Sorry if I havn't posted recently but been swanning around the med and then off to Brazil which took all of last month.

Brazil well what can one say, corruption if rife to say the least and the driving is manic. First day we saw 3 dead bodies in 3 seperate accidents being put in body bags. Tthe next day we found out afterwards that the wreck in the central reservation ditch mangled to nothing and the engine landed up the other side of the road. Seems the driver went into the ditch doing 150mph. At night the traffic lights are turned off at midnight so cars don't stop to prevent a gun being pointed at anyone inside. We stayed in my daughter-in-laws bungalow which was in a gated community with guards at the gates with machine guns to protect the rich inhabitants. When i say rich several properties had their own helicopters and landing pads in their grounds.

I felt like a lord there, what with servants quarters a gardener and another swimming pool attendant, boy did we live it up.

Definately wouldn't recommend it as a holiday destination, too dangerous, would suggest going on a cruise or with a conducted tour only.

by the way cars are extremely expensive there you could triple the cost of a car in the Uk, import duty is sky high.

So thats what I have been doing, BUT I'M BACK

Realspeed Ex 2010 Freelander2 GS-e Diesel manual Silver owner

Last edited by realspeed on 15th Dec 2012 1:00 am. Edited 1 time in total

Saw rio on a program called scam city

To be honest looks nice, but the thieves were making $2000-6000 a day from nicking stuff during carnival

A mate went on work a few years back and his boss said to him " leave the breitling at home they'll cut your hand off for it" really enjoyed that trip he did

But get away from the city and it's a different world, I have found it to be friendly and accommodating in the past.

My stepdaughter is over there now working out of a small port in northern Brazil as an oceanographer, not much time for sightseeing, and surveying of the ocean bed doesn't allow much mixing with the locals but those she have met have been nice.

We stayed right out in the middle of a wooded valley except for a few days by the coast. My daughter-in -law who is Brazilian and lived in the area all her life is well aware of the situation. Even her father had been held at gun point through his car window and made to hand over valuables.

There is a class structure over there, you are either very rich or very poor no middle class. The poor are very poor believe me and will do anything to earn money. Young kids will protect a parked car for a bit of cash or key it if you don't.

Its not somewhere I would definately not go for a holiday unless you stay with relatives/friends.

Realspeed Ex 2010 Freelander2 GS-e Diesel manual Silver owner

don't get me wrong, what i have seen on TV it looks a beautiful place, "Rio" is one of my kids favourite movies then you see ross kemp on gangs

I would like to visit, but in reality it will not be something i will be doing in the near future, maybe when the kids leave home

I'ed like to see some photos though

where we stayed

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Couple of birds seen from the bungalow

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Very nice by the looks of it

Reminds me of South Africa, beautiful areas and housing marred by miles of razor wire and high walls.