another day in Rio and much fun in spite of the pouring rain - sigh
we have decided to delay our visits to Christ Redeemer statue and the cable car up Sugar Loaf mountain because of rain but still walked the Copacabana beach, had a fantastic lunch buffet, (we have eaten a lot of buffets and have all commented that we need to eat a lot less!!!), tour of parts of the old city saw a very old cool library - the Royal Portugese Reading Room where the whole building was transported to Brazil from Portugal and the youth commented that it looked like a scene from a Harry Potter movie, saw the contemporary Catholic Cathedral, and the First Presbyterian church of Rio, walked in a lot of rain and got wet many times, a few youth and leaders took in a local CD shop where they play live Bossa Nova music on Friday nights and some of us bought CDs, we had a pizza buffet tonight which included dessert pizzas with white or milk chocolate and fresh ice cream. more rain walking back to the hostel which has its own lively night life - youth are tucked in to bed now - well ok almost tucked in - leaders settling down too but not yet ready for bed til we know all are safely in their rooms.
tomorrow we pray for good weather to go up the Tijuca Forest and to Corcovado and Sugar Loaf.

Lots are excited about a little sleep in (that is 8 am if some want showers). Because of the small shower and bathroom space some youth got up this morning at 6 am and then went back to bed again!!!

We want to get some photos up for you so signing off
soon home
anne