Every bus ride in Rio...I say a little prayer

Thursday the sun finally made an appearance and I rewarded its efforts with a trip to the beach. On the way a lovely old lady tried to help me on the train, although I was pretty sure I was on the right track, telling me I was going the wrong way, then realised it was her that took the wrong train! Bless...

Originally planning to meet some CSers there, I then ran out of phone credit trying to find them at Ipanema and settled for sitting alone in the hot hot sun. It was all good though, I just plugged in the ol' iPod and settled down for a nice rest. Beer in hand, I soon plucked up the courage to beckon over one of the (many) people selling stuf on the sand, and looked at some Brazilian bikinis. After some haggling, I got the man down to a good price and BOOM, I was a Brazilian. Well, not quite, but I was getting there...

Man, those things are TINY! My ass ate it as soon as it was on... I really think there is an art to wearing them and I think I need practice. But anyway, I felt better not wearing the ǵranny pants' as they call them here haha... if only they went to Australia!!

After I felt I had been sufficiently kissed by the sun (oh, that is an understatement!), I ventured out to find the bus stop to get to a mountain with a great view of Rio. Still camera-less (damn my trashy self), I ensured I got the email addresses of some of the CSers I had met to do the climb up the mountain, so I could get them to send photos to me. The walk up was ok, me in my flip flops as per usual (I can do anything in those things!!) but at the peak, after some lush views, the skies opened and we ran under cover out of the pelting rain. I was worried about going back down the steep dirt path to the bottom but thankfully at that time, they just shepherded everyone back down on the cable car for free. Nice.

It was around dinner time then, so a few of us went to a local restaurant to have MEAT and other stuf. Good conversation, I made friends with a nice guy D (he comes into the story later) and had a few welcome beers. Afterwards, I tried my friend who had just landed in Rio but after another non-response I jumped on the bus to my apartment with a couple of the guys from dinner.

DEAR GOD.

These bus drivers are mental. Actually mental. Even if they didnt laugh like maniacs as they sped passed people waving to stop at bus stations, randomly opening the doors as they swerved around traffic and turned to talk to the ticket collectors. Yep, I say a little prayer every time I board one of those journeys straight to the bowels of hell.

Last sleep in Eitental

My final night in Eitental. Wow, I can't believe it's finally here!! Not in a bad way, but it has been a whole two months and I've been so looking forward to going to South America, the thought of it just one sleep away makes me all funny in the tummy :)

Today was interesting... I spent a large part of it trying to give L some space as I thougt she was in a shitter of a mood - maybe because of something I did, maybe just fed up in general - but when I brought it up, she said she was gonna ask me the same thing! So then it was all OK.

Regardless of moods - existant or not - I wanted to make sure I did as much as I could today to make the rest of the week easier on L before she also left (for Germany though, not the sunny sands of Sud Amerika!!). And luckily G wasn't around much so we could do things at our own pace - and even fit in a cheeky sauna in the afternoon! My last one... aww...

We had a quick ride, me on Gnom who fought with me momentarily (when he thought he could win) and managed to give me a little blood blister on my Rottweiler dog bite scar. Dammit, I can see that thing is going to be a problem if I'm on any more crazy horses. Worst position ever. Blah.

Had a quick lead-ride around the yard on Sky, the oldest camel in the bunch and also the most comfy, before we put the animals away for the day. Then we got ourselves ready and started to prepare for my farewell dinner. It is interesting when you have a farewell dinner that you also have to completely prepare, cook and clean up after. The life of a helper. Sigh.

L was brilliant, my right arm with everything and totally great when I was stressing we wouldn't be ready in time for everyone's arrival. But it all went swell in the end, I got to practice my Spanish during the meal and everyone loved the poem I wrote, my Helper Handbook I finished for G and L's photo montage (very profresh looking!!). Good times all round. But I am not looking forward to the mountain of dirty glasses awaiting us tomorrow morning...

Speaking of tomorrow morning, I have a lift arranged for Vienna so I am happy. No lugging mi mochilla (backpack) and its 20kg aroung the U-Bahn. Sweet! Although it now means I am leaving earlier than expected and will probably not be able to ride tomorrow. Or wash my hair. Well, I can always do that in Vienna.

Will be sad to leave here, I have grown to like it, but I am ready for some SUN! And a tan... wow, can't remember the last time I had one... But for the record, as excited as I am, I am NOT expecting too much from Rio. Sun, yes, but EVERYONE says it is dodgy and I will be mugged so I am totally expecting it. And I imagine the city itself is dirty, overcrowded (the population of Australia in one city?? Methinkso!!) and full of the wrong types waiting for Carnival... but hey, it's a new adventure and I am ALL up for them!!

Healing hands, healing dreams

I´ve now gotten to the point where my manky dog bite hand is airing itself in its natural surroundings, albeit looking like a leftover prop from Saw IV, but at least it´s starting to dry out nicely. Soon I believe I´ll look like a real girl again - oh, mary, that´d be swell!

Little Miss deLightul had to turn down a burlesque dancing job tonight (sad face) because of my geographical location, maybe best since I´d need to coordinate my outfits back over here via my father... perhaps not the best idea to let him roam free in my little bag of tricks anyway.

Had another strange dream last night which caused me to wake myself with my own whining noises - all because mum was interfering with my life! Ruining everything. Hilarious. I am so perceptive in my sleep.

Cooked dinner again tonight. Soup. Basically just chucked everything I could find from the fridge and pantry that looked like it would suit... god knows how it will taste. Well, it´s not like their opinion of me could get much lower ha! I´m being mean, I´m sure they don´t think I´m that bad but they´ve certainly managed to take my confidence down a few pegs around horses. The complete opposite to Romania.

The dinner that never materialised

All I had was one night in London, so I had to make it worthwhile. Told some mates I was in town, didn't really have time to broadcast it but at the same time it was an interesting test to see who gave a shit or not!

I started drinking at lunchtime. 2 thirds of my DC girls made sure of it. Then there was another friend's house. More drinks. And a quick hi to a stressed friend taking time out from work. More drinks. Then meeting up with a lovely lil geezer I missed out on seeing last trip to London for dinner. Although we never ended up eating anything.

A pre-drink at the pub turned into an all-night booze session, highly expected from said geezer plus the other rogues that turned up to join the party. All as bad an influence on each other. Not that I needed much to tip over the edge. Of the spotty memory towards the end of the night, I'm pretty sure I confessed my undying love for a particular someone (to their face) and made a complete, utter fool out of my emo self. Sigh.

Luckily, the person in question had the decency to be a downright sweetheart back and make me feel like less of a douche. But fuck me, someone needs to remind me to pack some gaffer tape in my bag before I go out drinking.