31 March
Spent a few more days in Paraty dodging the rain and looking around the town. Visited the old fort... Forte Defensor built in 1703 and complete with the original six cannons .
Failed to mention that some of Paraty was flooded during our stay particularly nearer the sea end. Once a month when there is a Full Moon and the tide is high, seawater rises from its normal levels, and pours into the Historic Center District through special openings in the seawalls that separate the city from the harbor. The streets are only flooded for a short time, until the tide recedes.
1 March – Left Paraty by bus and headed direct to Rio de Janeiro.

Our host at the Pousada in Paraty had sufficiently terrified us with stories of recent shootings and stabbings to make us feel at total ease for our stay in Rio. Apparently there was a shooting between two rival favela druglords only a few days before. Nice!!!!

Anyway our first taste of Rio was that our bags had been opened en-route. Luckily my dirty laundry was the first thing the would-be thiefs would have come across......and must have scared them off!!!
Got to Rio Bus Terminal late evening in the middle of a rain storm. It wasn´t the best place to be in the dark, so to be on the safe side got a cab to our the Best Western hotel at Copacabana. The area of Copacabana at night wasn´t great and not wanting to stray far in a strange area renowned for being unsafe at night, decided not venture out.
2nd March – Copacabana, Rio
Just to get things straight Barry Manilow sang about the Copacabana night club in New York not the área in Rio.
The Sun was out in Rio so headed out to explore the beaches. They were amazing, White sand that stretches over 4 kilometers. Although one thing did bother me....where are all the Chicas....it could have been Worthing beach!!! Also, I was suprised by the fact the whole length of the beaches were lined by hotel, not a fish and chip shop or amusement aracade anyway; Cut throught to Ipanema where the vibe was totally different to that of Copacabana mainly because it is the more affluent área of Rio.
Caught a taxi to one of Rio´s famous landmarks, Big Jesus also known as the statue of Christ the Redeemer ('Cristo Redentor') atop Corcovado mountain, named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. By the time we got there the clouds had come down so we decided to do it another day. Travelled across the city to the Centro área....a bit of a disapointment. It wasn´t the most attractive área and we struggled to find anything of interest, with the exception of the Cathedral (Seen one you´ve seen them all).
So far disspointed by a city that nearly everyone ravs on about.

31 March Spent a few more days in Paraty dodging the rain and looking around the town.  Visited the old fort... Forte Defensor built in 1703 and complete with the original six cannons . Failed to mention that some of Paraty was flooded during our stay particularly  nearer the sea end. Once a month when there is a Full Moon and the tide is high, seawater rises from its normal levels, and pours into the Historic Center District through special openings in the seawalls that separate the city from the harbor. The streets are only flooded for a short time, until the tide recedes.  1 March – Left Paraty by bus and headed direct to Rio de Janeiro.   Our host at the Pousada in Paraty had sufficiently terrified us with stories of recent shootings and stabbings to make us feel at total ease for our stay in Rio.  Apparently there was a shooting between two rival favela druglords only a few days before. Nice!!!!   Anyway our first taste of Rio was that our bags had been opened en-route.  Luckily my dirty laundry was the first thing the would-be thiefs would have come across......and must have scared them off!!! Got to Rio Bus Terminal late evening in the middle of a rain storm.  It wasn´t the best place to be in the dark, so to be on the safe side got a cab to our the Best Western hotel at Copacabana.  The area of Copacabana at night wasn´t great and not wanting to stray far in a strange area renowned for being unsafe at night, decided not venture out. 2nd March – Copacabana, Rio Just to get things straight Barry Manilow sang about the Copacabana night club in New York not the área in Rio.  The Sun was out in Rio so headed out to explore the beaches.  They were amazing, White sand that stretches over 4 kilometers.  Although one thing did bother me....where are all the Chicas....it could have been Worthing beach!!!   Also, I was suprised by the fact the whole length of the beaches were lined by hotel,  not a fish and chip shop or amusement aracade anyway;  Cut throught to Ipanema where the vibe was totally different to that of Copacabana mainly because it is the more affluent área of Rio. Caught a taxi to one of Rio´s famous landmarks, Big Jesus also known as the statue of Christ the Redeemer ('Cristo Redentor') atop Corcovado mountain, named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  By the time we got there the clouds had come down so we decided to do it another day.  Travelled across the city to the Centro área....a bit of a disapointment.  It wasn´t the most attractive área and we struggled to find anything of interest, with the exception of the Cathedral (Seen one you´ve seen them all). So far disspointed by a city that nearly everyone ravs on about.