Robbed in Rio

Bucket list travel! Brazil comes with caveats.

Wow, day one Rio de Janiero. This city wasn't actually on my bucket list but Iguazu and the Brazilian Amazon definitely were. Hence we are here en route.

We've excitedly learned Portuguese via Duolingo for the last six months in preparation. We have reached the stage now where we can happily pass as English tourists without a word of Brazilian/Portugese. Quite an achievement I would say. Well of course we can fluently express to locals that 'our cat is timid', but anything vaguely useful I can safely say that we are less well understood.

Certainly we didn't have the words: "Stop you rotter that's my necklace! Please give it back."

We are fully conscious that Rio isn't the safest of places! I invested in a £19.99 Sekonda watch at Heathrow as proof of this. We have deliberately resisted walking around with phones out. We have limited wearing anything of value. Yet as we aimlessly strolled along the Ipanema beach front we were robbed. It wasn't a violent experience, it was all over in three seconds. Three lads passed us on our left coming towards us and deliberately caught our eyes. Momentarily distracted in their direction the fourth lad, slightly to our right, skilfully and apparently painlessly ripped the thin gold necklace from Louise's neck. No mean feat as it was almost entirely under the neck of her top.

Slightly violated, a bit cross, and feeling stupid. We will try not to let it affect our travels. Be careful in Rio!

A local tells us that the thief will have swallowed the necklace as he ran away. If he survives the tiny but existential risk of it lodging in his appendix causing peritonitis, then we certainly hope he catches dysentery from sieving through his own poo to find it. There, we feel better already!

Despite this start we had a good time in Rio. We spent an afternoon strolling the beach front. And sat on a wall with wine in a plastic cup as the sun set behind Christ the Redeemer.

Day two we broke the back of the tourist trail.

Our tour guide had an unusual facial twitch. I found it fascinating. As if he had something quite sticky on his teeth. Oh come on you would! Riccardo was born in Brazil where timing is very much flexible, and then grew up in Germany, where flexibility around scheduling is not acceptable. This has turned out to be a mixed blessing for the poor chap. At the first stop, our minibus returned to collect us, the driver was exactly a minute late. The poor driver was roundly berated by the previously mild mannered tic-ing timebomb! Things only got worse as the tour progressed. By the end we were a whole 95 seconds behind schedule. I hoped our guide would avoid his stroke until we were out of sight. It certainly made me glad to have had such a stress free life.

Onwards. To decompress after the stress of the tour, we had far too many Caipirinhas on the beach front of Copacabana and then miraculously discovered the true birthplace of Bossa Nova, down a back alley. Fabulous Rio, Mais Que Nada.

Our obligatory Samba lesson was survived thanks to Sebastian from Hamburg who seriously took the pressure off me by dint of being born with both of Anne Widdecombe's left legs. Then a full afternoon on the beach to round off Rio.

Today we are off to Iguazu Falls, which actually is on the bucket list. We were robbed in Rio but today is my birthday. No harm done.

Mrs NHSontheRun amusingly set our very early airport alarm to wake us to the gentle strains of The Beatles 'When I'm Sixty-Four'. Which may give you a clue!

Reflections on Rio leave me feeling it may have passed its glory days?

I may be misjudging you, but I do not think you would immediately head to Benedorm for the bay, or the beach front? Rio is really not a million miles different visually. Most lists of the seven wonders of the world include modern Rio de Janiero but tend to skip Benedorm. I say the voting system was rigged.

Of course the hills do set Rio apart from the 'Dorm, Corcarvado with Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf mountain and the Two Brothers are impressive backdrops. I just can't help thinking it would be easy to make it a much safer feeling place.

our recommendation : Do stop over in Rio, don't wear your jewellery, enjoy the vibe, the music, the freedom of expression, the abundant body confidence and the Samba. Brazil has so much more to offer that is truely amazing, as we will discover in the next three weeks.