been kind of lazy and good, with the trip to the country, christmas, new year and all providing the spice. We have been looking after pets this last week, a lovely laid-back dog and completely bonkers cat, who escaped from the flat twice. Once it went down the rubbish chute, and the 2nd time was found in a car engine in the garage below.
Now we are packed and ready to go. Curitiba here we come! R

Sue says: So we leave rio, the cidade maraveillosa?? tonight. For me its a city of extremes, wealth and poverty handin hand. A city where the skimpiest bikinis are everywhere, but going topless is against the law. A city where street dogs hunt for food and pampered pedigree dogs wear shoes and even sunglasses. A city where the shanty towns have the best views in town of the beaches and surrounding islands. Favelas where tourists are shown round and guarded by drug vigilantes with machine guns. Bizarre! Copacabana is officially the most densly populated place on the planet and on its 4-mile beach booths on the sidewalk spray water on passers-by and street children sniff glue. Brazil has all the resources, space they need to believe in their future and they are all very proud of their country. And who can resist the drums, the samba, and that latin vivaciousness which is all around.