Rio bound

22Jan2008
Well my adventures so far: Last week I went to the storage unit, where I keep everything including my rucksack and travelling gear. On Saturday, I was merrily packing for S. America and realised it was close to 6pm, which is closing time for the storage unit... By the time I was finished it was 6.05pm. When I went downstairs to reception I was flabbergasted. Everything was locked up. I then realised that the alarms were blasting all over the place. A few seconds later I realised the receptionist was not doing her rounds but had gone home. I was locked in. I could hear police sirens outside so thought /Id better ring the police to let them know I was inside and to not leave. After ringing the storage unit number (no emergency contact no), and local police (who did not answer). I rang 999 to get hold of the police who said there was no call out for any police at the storage address. So I broke out using the emergency exit and set the alarms off again (they had just stopped). Luckily I found the security guard, who hobbled up to the door, at about a quarter of the pace I normally would take, which didn´t inspire confidence in the unit. So at least someone was able to sort the door out.

Saturday I went back to the unit, to find my boxes dripping and my bags smelling and damp. They have been fine for a year and now this is going wrong. Monday I returned but all had dried up. Typical as I was trying to show the receptionist the problem. Anyway I managed to pack everything into my bag, rush around london with said bag, buy my light raincoat, gaiters and thermals and still get to the airport 2.5 hours in advance. Phew. The relief and finally having got through check-in and customs and be on time. /i could finally relax. I thought!

The flight took off late. I was in the last seat but got it to my self so cool, except for everyone going into the loo but I fell asleep and awoke to one of the flight attendants putting the blanket, I requested over me. Ah sweet AND he was cute.
I was one of last to get off plane in São Paolo, my place of connection to Rio. It was absolutely choka. 100´s of people everywhere. I made my way to gate I was told to go to but missed the steps,I think I was supposed to go to but I went to where it said connections and queued. I asked the lady there but she told me to stay where I was I think. She didn't speak English and my Portuguese is limited to Obrigado, which I learned watching the movie on the plane. Anyway, no one else seemed to be going to RIO. So then I found the steps, queued for another while, was left through one check and then stopped. My flight had gone. Oh joy. I was then told to go back to my original queue to change to get the next flight, which I missed too. I then was escorted to immigration, where I queued for 2 hours. I then searched for my bag, which appears to have caught the right flight. And queued another 30 min to escape through customs. To queue again and be told to go to another desk which sent me to another where I queued again. Finally after 3.5 hours of queuing, I was given my boarding pass for a flight that was 8 hours after I was originally to fly. I could have gone earlier but that meant changing airports and my bag I´m sure would prefer to see me at the same place, where I hope it resides. Please let it not be like Israel where I had to wait 8 days for my bag.
I finally got To Rio Airport that is. I tried to call the cab number the hostel gave me but of course it didn’t work. I tried about 10 times. Then went to buy a Brazilian sim card and credits. I tried to ring the taxi number again and praise be but it worked. However, bizarrely I had to speak French to be understood.. I was told the taxi would take 30 min so when it didn’t arrive, I rang again, then between texting Alex etc. It turned out there was a mix up. When I rang, I got through to the French boyfriend of the hostel manager, who got confused and thought I had already booked the cab. Alex sorted it, so it got called. However then I was in departures and it was arriving at arrivals. Oh woe. I saw it passing and waved but it ran off. Another few texts and he was back and again drove past me. By this time I was voicing some colourful expletives. But he finally picked me up and I got to the hostel. Al3x had met 2 others and we all went out for food and a drink. Phew I could finally calm relax. As knackered as I was, we ended up staying out til 4am. The next few nights I came home early but we went around Rio and saw Copacabana and Ipanema, went on a walking tour of the city. It is pretty amazing. We also went around the neighbourhood where we are living. It´s a very bohemian, arty place with magnificent old colonial buildings. Some dilapidated but mostly ok. So many bars have such a lively atmosphere.