Costs pp: bus from Sao Paulo to Niteroi terminal in Rio 84rs also saw one for 65.50rs but we only had one choice as all the buses were full. Local bus in Rio 2.20rs.
The scenery wasn't very exciting, the trip was 6.5 hours but was about half an hour longer because of road works on the way. Romulo and Alice met us when we arrived which was great, they are a sweet couple in their 20's who both speak a little English. We walked a little way and got a local bus that took us to their part of town called Alcantara, the journey took about half an hour. Alice's family, our couch hosts, live in a 17 story apartment building in a complex of 12 including a swimming pool and tennis court, they live on the 14th floor in a two bedroomed apartment. Mum = Beth (Bech), Dad = Sergio (Seer-hio), Pedro 1(6) and Alice (Aleeseh). They have all piled into one room so that we can have the second bedroom to ourselves. Beth had cooked dinner and we all ate together, it was wonderful and we were made to feel at home right away. Only Alice speaks a little english and the spanish that Carol has helps a little, we are able to communicate enough with those languages and hand signals etc lol. After dinner, now about 11pm, we headed down into the apartment complex where there is a small local bar. We met Alice and Romulos friends who are very funny and likable and drank beer with them until the bar closed at midnight then we sat outside in the entrance talking some more.
The next day was the 24th and this almost seems as important as Christmas day. We had friends visit in the apartment then we all headed off on a bus for a half hour journey across town to the home of one of Sergio's sisters. There we met their family and two other sisters as well. We had a wonderful meal there and later headed back home, Alice's Avo (Grandmother, the mother of Beth) arrived and her friend Erica and at midnight we had a wonderful Christmas dinner and the presents were handed out. We were given a present each, Kent a teeshirt and Carol a beautiful handbag made by Beth and Alice we were really rapt. At 2 am we headed out into the complex to meet up with the friends and talked and laughed just standing around. Carol was sitting on a wall and put her hair over the head of Kleber a young guy with short dreds and made him look like he had long hair, this was so funny to everyone that others had to have a go too and we took some pics.
Christmas day, when we woke up, was visiting day for family and friends to the apartment. The fridge was still full from last night and visitors helped themselves in a wonderfully familiar way. We met Beths sister Olivia and her daughter, lots more laughter and talking, this time about music. They all like the old 'greats' and we all liked the same and when Olivia mentioned Janis Joplin so Carol jumped up and brushed her hair out and put on Kent's round John Lennon glasses and lo and behold - Janis Joplin! Photo time again! haha, lots of laughs.
