Kris & Chris & The World

Well we have just arrived back in Rio after having spent the last four nights on Ihla Grande, a beautiful island off the coast of Brasil. But it was a bit of a mission to get there! Our flight was supposed to leave Igassu at 6:00am, so reluctnantly we were up at 4am to leave the hotel. We got to theairport to find it all fogged in,so the plane was delayed and as a result we missed our connectingflight to Rio. So we arrived at the airport in Curibita at 10am, our brilliant guide Christina went off to see if we could get an earlier flight to Rio, as the one we were given would mean we would miss the ferry to the island (the lastone leaves at 5pm, and tyhe port is a 2 and a half hour drive from Rio). So we are all relaxing in the airport when she comes running up to us yelling we´ve got to go! Run! They were holding a flight to Sao Paulo for us and it was leaving then and there, so we go sprinting off through the airport, straight past the gate down an escalator, and up an escalator and then a flight attendant comes running up to us pointing the way, we rush through security and sprint to the gate and collapse into whatever spare seats we can find and take off, probably to the iriatation of the other passengers on the plane. We then get to Sao Paulo to find that plane delayed as well!!! But finally we get on board and land in Rio at 2pm, which would give us plenty of time, but only if we hurried to our transfer. But then while waiting for our luggage, our extra bag (purchased because we have purchased so much stuff...) has not made the journey with us and is apparently in transit. So we had to bugger around filling in forms and we were now certain that we would miss the ferry and have to arrive at the island late the next morning. But due to the lightness of traffic out of Rio we made it to the port in 2 hours, but when we get there a random dude starts telling us there is not boat, but leads us to a small blue fishing vessel and we all cram onto the deck and some random Brasilian fisherman sails us to the island, but it took over 2 hours! So by the time we get to the island we are all very tired, but very glad to be there! And a few of us even manage to go out and check out the one bar on the island and drink some Capriangas (spelling?). So for the first time in one day i have taken 3 flights, a mini bus and a boat : )

But the island was so worth the effort, we lazed around on beautful beaches, ate amazing seafood, ate a lot of icecream, snorkelled, swam and generally had a really wonderful relaxing time. And the day two ´booze cruise´round the island went down pretty well too. it was on May 17th which is Norways national day, and as we are travelling with 5 Norwegians, it was very very festive - SKOL!!!

We areback in Rio now, the tour ends tomorrow and we are off to Impanema for another 6 nights and then to London - and beyond!!!!!!!!!!!! Can~t believe we have travelled from one side of SOuth America to the other, I don~t want to leave.