Rio De Janero and the Samba!!!!!!!

Rio!!!!!!!! Hello everyone, so much has happened since we have arived here in Brazil. First off we never booked airfare to Rio just the hotel becuase the prices just kept going up. So we decided to just go to the airport in Salvador where the ship docked, and we ended getting air for 263 US which I was hoping we could get it for 200 but. So we had about three hours til our flight so we sat at the snack bar in the airport and we ended up meeting this American that ended up being head of all the security and marines at the Consulate in Rio. He was really cool and gave us all of his #s like his cell and stuff and said if we had any questions or needed anything while in Rio to let him know. The flight was about 2 hours and when we arived it was about 8:15pm and raining hard. We had aranged for some friends to meet us at the hotel to go to dinner that night and to go to the club. We drove for about 30 minutes to Impenema which is the other big beach next to Cococabana. The menu was in Portugess so it was hard to understand what we ordered. The food was great and then we went to club NUTH which is one that Victor the interport student recomended. It was having a private party but as usual they saw Americans and loved us and invited us in. It was funny because it turned out to be a party for this famous actress that had a comedy weekly show in Brazil that was featured on the cover of this Brazilian magazine. It was one of the coolest clubs, and we were able to meet some beatiful Brazilians that spoke some english who took us and introduced us to Lousiana. Who was very nice and we took a photo with her (which I will post later).
Anyways yesterday we woke up and the rain cleared for enough time for us to explore the city. We went up to the Le Meridian to the 37th floor to see the city which is huge like 8 million people and just barley did the clouds clear away for us to see the famous statue of Jesus on the Mountain that stands so beautifully over the city. After that we went exploreing the shops and got invited to go the the H. Stern Jewerly factory. Which I had heard and seen these stoned jewelery but didn~t realize that it was all from Brazil it was really cool seeing first hand how they had each piece by hand and came around with drinks like coconut milk. Amber (a friend) who was with us got a necklace and the we explored the area around the factory that has all the exspensive store like LV and Cartier. Oh and lunch I got to tell you about lunch we went to a Churscaria like Texas De Brazil which is a Brazilian Steak house that was excelent all the filet migion and salad bar and everything you want for $8 US Texas de Brazil at home is like $35 so we couldn~t believe it. Then last night we went to this Pizza place that the guy in the hotel recomended, but it was similiar in the fact that it was a set price all you can eat and they came around just like the Brazilian Steakhouses with the pizzas and it also had an awsome salad bar but not just salad shrimp steak everything that you wanted.
Then last night we meet up with some more friends and went to the disco Barnetti in Impenema that Victor the interport student said that he was going to meet us all at. Which was lots of fun, again the American thing came out and they let us up into the VIP room that overlooked the stage and dance floor but with lots of couches and extra space it was very chic. Anyways they had a rap star supposedly the best in Brazil that sang. The one interesting thing about this club was that all of the people there were 18 to 24 it was just interesting because most places there is such a mixture of people and age rainges. Somthing that they do here in Brazil thats interesting is that in restaurants and the clubs they give you what looks like a credit card and you have to spend a certain amount in the club which they tell you ahead of time what it is and then whenever you want somthing to drink you give it to them and that way you don~t have to worry about tipping or having to keep up with cash. You just pay at the end and there are no worries.
As far as today we got up early again and went downstairs to have breakfast and then since it was sunny we went and spent the morning on Cocobana beach. The hotel not only gave us towels but Umbrellas too which is nice. From the beach you can see alot of the city as well as the statue of Jesus. For this afternoon I am sure we will go back to the beach and we are supposed to meet lots of people out tonight. Our flight leaves late tomorow night back to Salvador. Then we will have all day Saturday to explore Salvador the third largest city in Brazil where the ship is docked.
For final thoughts I want to wish my Aunt Ann a happy Birthday ( I miss you) !!!!!!!!! and concerning Rio de Janero it is somthing that I have wanted to see all of my life and it is all and more than I expected. As I told you about Caracas there is so much passion, Rio I would say the main thing is their Brazilian Steak houses and other food is absolutely unbeleavable as well as the people being very friendly. All for now I love and miss all of you very much!!!!!!!!