well it is 4:15 am and we (being Ruth-Ann and anne) are sitting in our hostel after a supposed 13 hour bus trip which turned into a 21 hour ride. Not an problems with us but 2 hour delay for a highway accident then 2 hour delay through Sao Paulo rush hour traffice and we are not quite convinced that the trip would only have been 13 hours with stops. Did I mention we left Witmartsum this morning at 6:30 am!!!!

Youth are tucked into beds stacked three high and are settling in - the morning is almost here. We are glad to be in what will prove to be very close quarters for our final 3 days together - good thing we all like each other so much. From the looks of things the `"dining room" ie front porch which doubles as a small living room will serve around 10 of us at a time - should be a real adventure.
We have really appreciated the adaptability of the youth and tonight is no different.
While most slept on our way into the city Ruth-Ann, Tobin, Meghan and I took in the night view of the Christ the Redeemer Statue.
Sop here is the sleeping arrangement so you can chuckle as much as we did as we arrived at 3:30 am - 18 boys all in one room then a room of 6 girls, 9 girls, and and then 12 girls. There are only 5 bathrooms in the whole hostel which our 44 plus 2 drivers and tour guide will share with an additional 20 hostel guests - as you can imagine some of us will opt for showering via the ocean which is a mere 6-7 blocks away or so they say. 400 metres from Copacabana beach which we hope we will see tomorrow.
www.elmistihostels.com then we are at the one at Copacabana.

Well we should go get some sleep ór maybe we could grab the showers Ruth-Ann!!!!!
no probably sleep since youth will need alert leaders at 8:30 am

peace and love to all at home having fun, yes we are somewhat tired but everyone is feeling that the trip is coming to an end far too soon
here is the hostel site