Rio -> Buzios -> Saquarema

The Brazillians have a word describing a feeling they get when they leave Rio de Janeiro, translates literally as ´the longing´ - After only a day and half out of Rio I definitely think ´the longing´ is starting to emerge. I can´t describe how much of a great city it is. Despite the maniacal bus and taxi drivers hooning along four lane streets with no marked lines (everyone just makes up their own lane) and the relaxed attitude to pretty much everything, the place is cleaner and safer and more organised than it gets credit for.

Our second last night in Rio involved a night out in Ipanema in a place called the Irish Bar with our two Israeli friends (Moran and Nogah - www.moranogah.com) a new Aussie mate (Kylie) and a Dutch mate (Edwin). As per usual the night started around midnight and finished around 5am - which is so close to sunrise that Lucas and I decided to have a sunrise surf (which turned out to be the best waves I have ever body surfed in). On our way back to the hostel a group of transvestites started making suggestive actions towards us, when we tried ignoring them they hissed and started pulling their clothes off - so we hightailed it back to the hostel. The last night was at a big nightclub (previously an ancient old cinema) with four levels all looking down at a central stage with the big screen behind it - plus a roof top bar with a more relaxed atmosphere.

Yesterday we woke up early and decided to check out Buzios - a coastal town that Brazillians head to to party and escape Rio. After sleeping for three hours on the bus and waking up at we were going through a town we hoped was Buzios we leapt out still half asleep and wandered around in the rain in a main street that we started to think may not be Buzios. Luckily we found our target - the Buzios Hostel and checked in and pretty much went straight to sleep - woke up early this morning and had a swim and did some exercise on the beach. Heading to Saquarema tomorrow morning - which is a coastal town closer to Rio that has laws protecting its environment - is supposed to be quite stunning.

New photos will go up later in the week as the Brazil adventure comes to a close (for now. I´ll definitely be back!!)