Rio update

Well, we've been here for nearly 10 days now and we're starting to forget all the stuff we've been doing.
We've ticked a few of the boxes beach wise - Copacabana was the first one we sampled...we left the hostel bright eyed and bushy tailed feeling innocent - this was to change shortly after when we got to Copacabana tunnel and saw a bus being held up by a favela kid. Policia pulled up infront of the bus and the porker got out of his paddy wagon and shot the sucker down BLUCKA! Yessss, our first Rio shooting. It's just as everyone says here! The people infront of us started running down the tunnel, but we weren't phased, we held our ground and strolled on. On the way back we heard more gunfire at the same place but in the favelas above. Awesome. We need either rapid response Andrew or gypsey fighting bare knuckle boxing champion 'Big jaw breaking John' to protect us.
We still had fun at the beach though.

Loadsa garotas (girls in Portuguese) in thongs for us to perve over.

While we're on the subject of shootings in favelas, we attended 2 splendid favela funk parties. Quality music, 1 real a beer (25p), and loose moraled ladies. Both times someone has been successful, but the first time we we're targets of date rape. You boys would love it here, total role reversal...girls chase the guys and its a totally normal thing to get with more than 1 girl in a night!
One morning we actually got up before 11 oclock and went to a beautiful waterfall. Paul 'sick note' Sumner had to miss out on this because of a mentally swollen ankle after a mozzy bite. Nothing needs to be said about the scenery, check the photo.

Although it was no easy route to take up there, you have to climb roots and rocks through the jungle - very Indiana Jones.

After the successes that day, we were given the challenge of walking up to Christ the Redeemer. Challenge accepted! Nothing the Frensham/Farnham massive can't handle.
We got to the bottom of the hill and we were approached by loads of people doing tours up to the top, but we declined saying we can easily make it. All of them thought we were crazy saying it was too far, too steep and too dangerous (2 favelas on the way up). We informed them of our Cannons training then continued up the hill...5 minutes later, sweating buckets, we decided it was far too far, steep and dangerous. The incline on the treadmills at Cannons doesn't go anywhere near the angle we were walking up. With pie in our faces, we walked past all of the lads offering lifts on their motorbikes, taxis etc. We popped in a car and went up to the top by sunset and got some great shots.

We spent the day at the beach in Ipanema, then at 5 strolled up to join a carnival rehearsal in the streets. More beers for the boyz. Lapa in the evening, loads of partying, drinking, chasing girls etc

Leaving the hostel in 2 days and going to get an apartment off Copacabana for cheaper than the hostel were staying in. Will be good to have our own space for a bit for getting laid. hahaha (but seriously).
Keep comments coming, always good to hear from you lot in snowy England.
All our love
Da boyz