Rio was as expected: intense. It added the extra tension of having being warned so many times by so many people as a very dangerous place. It did make for an uncomfortable beginning....but 2 days into it was time to enjoy this magnificent city. A rollercoaster, a non stop...from outrigging in the bay of Flamengo Beach with a bronze world medal young guy to bike riding all the way to finally arriving to Copacabana and then Ipanema. Feeling like a real garota, in bikini! What magnificent beaches! We did the walking tour and learnt more about the city history, and climb the steps of Lapa, we went to "Pedra do Sal" (Saltrock) where to locals gathered around just to listen to music and drink cachaca. We visited The Corcovado (the huge Christ on the mountain) just in time to see the magnificent view before the clouds took over and on the same day we climbed the Pan de Azucar and ate watermelon at the top. We finished our time in Rio in the best possible way: dancing on a rehearsal for Carnival with a local escola do Samba (which by the way is the second most important of all the carnival!)....only admiration for those bodies that move in absolute independent way. Fantastic!!! We left Rio going through their Tijuca national park lamenting that it was so hot that we couldn't do any trekking. Best of all, we enjoyed this city with our Brazilian friend! A twin traveller that we met in Chapada Diamantina! (more about her in the other section...)