BYE BYE BRAZIL

Even though we tried to detail our travels, we found as we were on our way to the next tour, we forgot lots of interesting tidbits, such as:

1. No matter the size, age or degree of pregnancy, the Brazilian women love their bikinis---hmm
2. Thank goodness for our buffeterias as $24 US for a hamburger at the Copacabana Palace was just a little too steep for our pocketbook but the Arab restaurant we found nearby was just as advertised in Fodder´s--great. We found it as we left the Palace in shock.
3. Space is limited whether it is an apartment or the street. Parking lots are anywhere someone can put up a toll booth and offer space on a street. In fact, on our street such a parking lot was located. Would we trust a stranger with our car keys--well in Rio they do. Drop off your car with keys, let them park it and come back whenever. In the meantime your car is manuvered as necessary when others come after you.
4. We didn´t mention all the cruise ships that anchored not far off the Copacabana beach for all their passengers to get a terrific view of the New Year's Eve fireworks. If you are planning a cruise in this area, remember this!
5. Terrible mud slide not far from Rio because of the crazy rains they had Dec. 30 and 31. It was on CNN Europe, but not sure it was shown at home. We watched the rescuers retrieve a 3 year old from the muddy rubble.
6. Security is everywhere! Each apartment building has a locked entry with 24 hour staffing, our hotel had 2 people at night, businesses have their own security guards etc.

Our fondest memories of Brazil include driving through a rainshower of yellow butterflies in Iguacu National Park, eating breakfast in the Vila de Este dining room on the hill overlooking Buzios Bay, sitting in solitary splendor on the deck of the Amazon Clipper imagining we owned it and walking down Copacabana Beach every day.

Bye the way, the only nude beach in Brazil is in Buzios.

On the whole, the ladies of B.A. are more stylish than those of Rio BUT Lynne still mourns the fabulous purse she found in a basement boutique at the shopping centre near the Continental Hotel in Iguacu...which she did not buy as there was no room in her suitcase.