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Chris Lockwood world wanderer

May 30, 2016 by David Herd

Our intrepid traveller

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

 Chris Lockwood world wanderer over the years has been given many names, The claw & Dr Evil are two of the most popular, “Chick Magnet not quite as much. 🙂

An accomplished cricketer in his younger days in Sydney he was opening bat in a team captained by Tony Greig. After taking a spectacular slips catch off Greig’s bowling Tony shouted his praise but couldn’t remember Chris’s name so he labelled him “The Claw”.

Dr Evil is the name laid on him by yours truly the FiveStarVagabond. 🙂

The main purpose of this blog is to preserve his hilarious comments from his 2016 South American adventure. He is not big on photographs but writes a brilliant letter.

 Machu Picchu

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

The quintessential Machu Picchu pose.

March 13 2016.
Been trying to send this for a few days without success – can’t connect to iinet – going with plan b (there’s no plan c).
 
Buenos Nachos,  amigos.  Reached Buenos Aires after a long haul without any dramas. The clever guys at Port airport put me straight through even though it involved three flights booked on two separate tickets with two different airlines. Had three seats to myself next to the window on the longest leg, and then a window seat over the Andes – spectacular. I went straight through customs and then my bag was right in front of me when I got to the carousel. I thought to myself that my luck couldn’t continue – and I was right. Three ATMs rejected my card at the airport,  the banks were closed and there were no money exchangers. I went to the pre-paid taxi booth without a peso to my name – fortunately they took $ US. Then made a goose of myself with reception when I couldn’t open the hotel front door;  and then when I finally did find an ATM that would work, I withdrew what I thought was the equivalent of $200 only to find the $ symbol is also the symbol for the peso. I ended up with about $20 and paid almost as much again in ATM fees, charges, etc – rookie mistake. Then set a new record for getting off a hop on hop off bus when I was advised the English translation wasn’t working.
 
Met the rest of crew on my first trip last night after having spent two days in Argentina.  Our leaders name is Liza – she’s from Argentina,  and her English is such that if I listen very carefully I can understand every third word. She organised a team meeting for 7pm last night, followed by a group dinner (which was fabulous) for 8.30pm. I’m going to have to learn the Spanish for “sweetheart,  I’m in bed and sound asleep by 8.30pm!”. There are 8 of us on this trip – a couple and another guy from Canada, and five Aussies. There are five blokes and three girls, and I know you’ll ask Spo, so I’ll tell you now we’ve all been touched by the ugly stick – with some being absolutely hammered by it (repeatedly). As a whole, my overall impression of the group is that it falls somewhere between tepid and lacklustre.
 
Which brings me to my roommate,  John – from ‘south of Sydney’. I saw John checking in and although I didn’t know who he was at the time, I immediately pegged him as a pain in the arse. After having now spent five minutes in his company I have had to upgrade his status to that of complete and utter dickhead. He was moved into my room while I was out, and promptly took over. He has enough gear to have sunk the Titanic without the need to have involved the iceberg,  and it was spread over every inch of floor space. He was sitting at the only desk in the room typing on his computer, wearing nothing but his jocks – and had cables all over the room charging every piece of electrical equipment known to man.  And I don’t want to even talk about all the reggies hanging up in the bathroom.  And the trip hadn’t even started. Nonetheless,  being the enlightened individual that I am, I could have handled all that – except he just won’t shut the hell up – his gums haven’t stopped flapping from the moment I met him. He’s been there, done that, and knows friggin’ everything.  And to top it all off, last night he snored like a trooper and I had no sleep. He’s apparently married,  but his wife doesn’t like to travel. Of course she doesn’t – she gets her own holiday when he’s away. I may have to kill him.
 
Back to the trip. I actually thoroughly enjoyed Buenos Aires, and now we’re on a four hour ferry ride across the River Plate to Uruguay (where we spend three nights before returning to Argentina) – which has been great so far. Now if the dickhead would only fall overboard,  all would be right in the world (well, perhaps my putting could be fixed as well).
 
El Idioto Abroado (I’m learning Spanish)
 

Iguazu Falls

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

Here is Chris Lockwood world wanderer at the amazing Iguazu Falls, the are the most spectacular falls I have ever seen. Sadly I have not been to Niagara or Victoria falls to make a comparison, FiveStarVagabond.

March 15 2016.

Since last we met, simple reader (if there are any of you still out there that is), I spent a few days in Uruguay before returning to Argentina. Uruguay, and in particular Montevideo,  looked like it would have been something in its day, but to my expert eye I would estimate that that must have been about 50 years ago. We got there on the weekend,  and John the Dickhead was in a flap because he couldn’t find any of his plastic cards. He had $US, but all the banks were closed – of course muggins had to get out double and lend him some. He found his cards some days later in a special little container he’d bought so no-one could scan his cards – he’d forgotten he’d bought it. That caused great consternation that did. He’s lost shoes, reggies, money etc, yet seems to think he’s a cross between Bear Grylls and McGyver – I think it’s more likely he’s the love child of Donald Trump and Bronwyn Bishop. In Montevideo he looked the wrong way and a car had to screech to a stop with rubber burning – it came to a halt just touching his leg. The rest of us thought it was a shame it hadn’t been a bus. And he always has to borrow my travel adaptor because some genius told him South America was the same as Australia – seasoned traveller my arse.
 
We subsequently crossed back into Argentina (in total we’ve crossed into Argentina 5 times) and then had the option to visit some Jesuit ruins in Paraguay – another country to visit which was great, but my passport is filling up quickly.  The border crossing (at a river) was the most comical I have ever seen. They make remote African border crossings look almost efficient,  and the ‘car ferry’ across the river made the Settlement Point ferry look like the Spirit of Tasmania. There were more Jesuit ruins in Argentina – where I believe they made the movie The Mission with Robert De Niro – perhaps we could watch that one Monday movie night Mrs Hole?
 
And then we visited Iguazu Falls, where I had as good a two days as I’ve ever had on a tour. The falls are unbelievable and way superior to Victoria Falls (at least in my humble).
 
But enough of touring, I’m sure what you really want to know is what’s going on with the fruit loops I’m traveling with. Must say I am warming to most of them – in particular the Canadian couple are lovely, and one of the guys (born New Zealand but lived in Melbourne for 16 years – a real lose, lose) is good fun. Actually this guy (Paul) reckons if John the D mentions New Zealanders and sheep once more HE may kill him – a strategy I am actively encouraging.
 
Over discussions the other day re the hoops you had to jump through to get a Brazilian visa, the young Canadian guy stated that he hadn’t had to get one. Well of course he had – which meant our poor tour leader has been running madly around trying to sort it all out. The upshot is he hasn’t been with us for a few days (stuck in Argentina) but may catch up tomorrow. The rest of the group appear quite upset for him – but this is as basic a mistake as you can make. However, as you know I am nothing if not a sympathetic and supportive person by nature, so I think I have just faked sufficient empathy to appear as if I actually give a toss.
 
And our hard working tour leader is lovely, but not getting any easier to understand. Spanish speaking people obviously have trouble with their ‘j’s’ – even differentiating between something as simple as juice and shoes is hard for her. She was bemused the other day when she asked one of the girls over breakfast how her juice was – the resonse was they’re a bit tight and giving her blisters. She told us there was a remote chance we would see a shack-wah in the jungle around Iguazu Falls. It took quite a bit of discussion to determine she meant jaguar. As it turned out we didn’t see a jaguar, but we did see two fiats and a volkswagon (I hope you’re all keeping up with this).
 
And finally, and most importantly, thus far South American beer has been excellent – it is fairly cheap and is most often served in 1 litre bottles – wonderful! From here we travel to Sau Paulo where I am unlikely to leave the hotel room (reportedly one of the most dangerous cities in the world) and then on to Rio.
 
Ciao
EIAo
 
Paraty only 3 hours from Rio

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

 Paraty is one of my favourite places in Brazil,  FiveStarVagabond.

March 24 2016.

I am aware that there is still at least one devoted reader still reading this rubbish (thanks mum) so I will plough on.
 
The first leg of my journey has ended with three wonderful days in Rio de Janeiro – what a great city. Did all the touristy things – Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf mountain,  Copacabana and Ipanema beaches etc etc – and they were all just as fantastic as you see in the pictures.
 
Before getting there we spent a couple of days in Sao Paulo, apparently the fastest growing city in the world, and serious contender for being the largest. The two major industries there are robbery and murder. On the drive into the city we were stopped by the federal police who undertook a full search of the bus and all the luggage – presumably looking for drugs. When we got to our hotel we all just stood in the foyer waiting for our keys – and were advised to move further inside where it was safer. Our leader then gave us a detailed map of the city with the advice …. “zeez is a nice area, but don’t go there at night;  this is a very nice area, but don’t go there at night; and don’t go to zeez area at all”.
 
Brazil is made up of many different nationalities, and Paul (New Zealand/Melbourne) and I thought we could inconspicuously venture out (in broad daylight) and sightsee while blending in with the local population. That was until John (the D) decided to tag along (we’d tried desperately hard to shake him) – he strapped on the world’s biggest back pack, hung the world’s biggest camera around his neck, and literally topped it off by wearing a large floppy dayglo orange hat on his noggin with matching bright orange draw string pulled tightly (but not tight enough) – to cap it all off the front was turned back just like Gilligan’s. He may as well have carried a sign around saying ‘get your free throat slitting practice here’. While we were in a park taking some photos of an impressive fountain (which would have been more impressive had it been working and not covered in graffiti) police swooped and rounded up five blokes and a girl. It was only 20 yards from us but happened so quickly and quietly that we didn’t see or hear a thing. We just turned around and saw all six baddies having assumed the position and being frisked. We left as the handcuffs were coming out. We also went up to the 40th floor of an old office building with a view over the city (and because it was free between 4 and 5). I can’t describe how immense and amazing this city is – the view was breathtaking.
 
The next and last stop before Rio was the small touristy town of Parati – which was lovely. We had a great day sailing around the islands and swimming in the warm water – the only dampener was J the D presumably thinking he looked attractive in budgie smugglers.
 
And so ends the first half of the holiday. I have really enjoyed Brazil – the only problem is they speak Portuguese here. I had completely mastered the Spanish of the other countries visited (much grassyarse, si, amigo, etc) but struggled a bit here. For example, a couple of times it sounded to me like I’d been called a douche bag – I can only assume that means sexy in Portuguese.
 
The crew also turned out pretty good on the whole. And being the weak, miserable buggrr that I am, all my character assassinations of J the D were naturally done behind his back – so he thought we parted the best of mates. Sometimes my insincerity embarrasses even me.
 
This trip has been excellent and I really hope the next one can be just as good – it starts in Lima tomorrow. I understand they speak Spanish there – woohoo (Spanish for you beauty).
Rio de Janeiro

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

 Copacabana beach babes are among the sexiest girls in the world,  FiveStarVagabond.

Christ the Redeemer” on Corcovado mountain

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

Certainly one of the most recognizable statues in the world.

Absolutely breathtaking vista

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

There is no better view anywhere on Earth than Sugarloaf mountain in Rio de Janeiro,  FiveStarVagabond.

March 29 2016.

You would never have made it to Peru, Wappo! I flew from Rio to Limo via Sao Paulo, ie domestic and then international flight. When I checked in at Rio the guy fart arsed about on his computer with my ticket and passport for about 10 minutes, before calling over to the girl at the next counter. She came over, looked at the computer and then called over another woman. She came over, had a look, they all babbled something in Double Dutch – then she got on the phone. She printed something, then took off. I asked my guy if there was a problem. “No problem Mr Christopher” he said. “Pig’s arse”, I thought. The lady eventually comes back, there’s much chat and playing with the computer, and then she’s back on the phone. Then they have another chat and play, and voila, tickets start printing. “Thank you for your patience Mr Christopher, here is your ticket to Sao Paulo”. No, no, no – for the 100th time I’m going to Lima. I’m advised they can’t put me straight through – I have to get off, get my bag, go to another terminal, and check in – I’m advised the 85 minutes I have between flights ‘iz plenty of time’. Despite flying South America’s equivalent of Air Asia the plane arrives on time. Now baggage from a plane at Port gets wheeled in on a trolley and you grab your bag off that trolley – at Sao P (remember, one of the largest cities in the world) I have to find my bag at carousel 206. Sherlock Holmes would have had trouble locating carousel 206! Having retrieved my poor old bag I had to work out how to find the international terminal – that was more a task of Einstein-like proportions. 40 minutes later I’m at the LAN check in counter. Now Spo, you know my poor old back pack – it’s been all over the world, travelling at least once every year for 13 years – I conservatively estimate it has been checked in at flight counters at least 50 times. But now the miserable so and so behind the counter told me my little back pack, which weighed in at a staggering 12.1 kilos, was oversized! There were bags the size of grand pianos going along the conveyor belt behind her, but my 12.1 kgs was oversized. I knew all the smooth sailing on the way over would come back to bite me on the bum. She told me to take it to the second yellow doorway ‘over there’, and pointed over her shoulder. All I could see ‘over there’ was a million people – and to make matters worse, I didn’t know what colour yellow was in Portuguese. I asked every person who looked even remotely like an official where to find this place and finally found the woman operating the x-ray equipment for big bags. There were packages the size of volkswagon beetles lying around, so it was no wonder she looked at me like I was a king-sized creton when I threw my bag on the belt. Don’t look at me, lady – go and talk to the cow at the appropriately lettered check in counter F. I finally made it to the gate as they were boarding, but in desperate need of a clean pair of underwear.
 
So, into Lima, Peru where I needed transport to my hotel after clearing customs at just before midnight. My trip notes advised “preferably don’t travel alone by taxi, particularly late at night”. Give me a break! Anyway, as Fronk would say, to cut a short story long, I finally made it and met my travelling companions the next evening. There’s 13 on this trip plus our leader. As you well know Spo, I don’t like people much, so 13 is more than I would prefer – we’ll see how it pans out. The leader is a Brit and is very good. My new roommate is Paul (from London and not the Paul from the last trip, who was a good guy and great to travel with. I have to say that because he’s been cc’d into this email – please disregard any derogatory comments I may have inadvertently made in respect of him in the past) – he’s also quite a nice bloke and good to travel with. Naturally he has his foibles,  but I guess I’ll just have accept that not everyone can attain the impeccably high roommate standards that I set. Only a couple of small bells going off with the group thus far – an old couple (meaning older than me) from Canberra and a young Indian couple (Punjab,  not Red) living in London. Mrs Canberra is Asian and I’ll be buggered if I can find out her name – from what I’ve ascertained to date I think it’s Bung Lung – anyway, she’s one of those who has to be first all the time. Hence when we’re being shown something, no-one can see because she’s in the way – and you can’t get a photo without her noggin being in it. Mrs India is quite pushy and bossy and is always 5 minutes late for everything – we’re always waiting for her and she obviously doesn’t give a bugger. Mr India is a nice quiet guy – they both seem happy enough at the moment, but I predict a long, hard road ahead for him.
 
Ok, to the trip. From Lima we flew to Cusco – which is a wonderful former old pre-Incan, Incan and Spanish town. The next day we visited Machu Picchu – an incredible sight that was not done justice by my $79 Dick Smith camera special. It was voted in as one of the seven new wonders of the world (Machu Picchu, not my camera)- I understand you came in 8th Wappo.
 
The next day we visited the Sacred Valley and some more amazing ruins, although we all agreed by then that we were Inca’d out. We have since driven to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. I am actually doing this while on a boat having visited reed islands inhabited by some of the local indigenous population,  and then another island for lunch – with a real Greek Island feel – one of the best days of the holiday so far.
 
Have eaten Alpaca and Guinea Pig in Peru, and next we go to Bolvia – where I understand we can try Llama (at least that’s what they tell us we’re eating). The alpaca was really good, but the guinea pig was all bone – there was no meat at all. In hindsight it was a shame to kill the poor little critter. Some of the woman were appalled, eg “how can you eat them, they’re so cute”. C’mon girls – grow some balls like I hope to do one day. If I can be bothered, next time I’ll tell you about the people – I’m not saying they’re short Spo, but you’d look like a Harlem Globetrotter on stilts over here.
 
Ciao ciao for now now, amigos.
Crisso
Santa Cruz Bolivia

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

Seeing that I have no photos from Chris from his visit to Bolivia you will just have to settle for some of mine, just follow THIS LINK.

April 6 2016.

Crossed into Chile a few days ago after a three day 4WD adventure through the salt flats and deserts of Bolivia. We slept in dorms sleeping up to 6, there were no showers or electricity – and I don’t know how they could call those things you did your ‘business’ in toilets. Three people got ferried out early with tummy bugs and altitude issues, and several others had to really struggle to get through. Overall though it was amazing – we saw some unbelievable scenery including huge salt flats, geysers, volcanoes, mountain ranges etc. There was an island in the middle of the salt flats covered in giant plants which we were told were cactus – but they looked healthy enough to me (my travelling companions didn’t think it was funny either). I thoroughly enjoyed it – but you were probably better off at home. Unfortunately Bung Lung was not one affected by any illness (neither was your travelling hero – but then again I didn’t go to the toot for a week). She even manages to completely block photos of whole mountain ranges. And she’s added repeating everything our leader says and asking insightful questions to her repertoire, eg ‘how come the sky is so blue here’, and ‘is water in a glacial lake cold’ – for goodness sake. Mrs India (who I’ve subsequently found out is Mrs Mauritius,  but will remain Mrs India for the duration of this trip because it’s easier to spell) was one who got crook but battled on, which was a bugger for the poor hubby – he had to be doctor, nurse and slave – although he already was the latter. The poor bastard may as well neck himself now – if he’s a good Hindu he’s bound to come back as some high caste after the misery he’s going to suffer in this life.
 
Since Cusco we have been at altitudes of over 3,400 metres – it really does take your breath away. Being 5’10.5″ I’m used to high altitudes, but you would have needed oxygen, Spo.
 
Anyway, we first travelled into Bolivia via the city of La Paz – yet another amazing place. Set in a cauldron-like environment,  it is a maze of narrow, winding streets, and overlooked by a huge snow covered mountain. The people here are all about 3’6″ tall – and the women 3’5″ wide. This is because wide hips are supposed to be attractive here – in their defence they apparently wear up to 10 peticoats to achieve this effect (or so I’m told). They also wear little bowler hats – the positioning on their noggins apparently telling of their marital status. From there we flew (and apparently my bag has shrunk because it wasn’t oversized) to Uyuni (pronounced uni, as in university) – and now we were really in the middle of nowhere. This is the area that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid finally met their comeuppance – after first robbing the banks at La Paz and Uyuni. They’re not worth robbing now – this is one pretty poor country. From Uyuni  we started on our little 4WD adventure. During this trip we reached heights of 5000 metres – and at that height we had a pre-dawn get up to see some geysers at sunrise. The brochure said to take a sweater because it can get cold at altitude. Cold!!! It was -6 degrees – I almost had to wear socks with my thongs and pretend I was European.
 
In La Paz we had the option to do something called the Death Road bike ride. Now Wasp, as you know death and bikes are just two of many things that I try to avoid. However, my roommate Paul did show some interest. I tried to encourage his participation because I would have had our room to myself had he not made it back. I think I had him until I asked if I could have his u-beaut travel adaptor on news of his demise. One girl in our group did do it, and ended up going over handle bars, knocking herself out, and badly grazing her face. Paul was one of those driven out of the salt flats early ’cause he was crook. He only missed the one night – but that was the night I had to sleep in a dorm with 5 others. Karma is a bitch!
 
Since then we crossed into Chile, where conditions changed dramatically – nice beds, hot showers, electricity,  wi fi – and costs comparable to Australia.
 
Both trips have been fantastic, but this one has been far the more adventurous – I’m going to need a holiday when I get back. This group has been ok, but can be catagorised into two groups – nice people like me, and boring ones (not like me). The boring ones include Mr Lung who is a geologist – we had to stop every five minutes during our 4WD trip so he could photo rock formations, and then explain to Bung the difference between granite and sedimentary rocks, how this and that were formed etc. I think they’re a good pair, because they’ve both got rocks in the head. And I must say my roommate Paul has been good company and fun to travel with – as I say, I MUST say this, because he also wishes to be cc’d into this rubbish. And he’d better send me the good photos he took on his better than $79 camera, or I’ll tell what I really think of him.
 
And after congratulating myself for finishing the last trip without providing John the Dickhead with any contact information, I received an email from him. He apparently got our email addresses from the company we are travelling with. His emails are as endearing as he was. He is a vet, and his last message gave a long and detailed account of how he returned to work only to deal with a constipated dog. The dog wasn’t the only one full of shit.
 
I have now flown into Santiago – at least I did, my poor old bag didn’t. To cut a very, very long story short, it turned up 8 or 9 hours later. I can’t be bothered going in to these details now – suffice to say you’re all going to hear about it when I get back – so brace yourselves. Santiago looks a pretty good city from first glance. Tomorrow we go to a Chilean winery, which should be fun. I know some seem to really like wine from Chile, but I’ve always felt it tasted like paint stripper – will put it to the test in the morning.
 
And that’s it for 2016. Next year, dear reader/s, we’re off to Russia and Eastern Europe – and the good news is the Wasp will be re-joining me. That means I will have someone to pick on, rather than having to be nice to everyone as I have been on this trip. So Wappo, I’ll see you at the airport on Saturday and I’m good for lunch Monday; Chew-me and KJH, I’ll be back for footy night on Monday; I believe Fronk is going or has gone away, so coffees will have to be suspended, and mummy, I’ll be around Wednesday to pick up ‘our’ car – and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to 3 or 4 putting the first at Port on Thursday.
 
Hasta la vista, babies
El Cristobel
Uno Idioto Abroado
Back home in Port Macquarie

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

Well all good things must come to an end as did Chris’s amazing adventure. It’s a shame my brother Warren known widely as “El Wappo” chickened out on this journey. Then again after reading about the frantic pace of this holiday El Wappo aka “Half Shot” may not have survived. 🙂

Chris aka The Claw, aka Dr Evil, aka Chick Magnet (well not so much really) should be applauded for his colourful and enlightening prose re-produced in this Chris Lockwood world wanderer travel blog. He should also be applauded on how quickly he mastered both the Portuguese and Spanish language, FiveStarVagabond.

Did I mention chick magnet?

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

Well here is the proof from 2010 with a bunch of babes, 2 Canadians, 1 Irish, 1 English, 1 Welsh and 1 Aussie – Chris said & I quote “I’m sure you’ll be shocked to know that not one of them showed the slightest bit of interest in me whatsoever!”

In fact it was after seeing this classic photo that I gave Chris the nickname of “Dr Evil”.

That’s all folks

Chris Lockwood world wanderer

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For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

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Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

April 17, 2016 by David Herd

View from my apartment

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

 Copacabana Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s great beaches. This is my sixth visit to this fabulous city, my rented apartment is right across the road from the beach.

Copacabana Beach Rio de Janeiro, say no more.

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

These two look like they mean business.

Alan Austin and his wife Renata

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Alan & I met in Rio and became very good friends, unfortunately the following year he ran into some problems with the English authorities and I now he lives in England.

It’s now 2018 & after 11.5 years as a guest of Her Majesty Alan will be a free man in August.

Shenanigans Ipanema

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Monday nights here there are lots of specials and the place gets really crowded. The guy in the red shirt is Alan’s Las Vegas friend Jay.

Two dozen oysters = two days food poisoning

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

I was totally out of it for 48 hours after eating these oysters on the beach.

The Evil eye

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

The look on his face should have warned me about eating his oysters. He even had madman printed on his cap. 🙂

The girl from Copacabana

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

I was relaxing on the beach when this vision appeared in front of me. I have never been one to let a golden opportunity pass so I brushed up on my social skills and introduced myself. Her name was Mel and she came from neighbouring Niteroi. Lo & behold within an hour we were in my apartment making mad passionate love. This certainly was one on the best days of my trip. ?

Mel from Niteroi

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Mel is around 6′ tall with amazing green eyes, a total knock out. It is 2015 and I still have her photo on a shelf in my condo. ?

How about those fabulous eyes?

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

I have to admit the fact that Mel spoke no English did not bother me at all. 🙂

John, an Aussie guy who owned “The Office” restaurant.

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

John was an Aussie guy from Sydney and we swapped many stories about people we knew and knew of, mainly well known Sydney gangsters. ?   The following year John in fact was abducted by Brazilian gangsters who forced him to go to his home in Angra Dos Rios and pen his safe which they cleaned out.

Copacabana eye candy

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

One of the best locations on Earth for gorgeous females.


Late afternoon at Copacabana

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Looking down from my apartment you can see the shadows staring to creep across the beach.

Kiosks on Copacabana

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Every 50 meters along the beach there is a kiosk where you can buy a beer or a hamburger and watch the passing parade.

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Copacabana beach babes are among the sexiest girls in the world. My photo blogs with the most visits involve Brazilian babes so I thought I would add to the collection with samples from my 2 months in Rio from December 2007 to February 2008.

Making a splash

Copacabana beach babes

There is no better place in the world to see beautiful beach babes than Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro.

Nice hat

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Hat, what hat, I don’t see a hat?

 Now can you see a hat?

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Is this a trick question? Who looks at hats on Copacabana beach?

The sea was angry that day my friends.

Copacabana beach babes

You don’t often see big waves at Copacabana but this particular day the surf was quite rough. In fact it was new years eve 2007 and Copacabana was preparing for a crowd of 2 million people.

Smile for the camera

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Brazilians absolutely love the beach, check out my most popular blog here.

Ah! The colours of Brazil.

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Are you aware Brazil’s Primary colours are green and yellow? Just saying…………

Time for a lunch break

Copacabana beach babes

The prawns are very good however I was laid low for 48 hours after eating 2 dozen oysters on the beach. ?

 Two pretty girls

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

All you need is a camera on Copacabana because the talent is unlimited. ?

 Look closely you may see a tattoo

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Tattoo? I don’t see a tattoo.

No tattoos here

NYE Copacabana

A fabulous body like this does not need any tattoos.

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

David Herd Thailand All my friends who know and love Rio will remember the wonderful times we had at “HELP” nightclub on Avenue Atlantica. Many thanks for visiting my Copacabana Rio de Janeiro photo blog, without any doubt in the world “you gotta love Rio”.

Rio was part of a fabulous world trip starting in Sydney and finishing in Bangkok.

                        Here are some more posts to check out
 

       Zagreb Croatia                      Rio de Janeiro                  Brisbane River 

Zagreb Croatia bars restaurants        a7ff7566-9628-434d-a2b1-8c6e8b9a9021       IMG_0100

       

     Koh Samui                                   Korea                                  London

32780a6c-baf6-428a-bd71-68b1bed30b4c         Changdeokgung Palace (2)        IMG_7042

         Bangkok                                   Osaka                                     Pattaya

Soi Cowboy (25)          Osaka 1st night (17)       Walking St Pattaya is wild & sexy 

                                     

             Chiang Mai                      Pattaya                      Chao Phraya river

Chiang Mai with Tone        9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)   191de3bb-38fc-45cd-bce7-ef24081c554b

 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

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Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

April 23, 2015 by David Herd

Around the World again.

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok was a fantastic trip in 2003. Add to this two visits to Vietnam, 3 times to Thailand, Singapore and a 13,000 km road trip through Australia’s outback. Overall one of my most frantic years for travel and fun was certainly 2003.

The photo above is Copacabana Beach with Sugarloaf mountain in the distance.

 This it not part of my travel blog, just part of my personal photo & travel history from 2003. Mainly revolving around the many people who helped make it another fantastic year of travel.

My friends in Copacabana

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 

These were very happy Times in Copacabana in 2003, from the left is Doug Rourke, (RIP) Marcelli, Dave Wylie, Dave Sommer (RIP) Tatiane and I forget the last guys name. 🙂

Carla at Copacabana

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 

The most magnificent colour skin I have ever seen.

CopacabanabeachNov2003-124      CopacabanabeachNov2003-128

CopacabanabeachNov2003-121      CopacabanabeachNov2003-123

 

I often wonder where she is now.

Lunch with Jackie at Mea Pataca

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 

A regular spot opposite the beach.

Mea Pataca restaurant in Copacabana

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 

This seafood soup was fantastic.

Angra dos Reis

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 Today, because of its beautiful beaches and nearby regions, the municipality has become a focal point for tourism – not only state wide but on a national scale also. Within the municipality are over three hundred islands, many of them owned by national and international celebrities. Distance from Rio de Janeiro: 168 km; São Paulo: 411 km.

Angra dos Reis

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 

An interesting place to get away for a quiet weekend.

 Buzios

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

Two hours north of Rio de Janeiro is Buzios.  In the early 1900s  Búzios was popular with the Carioca’s high society, who wanted to escape from the chaotic city life of Rio de Janeiro and enjoy over 23 beaches that the peninsula offers.

Beautiful Brigitte

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 

It wasn’t until 1964, when the famous French Actress Brigitte Bardot visited Búzios, that it grew to be a popular tourist destination.

Buzios

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 Búzios is located at 105 miles NE from the city of Rio de Janeiro, about a 2 hour drive from that city. You come to a fork in the road, straight ahead for Cabo Frio and left for Buzios.

Tin man at Copacabana

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 

One of the great Copacabana characters. 

Copacabana Palace

cb365177-d84f-46fe-8f8a-410426d4bef0

 

The most famous hotel in Rio.

Dinner at the Palace

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

I took these cute Scandinavian girls to dinner at the Palace, cost me a bloody fortune. 🙂

Does my bum look big in this?

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

Definitely not. 🙂

The last of the Rio shots before checking out Santiago.

67cc44ee-2108-4fe2-9718-9b19df48b996               09e95742-0570-412a-8dfd-3220e0970e7c (1)

909b5d98-1cc4-4514-bd87-ffdb71aee57d               4aaaa571-3806-4033-9324-0cdb27b2f88f

 Valparaiso on the coast of Chili

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

I was not too impressed with Santiago, I really preferred Valparaiso.

Valparaiso

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

Valparaiso central Chile about 100 kilometers from Santiago. I bet this fantastic house has been photographed millions of times, perched on the edge of a sheer drop you would not want to be a sleep walker. This is one of the escalators (Ascensores) connecting the harbour area to the hills, and the building is the restaurant Las Brujas.

Statue from Easter island in Vina del Mar

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

Vina del Mar is just to the north of Valparaiso.

Downtown Santiago.

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

I only spent two nights in Santiago and must admit I was not too impressed. I found it a fairly dull city overall, unlike Valparaiso and Vina del Mar which are more to my liking. However when it comes to drinking wine Chile has some wonderful examples. Although I live in Thailand most of the wine I drink here comes from Chile.

Barcelona

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 Old Customs building beside the harbour.

La Rambla

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 La Rambla is a street  popular with tourists and locals alike. A tree-lined pedestrian mall, it stretches for 1.2 kilometres connecting Plaça de Catalunya in the centre with the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell.

Casa Mil

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera, is one of Gaudí’s main residential buildings and one of the most imaginative houses in the history of architecture.  This building is more a sculpture than a building.  The façade is a varied and harmonious mass of undulating stone that, along with its forged iron balconies, explores the irregularities of the natural world.  UNESCO recognized this building as World Heritage in 1984.

Final stop Thailand

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

Koh Chang is the 2nd largest island in Thailand and is located near the border of Cambodia.

My friend from Beijing

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 

In September 2002 I met Mable in Beijing and we enjoyed a nice time together. Consequently I sent her a ticket to meet me in Thailand and we spent time in Pattaya, Koh Chang and Bangkok.

Mable at the Sabai Lodge

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

It is now 2015 and from my balcony in Pattaya I look down on the pool at the Sabai Lodge in Soi 2, a very good low price hotel.

Chinese ladies don’t like direct sun. 🙂

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

                               Thanks for visiting my Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok photo blog.
                   
                   Here are some more posts to check out 

 

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 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
                        Please check out these fabulous posts
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Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
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    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
                                         Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Atlantic bar Pattaya

Santiago Brazil Barcelona Bangkok

 

Ah! Thankfully some things never change in Thailand. 🙂

 

Jump ahead to 2005  Rio Carnival

That’s all folks

Beckington Trowbridge

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Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure 2006

April 16, 2015 by David Herd

Another magic world trip

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure 

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure 2006

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure 2006, once again my journey began with a flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney in October 2006,  before arriving in Rio de Janeiro.

I flew to Teresina to meet a friend and her family then continued on to Forteleza and Belem. After Brazil I flew to Italy hired a car and headed for Portofino, San Gimignano, Vinci and Florence.

A friend in Sydney hosted a dinner at his hotel with several friends, great food and 2 very sexy waitresses.

This it not part of my travel blog, just part of my personal photo & travel history from 2006. Mainly revolving around the many people who helped make it another memorable year.

Freeway Hotel Crayfish

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

Crayfish? I can’t see any Crayfish. 🙂

Peter plays it cool

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

The following day I missed my Qantas flight to Rio through a mix up with the airline. I had to purchase another ticket, luckily a couple of months later Qantas reimbursed my original ticket.

A terrific night

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

 

GREAT FOOD, GOOD WINE & HOT BABES, WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT?

 Copacabana Beach Rio de Janeiro, say no more.

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

 

These two look like they mean business.

Alan Austin and his wife Renata

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure 2006

Alan & I met in Rio and became very good friends, unfortunately the following year he ran into some problems with the English authorities and I now visit him every year in various English prisons.

Shenanigans Ipanema

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

Monday nights here there are lots of specials and the place gets really crowded. The guy in the red shirt is Alan’s Las Vegas friend Jay.


The girl from Copacabana

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

  I was relaxing on the beach when this vision appeared in front of me. I have never been one to let a golden opportunity pass so I brushed up on my social skills and introduced myself. Her name was Mel and she came from neighbouring Niteroi. Lo & behold within an hour we were in my apartment making mad passionate love. This certainly was one on the best days of my trip. 🙂  

Mel from Niteroi

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure   

Mel is around 6′ tall with amazing green eyes, a total knock out. It is 2015 and I still have her photo on a shelf in my condo. 🙂  

John, an Aussie guy who owned “The Office” restaurant.

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

John was an Aussie guy from Sydney and we swapped many stories about people we knew and knew of, mainly well known Sydney gangsters. 🙂   The following year John in fact was abducted by Brazilian gangsters who forced him to go to his home in Angra Dos Rios and pen his safe which they cleaned out.  

Cabo Frio

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

Here is my friend Renilda, she lives at Cabo Frio near Buzios with her son and lots of pet dogs. We met in 1999 on Copacabana beach and have had a lot of fun together. I have not seen her since I took this photo in 2006 but I hope we meet again one day.

Sueli and Silmarinha Oliveira

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

I actually met Sueli online so on my way to Fortaleza I decided to stop at Teresina to meet her and her lovely family.

The whole family in Terisina

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure 2006  

Here is the lovely family.

Fortaleza on the north Coast

  Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

Fortaleza is in the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.3 million (metropolitan region over 3.4 million), Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil.  Fortaleza is one of the three leading cities in the Northeast region together with Recife and Salvador. The city will be one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, for which Brazil is the host nation.  

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

164 kilometers from Fortaleza is Canoa Quebrada.

Canoa Quebrada

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

 

We rode in a beach buggy  along the beautiful long beaches and wandered through the amazing coloured sands of  Canoa Quebrada.  

Belem at the mouth of the mighty Amazon

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure 2006

Such a beautiful face, (of course I mean the girl) these two were dancers on a cruise I took on the Amazon.  

The catch of the day

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

Belem is at the mouth of the Amazon river which represents more than half the planet’s remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world. Founded in 1616 by the Kingdom of Portugal, Belém was the first European colony on the Amazon but did not become part of Brazil until 1775. The newer part of the city has modern buildings and skyscrapers. The colonial portion retains the charm of tree-filled squares, churches and traditional blue tiles. The city has a rich history and architecture from colonial times. Recently it witnessed a skyscraper boom.  

Old man of the sea

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

 

By now his skin must be like leather.

2.30 am flight Belem to Rio

 Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

Ah! Copacabana I have missed you so much. 🙂  

Lets not forget Ipanema.

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

 

Ipanema is even more beautiful than Copacabana.

Lets have one last look at Mel

  Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

This is the photo I still have in my room today in 2016.  

Transit at Madrid

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

 

Changing planes in Madrid on my my to Italy.

Francesca in Florence

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

  Here is my friend Francesca, I was lucky enough to be able to crash on her couch for a few days.  

The Old Bridge Florence

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

  Certainly one of the most famous landmarks in this great city.  

Great Pizza in Florence

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure 2006

People queue every night to get into this tiny restaurant in Florence, the chef is from Naples and only has 3 choices on the menu, all magnificent.

Ines from Rio de Janeiro

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

Ines is the daughter of my friend Reni from Cabo Frio, she was in Florence at the same time as I was. Francesca cooked dinner while we chatted about old times in Rio.

 Beautiful San Gimignano

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

San Gimignano is famous for its Medieval village architecture, unique in the preservation of about a dozen of its tower houses, which, with its hilltop setting and encircling walls form “an unforgettable skyline”

 San Gimignano

  Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

What a wonderful Italian village.

Lunch in Portofino

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

  When you visit Portofino make sure you have your credit card, seafood soup 26 Euros.  Maybe they charged me extra because I was dressed so upmarket. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Fabulous cheeky Portofino

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

    If you own a nice boat the babes will come. 🙂

Club Med yacht.

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

Club Med 2 is a five-masted computer-controlled sailing ship owned and operated by Club Med and operated as a cruise ship. It combines the power of seven computer-operated sails with more traditional diesel-electric power, having four diesel generators that power two electric motors.  

 Arriving in Bangkok

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure 2006

  My gorgeous friend Cleo who I catch up with every time I am in Bangkok.  

The boys at Honey pot in Pattaya

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

  Let the games begin, I’m back in Pattaya. 🙂  

Brazil Italy Thailand

Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure

Thanks for visiting my Brazil Italy Thailand post, it really was another incredible around the world trip.

                           Here are some more posts to check out 

         Zagreb Croatia                      Rio de Janeiro                  Brisbane River 

Zagreb Croatia bars restaurants        a7ff7566-9628-434d-a2b1-8c6e8b9a9021       IMG_0100

       

     Koh Samui                                   Korea                                  London

32780a6c-baf6-428a-bd71-68b1bed30b4c         Changdeokgung Palace (2)        IMG_7042

         Bangkok                                   Osaka                                     Pattaya

Soi Cowboy (25)          Osaka 1st night (17)       Walking St Pattaya is wild & sexy 

                                     

             Chiang Mai                      Pattaya                      Chao Phraya river

Chiang Mai with Tone        9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)   191de3bb-38fc-45cd-bce7-ef24081c554b

 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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California Miami Rio Carnival

April 15, 2015 by David Herd

It all started in Sydney

California Miami Rio Carnival

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok, it all started in Sydney in January 2005. Next stop was San Francisco, on to Miami before flying down to Rio de Janeiro. Make no mistake Rio Carnival is the greatest show on Earth. I then met my friend Simone in Natal in North East Brazil, we travelled 300 kms by taxi to Recife stopping at Praia da Pippa for a few days on the way.

I said au revoir to Brazil where it was 35 degrees and flew to Paris to be greeted by a temperature of 3 degrees,

My Sydney friends

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Lunch with friends at Wildfire restaurant at Sydney’s Circular Quay.

Aquarium of the Bay.

California Miami Rio Carnival

Aquarium of the Bay is a public aquarium located at Embarcadero and Beach Street, at the edge of Pier 39 in San Francisco, California. The Aquarium is focused on local aquatic animals from the San Francisco Bay and neighbouring waters.

David Herd at Fisherman’s wharf

California Miami Rio Carnival

Lunch at Fisherman’s wharf is a “must do” in SFC. 

How many movies has this Miami deli been in?

California Miami Rio Carnival

The Architectural District (also known as Old Miami Beach Historic District, and the more popular term, Miami Art Deco District) is a U.S. historic district (designated as such on May 14, 1979) located in the South Beach neighbourhood of Miami Beach, Florida. The district is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Sixth Street to the south, Alton Road to the west, the Collins Canal and Dade Boulevard to the north. It contains 960 historic buildings. In 1989, it was listed in A Guide to Florida’s Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press.

South Beach Miami

California Miami Rio Carnival

The fabulous art deco towers are unique examples of this form of architecture, they along the eight and a half mile stretch of  Beach. All told there are twenty five towers guarding those who use the beach. At once functional and decorative, they contribute beautifully to the overall aesthetic of this Floridian resort city. A great example of Art Deco South Beach Miami.  

Welcome to Rio David

California Miami Rio Carnival We have been waiting for you all year, where have you been. 🙂 The beautiful on the left is Samantha, her blonde girlfriend was around 6′ tall.

David Herd with the bird.

California Miami Rio CarnivalI’m at a big warehouse where they store many of the Carnival characters and floats.  

The Sambadrome

California Miami Rio Carnival

The Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí is centre stage of Rio Carnival, the host venue of the annual parade of Samba Schools. It is important to note that Rio Carnival, popularized around the world as the greatest party on the planet,is about much more than drinking and partying. At its heart, Carnival is an exhilarating combination of competition and camaraderie as organizations called Samba Schools battle for the title of Rio Carnival Samba Parade Champions. For Cariocas, the local residents of Rio de Janeiro, is a time to show the world the product of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication. All the magic ofRio Carnival — the beats, songs, dances, floats and costumes — are the product of well-orchestrated machines called Samba Schools.

Meanwhile out on the street

California Miami Rio Carnival

  The whole city goes crazy for Carnival, this was my 2nd experience, I returned in 2008 for my 3rd Carnival.  

Copacabana beach

  California Miami Rio CarnivalThere are many reasons to love Copacabana, this is one of them. 🙂  

 Dave Sommer RIP

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris BangkokTwo of my friends from 2005 are not with us anymore,  Dave Sommer  lived & worked in Sao Paulo,  Sadly he was brutally murdered on January 11 2015. I remember the great day we spent together visiting the Samba school with his girlfriend, they were both preparing to participate in the parade.

Doug Roarke also passed away

California Miami Rio CarnivalDoug Roarke was a lovely guy who lived life to the max, after battling a long illness he passed away around 2007. Danielle was his gorgeous long time girlfriend in Rio. I remember sitting in a bar in Rio Di Janeiro with Dave Wylie & Doug Roarke, (RIP) and when I asked what was their favourite place in Brazil, Doug briefly considered the question before saying “Praia de Pipa”. Until that moment I had never heard of the place, but on Doug’s recommendation I planned my trip. Pipa Beach quickly became one of my favourite places in the world.

 Praia de Pipa

  California Miami Rio Carnival Paris BangkokThis will always be one of my favourite photos at one of my favourite places.  

Fresh for dinner tonight

  California Miami Rio Carnival Paris BangkokFresh fish, what fresh fish? I don’t see any fresh fish. 🙂  

Ah! here is the fish straight out of the ocean

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Fresh fish and lots of chips.

Simone Cristina Oliveira

  California Miami Rio Carnival  My lovely travelling companion Simone Cristina Oliveira was living in Uberlândia in Minas Gerais at the time, she now works at a bank in Sao Paulo, after all these years we still keep in touch on Facebook.  

The coast around Pipa.

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Towns built on sandy soil.

Low tide at Pipa

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Low tide and the children play.

Happy hour? In Pipa it’s always happy hour.
California Miami Rio Carnival

Local Pipa bar.

 Morro do Careca (Bald Hill) Ponta Negra.

  California Miami Rio Carnival Ponta Negra is close to Natal about 80 kilometres from Pipa.    

The beautiful city of Olinda.

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok Olinda is a city in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco. It hosts one of Brazil’s most famous carnivals and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its XVI and XVII-century buildings. Many bars, restaurants, artist and craftspeople studios add charm to the old-town setting. Olinda is just across the river from Recife.

My friend Simone & her cousin Pedro

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Sightseeing in Olinda.

California Miami Rio Carnival Recife

California Miami Rio CarnivalA big modern city in the north east corner of Brazil, Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the country with 3,743,854 inhabitants.

California Miami Rio Carnival Porto de Galinhas

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris BangkokThe origin of the name is well known. Porto de Galinhas means “Port of Chickens” in Portuguese. In the second half of the 19th century, the Brazilian government imposed restrictions to the commerce of slaves, which were widely used as manpower in the sugarcane farms around Recife to circumvent the prohibition, the “black ships” (which transported slaves from Africa to Brazil) looked for other places to harbor, far from Recife.One such place was in the bays around Suape and Ipojuca, about 60 km to the South ofRecife. When a ship arrived in town, as it was prohibited to mention slavery, the word spread as “there are new chickens in the port”; hence, the place gained its name Porto de Galinhas.

Porto de Galinhas

California Miami Rio Carnival

This city was a real surprise packet.

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok Farewell Brazil, hello Paris, as I said earlier  Brazil  was 35 degrees and I flew to Paris to be greeted by a temperature of 3 degrees. Here is my friend Malvina who I originally met in 1999 in Mexico City.

Dinner with Australian friends

California Miami Rio CarnivalI met up with Gavin & Cheryl Kernot in Paris and we spent a few days wining and dining. Cheryl was a very well known Australian politician who enjoyed red wine from Bordeaux  almost as much as I. 🙂

Did I mention how bloody cold it was in Paris? 🙂
California Miami Rio Carnival

What a shock 3 degrees after enjoying 35 degrees in Brazil.

Get me to Thailand in a hurry please.

  California Miami Rio Carnival Paris BangkokAt last I’m back in Bangkok, you can now call me the spy who came in from the cold. 🙂   

I feel right at home

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Nana Paza Bangkok, let the games begin.

Sade - Smooth Operator 1984

Next stop Pattaya

California Miami Rio Carnival Hi David, where have you been? Your car is waiting.  

Greg Clee at Heaven Above in Walking St

California Miami Rio Carnival Greg is an Aussie who is the major shareholder in Heaven Above go go bar, always has a good venue for young go go dancers. Coincidentally when I moved to Thailand in 2011 we lived in adjacent apartments at Markland Condo in Beach Rd.  

Walking Street Pattaya.
California Miami Rio Carnival
Thanks for visiting my California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok photo blog.
 
For great Pattaya hotel rates just book through THIS LINK.
 
                    Here are some more posts to check out
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1g Duck

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Salvador North Coast Brazil

February 21, 2015 by David Herd

Fascinating & Unique

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Salvador North Coast Brazil is Brazil’s 3rd largest city. Most of the population is in part descended from African slaves, who were mainly from Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Benin.

Praia do Porto da Barra

Salvador North Coast Brazil

We stayed in a hotel opposite this beach which is is only 5 kms from the historic centre Pelourinho.

Fort de Santa Maria

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Logo Nassau organized civil guards of Recife, Paraíba and Itamaracá to reinforce the troops and set off on April 8 1638, at the head of a naval fleet of 36 units at 3,600  Europeans and Indians.  He began the assault on Salvador in April 16, landing and gaining the surrender of the strong St. Albert, St. Philip and St. Bartholomew. But as Bagnuolo and the Governor-General had overcome their differences, Pernambuco army and the local garrison were united against the invasion consequently on the night of May 17 & 18 Nassau lost 300 men.


 I met Monica on the beach

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Mark it down as a big mistake, everything was ok for the first 2 days then she went kind of crazy. I actually cut my trip short by two days and flew back to Rio de Janeiro to catch up with Renilda, a gorgeous lady I  met there the previous week.

Crazy Monica 🙂

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Crazy is an understatement, anyhow after a brief fling I got out of Dodge. 🙂

Pelourinho

Salvador North Coast Brazil

The Historic Centre known as The Pelourinho is located in the western zone of the city’s centre, and was named for the whipping post (Pelourinho means Pillory) in its central plaza where African slaves received punishment for various infractions and disciplinary purposes.

The Pelourinho, is extremely rich in historical monuments dating from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Salvador was the first colonial capital of Brazil and the city is one of the oldest in the New World (founded in 1549 by Portuguese settlers). It was also the first slave market on the continent, with slaves arriving to work on the sugar plantations.

Salvador Bahia Brazil

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Once the capital city of Brazil from 1549 up until 1763 when it was succeeded by Rio de Jeneiro, Salvador da Bahia is considered to be the happiest place in the country. The city is best known for its food, music and general party atmosphere due to the numerous parties that now take place there.

Pellourinho

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Salvador is the second most popular tourism destination in Brazil, after Rio de Janeiro. Tourism and cultural activity are important generators of employment and income, boosting the arts and the preservation of artistic and cultural heritage.

Chief among the points of interest are its famous Pelourinho (named after the colonial pillories that once stood there) district, its historic churches, and its beaches.

Elevador Lacerda

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Elevator Lacerda is the first elevator Urban World. In December 1873 , when it opened, it was the highest in the world, about 63 meters.

Elevador Lacerda

Salvador North Coast Brazil

This is the best way to get up to the old city and for 15 Reals (each way) 

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Salvador North Coast Brazil

At the beginning of the 17th century, a  crane was used to transport goods from the port to the upper city.

Monica in front of Sousa Palace

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Sousa Square (also known as City Square) is a square located in the historic centre of Salvador , where there is a lot of public buildings in the city, such as Sousa Palace (now city hall).

Pothole has a way with children

Salvador North Coast Brazil Pothole aka John Martin certainly has a way with children. A grown up family in Australia & 2 young boys in Thailand.

The rest of the team

Salvado North Coast BrazilPothole aka John Martin & Tony Murphy.

Thanks for visiting Salvador Bahia Brazil

Salvador North Coast Brazil

Thats all from Salvador North Coast Brazil, bye for now from David and crazy Monica. 🙂

 Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets EuropeHungarian Parliament Building (2)The Walkie Talkie (5)   

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                     43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837IMG_7425Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                    

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South VietnamMain Square (3)Vung Tau statue (6)

Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
 
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1g Duck

Holiday Inn

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Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Check out these great photo blogs.

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Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

February 13, 2015 by David Herd

A wonderful unique experience

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve and the cruise ships are arriving. Nine huge floating palaces drop anchor to watch tonight’s spectacle. Music fireworks & noise.

Lovely hostess

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

I paid $400 for a ticket to a cocktail party on the 12th floor overlooking Copacabana beach. The lovely lady above let me visit the venue mid afternoon to take some photos.

Sugarloaf Mountain

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Mid afternoon and you can see the crowd building up. Two million people are expected to gather tonight at Copacabana most of whom will be wearing white.

Around 4 pm the crowd builds up

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Through the afternoon the crowd starts to build.

More ships arrive

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Nine huge ships arrived for the show.

A burning question

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Sergio, we are in Copacabana Beach New Years Eve, do you think our ship will ever come in?

Now here is how we are going to handle troublemakers

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Final instruction at 5.30 pm, the Rio cops are a very mean bunch.

The shadows cover the beach

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

The anticipation is building, you can fell the excitement in the air.


 

Going home to freshen up

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve an d as far as I’m concerned she is dressed perfectly.

The party begins

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

  Here is where I am watching the celebration, lots of food and booze, after all we did pay $400. 🙂  

Here they come

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

I have never seen a crowd this big anywhere before.

More and more all dressed in white

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve and millions come to celebrate.

 The excitement is building & more people arrive

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

I was in the perfect spot to see everything.

Standing room only

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

What a night it was, worth every cent.

In the top right hand corner you can see the Sofitel hotel, the location is perfect between Copacabana & Ipanema. For an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.

I’m happy to be above the crowd

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Let the games begin.

KERBOOM!!!!!!

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

  The fireworks begins, 2 million people onshore and nine cruise ships anchored off the beach.  

 Spectacular fireworks

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

 You can see five of the nine cruise ships here in this photo.  

Lots of noise

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

  Noise from the Fireworks and the amplified music that is blasting out from huge speakers along the beach.  

Here is the live action

 

Copacabana Rio Di Janeiro in Brazil, NYE, an awesome experience
 

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve and the beat goes on

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

The noise was quite incredible. 

The show went on for hours

NewYearsEveinRio59

I left around 1 am knowing I had seen the most spectacular NYE celebration in my life. The Sydney fireworks is certainly superior however when you add two million screaming people into the mix at one of the world’s great beaches it is game over.

I hope you enjoyed my NYE experience

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve

Of course for sheer drama and chaos check out Sydney New Year’s Eve 1981. 

 

            Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.           

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
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Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
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    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
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                            through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

Pattaya live webcam
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Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Samba Schools street parades

September 22, 2014 by David Herd

Carnival parade on Avenue Atlantica

Samba Schools street parades

Samba Schools street parades

Samba Schools street parades are called blocos in Rio, Carnival time in 2005 was just one huge non stop party. The excitement generated is absolutely electric.

Blocos are the street bands and groups

Samba Schools street parades
Blocos are the street bands and groups that are the main popular expression in Carnival of Pernambuco in Brazil. These celebrations are mixed under the term “street carnival”, a term that still includes the bandstands and parades at streets of Olinda and Recife, and happen during a period of about two months (beginning before and finishing after Carnival).

The biggest bloco is the Galo da Madrugada that attracts more than 2,000,000 people to downtown Recife.

Bloco on Avenue Atlantica Copacabana

Samba Schools street parades

The biggest bloco in Brazil is the Galo da Madrugada that attracts more than 2,000,000 people to downtown Recife.

Bloco truck in Copacabana

Samba Schools street parades

Never a dull moment in Copacabana.

Samba Schools street parades

Samba Schools street parades

You really almost need earplugs the music is so load. 🙂

Check out the speakers in the truck below

Samba Schools street parades

Since 2004, the blocos have exploded and now there are now nearly 300 blocos with over 40 new ones appearing for the 2007 Carnaval.  The first blocos started only a little over ten years ago. This is the heart of the “Street Carnival” which includes the greater likelihood of locals playing percussion instruments with their friends at their favorite hangout as well as  the Bandstands and the many Parades of downtown’s Rio Branco Avenue.

These events are inclusive and practice for the musicians begins months before the Carnaval and the parades do not end until Sunday of the following weekend.

Same corner later that night

Samba Schools street parades

My apologies for the out of focus photo.

Full house on Copacabana beach

Samba Schools street parades

Of course it is almost shoulder to shoulder on the beach.

Samba Schools street parades Avenue Atlantica Copacabana

Samba Schools street parades

The noise, the people, the music is fantastic.

Samba vs Marchinhas

“If they have brass, they’ll usually call themselves a “banda”. Either way, they’ll rehearse for a month or two, or maybe not rehearse at all, and then they rent a sound truck for the singers and guitarists to ride on, and have a big parade. It’s sort of a “Let’s have a party!” down-home approach to Carnaval. It’s actually the way the escolas-de-samba used to be, way back in the old days…… Most blocos play samba or, if they have a brass band, they might play marchinhas, the peppy European polka-type music of old-school Carnaval. Carnaval music used to all be marchinhas, back in the 30’s, before samba was brought to Rio by immigrants from Bahia.”

Bloco in Copacabana

Samba Schools street parades

Carnival time in Rio is something everybody should try to experience at least once in their life.

One of the Blocos in Rio

Samba Schools street parades

The crowd at Copacabana is building.

Dancing in the street

Samba Schools street parades

The Rio de Janeiro street carnival begins in November. The street carnival are structured in groups named: bloco, cordon, band or rancho but they are really about simple fun with others. If you wander in the zona sul districts of Gávea, Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana and Botafogo during the Carnaval you will often find them hanging out prior to parading. This is known as the period of Concentration.

 

Most bands also have official T-shirts for sale on the spot for about US$10, to help with the costs. They make great souvenirs, as they are sold only on Rio Carnival days.
Samba Schools street parades dancing with chairs

Samba Schools street parades

Not too sure why the chairs play a part, tradition I guess.

This is Dave Sommer & his girlfriend

Samba Schools street parades

Dave lived & worked in Sao Paulo in the insurance industry, he & his girl both danced in the parade at the Sambadrome. I was lucky to have them take me to their Samba school to see everyone preparing the costumes & the instruments.

Sadly Dave was brutally murdered in Sao Paula January 29 2015, RIP buddy.

Trying on her Samba hat.

Samba Schools street parades

With some help from her excited Mum. 🙂

Here I am with mother & daughter.

Samba Schools street parades

What a lovely two Brazilian ladies, it was such a pleasure being invited into their home.

And here she is in the parade

Samba Schools street parades

Can you imagine my joy & happiness when I spotted my friend in the parade and was able to get this great shot. Before I left Rio I had it framed as a present for her. Sambadrome is the name given to an exhibition place for the Samba Schools in Brazil. It generally consists of spectator viewing areas surrounding a long alley for the schools to parade down.

Here is the Mocidade Samba school

Samba Schools street parades

The Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel Samba School, commonly known as Mocidade, formed out of a local football (soccer) club from the favela of Padre Miguel in Vila Vintém, a neighborhood located on the western side of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Known for its unique and unparalleled style of dance and its excellence in teaching its members the steps of the samba, Mocidade competed in its first Rio Carnival parade in 1955. 

Competing in Group B, by 1958 Mocidade won its first Group title, which bumped the Samba School up to the higher tiered Access Group. In 1976, Mocidade placed fifth in the Special Group and were the Rio Carnival runners-up in 1976. Finally, in 1979 the Mocidade Samba School won its first overall Rio Carnival title with a spectacular interpretation of its theme, “The Discovery of Brazil”.

Ever since, Mocidade has been known for the the unity and synchronicity in its performances, tying together the various aspects of plot with an innovative use of dance, music, costumes and floats. Known for its futuristic design concepts, Mocidade shocked the audience, judges, and other parading Samba Schools with a miraculous flying parader — a first in Rio Carnival history!

Mocidade Samba School

Samba Schools street parades

Do you hear the drums Fernando?

Dave has got his hat & instructions.

Samba Schools street parades

I think Dave had to pay the school about $400 to participate in the parade. Dave Sommer lived & worked in Sao Paulo,  Sadly he was brutally murdered on January 11 2015. 

It all leads up to Carnival, the greatest show on Earth.

Samba Schools street parades

Many thanks for visiting my Samba Schools street parades photo blog.
For a discounted hotel room rate just book through THIS LINK.
 
 
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d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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1g Duck

 

Pattaya live webcam
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Magnificent Brazilian girls dancing Samba in Parity.

 

 

 

Sexy Brazilian blond dancing the Samba

 

 

A little further north is a real surprise

 

They speak the same language in Portugal

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

September 20, 2014 by David Herd

Cocacabana beach

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes on Copacabana beach in 2003. This was my 4th trip to Rio in 4 years, there is no place on Earth with sexier bikini clad Brazilian babes than Copacabana & Ipanema.

Not part of my travel blog, just my photographic memories of my trip in  2003.

Carla, what a girl.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

I have never seen a more beautiful skin color in the world. Check out the guy in the background.

That’s what I call a tan.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

The Rio girls love the beach, many of them live in the Favelas and use the beach as their perfect playground.

Sandcastles & Sugarloaf Mountain.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Sugarloaf mountain dominates the Copacabana skyline. The mountain is only one of several monolithic granite and quartz mountains that rise straight from the water’s edge around Rio De Janeiro.  A glass-walled cablecar (in popular Portuguese, bondinho – more properly called teleférico), capable of holding 65 passengers, runs along a 1400-meter route between the peaks of Pão de Açúcar and Morro da Urca every 20 minutes. The original cable car line was built in 1912 and rebuilt around 1972/1973 and in 2008. The cable car leaves a ground station located at the base of the Babilônia hill, to the Urca hill and then to the Pão de Açúcar.

Copacabana beach

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Of all the hundreds of photos I have taken of Copacabana beach this is one of my favourites, along with the header on this post which was actually New Years Eve in 2007.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

This gorgeous girl is about to go through the popular routine of applying suntan cream, it is a pleasure to sit back and watch.

Step one

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes 

Their skin colour is absolutely perfect.

Step two

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes 

It’s a pleasure to watch these beautiful girls prepare for a day in the sun.

Step three

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  I caught you taking my photo. 🙂  

This really is a typical Brazilian butt.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Close to perfect. 🙂

 

What do you think of her sunglasses?

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  Sunglasses, what bloody sunglasses? I don’t see any sunglasses. 🙂  

So you really think I should go on a diet?

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

I have not seen Mr Wobbly for many years, or my feet for that matter. 🙂  

Marcelli & Tatiane, what a beautiful pair.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  Two lovely Brazilian babes who I managed to spend a fair bit of time with.  

The happy crowd at Copacabana.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  A great shot of my friends in Copacabana.  Sadly the two guys on the left have both passed away, RIP.

Doug lost his long battle with cancer and Dave was brutally murdered in Sao Paulo.

OK, back to Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Brown skin, blue sky, white sand, what a combination. 🙂 

Cold beer & a beautiful lady, what more could you want?

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

In my opinion it’s the perfect package.

Dinner with two gorgeous Swedish girls

  Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Cost me a bloody fortune but I would do it again in a flash.

Lunch with Jackie

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  I met Jackie on the internet, she has two children & speaks 3 languages, English, Italian & Portuguese.  

Meia Pataca

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Restaurant on Avenue Atlantica beside the Rio Orthon hotel. A very popular spot for the local girls looking for the guys & vice versa.

Lunch at Miea Pataca

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  Good food here and always lots of girls hanging around.  

Copacabana shower.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

No doubt this is the best beach in the world for eye candy. 🙂

A great way to cool down, a spray of cool water.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

No where else in the world have I seen this great idea. Simply press the button to release a spray of cool misty water.

Dinner with Jackie

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  Nice dinner at a seafood restaurant in Lemme.  

Her name was Sayonara

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Great name for a sensational lady.

A Japanese name for a very sexy Brazilian girl

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

The look says it all. 🙂

Rio Orthon a perfect location.

 

bfa98fd5-e449-4b91-856e-05a516d82239

For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK, book now & pay later, includes free cancellation.

Beach bar Copacabana

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

These terrific beach bars are located every 40 meters or so along Copacabana. Beer, whisky, hamburgers you name it, this kid of service is unknown in Australia or America.

Here is a webcam focused on Copacabana.

I was staying on the 3rd floor

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

  My apartment was on Avenue Atlantica right above Sindicato do Chopp restaurant.  

By popular demand here is Carla again.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

I have never in my life seen better colour skin than Carla’s, my favourite of all Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes.

Big smile at the Balcony restaurant & bar.

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

My friend Jonathan Whiting tells me the Balcony is now closed and Mabs is the go.

Another night another romance

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Somebody has to do it so eat your heart out. 🙂

For a great hotel room rate in RIO just book through THIS LINK.

Great Copacabana character

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

The tin man doing his thing.

The famous Belmond Copacabana Palace hotel

Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes

Way above my pay grade, however use THIS LINK to book and get a very good discount.

Thanks for visiting my Beautiful brown skin Brazilian babes photo blog.

Magnificent Brazilian girls dancing Samba in Parity.

 

                 

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Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

September 18, 2014 by David Herd

 Two fantastic looking ladies

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach
Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach in 2005 and I was there to help them have a great time. Probably one of my best trips to Rio, in fact it may have been the best. Good friends, beautiful women & lots of fun.

Above is a perfect example of the beautiful sexy Brazilian girls who flock to Rio from all over Brazil at Carnival time. On the left is Samantha with one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen. I was lucky enough to spend some time with her.

Samantha, oh what a smile.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Samantha came from the country outside of Rio, I tried to contact her again when I returned in 2007 but the language barrier made it just too difficult to speak on the phone. I should have tried harder.

Haniball Lector lookalike

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Carnival is party time, there are so many wonderful characters, no wonder they call it the greatest show on Earth.

Another beautiful face in Copacabana

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Her name is Sylvia, a friend of Dave Wylie.

Tall & tanned & young & lovely

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

During the day the beach is the place to be and to be seen.

Back to Samantha at Copacabana.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Yes, the more I think about it the more I think this was my best Rio trip.

 Sensational bikini babe at Copacabana

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

This beautiful girl in the orange bikini has the most wonderful skin colour, among everything else of course. 🙂


 

 I really had to look twice to be sure she was real 🙂

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

That is what I call a very healthy well built girl, her name is Irene, you gotta love Rio.

Doug, & two Daves at Copacabana.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Doug is the guy kissing the lady, he sadly passed away a year or two after this photo was taken. A very nice man who’s company is missed by all his friends. Dave Sommer is in the middle, he lived & worked in Sao Paulo,  Sadly he was brutally murdered on January 11 2015. Dave Wylie is now in Crescent City and thinking about returning to Thailand in 2015.

OK, back to the babes

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Not too much has to be said about this photo, it seems to speak for itself. I must point out however that sexy topless girls are rare in Rio de Janeiro, one of the few locations is on Copacabana Beach in front of the Orthon Hotel.

Talking about hotels in Rio, if you want a very good discount just book through THIS LINK.

Copacabana is packed at Carnival

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Naturally the beaches are very crowded around Carnival & the weather in February is usually magnificent.

Tatiane & Marcelli, gorgeous girls.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

My friend Dave Wylie introduced me to Tatiane & Marcelli, two absolutely gorgeous Brazilian girls.

What was her name?

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

I forget her name, but I spent some time with her after meeting her on the beach. 🙂

Surfs up at Copacabana

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Quite unusual to see such a rough surf here, usually the waves are quite gentle compared to other Brazilian & Australian beaches, especially Sydney at Bondi.

Another beautiful face

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

My favourite spot of an evening was the side-walk restaurant outside HELP nightclub. It was such a great scene, quite a large rectangular area and dozens of beautiful girls would circle it hoping for an invitation to sit down and have a drink with you. It was a little like the wild west days when the Indians would surround the wagons. 🙂

Evening wear Copacabana style.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

 

At carnival time anything goes in the fashion stakes as you can plainly see. 🙂

I’ll try anything to attract a lady

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

There is no trick I won’t try to attract a ladies attention. Do you think this strategy is sending the right message?

Age is no barrier

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

An 85 yo American guy having a ball, age is no barrier in Copacabana at Carnival.

I keep coming back to Samantha

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Her lovely smile would light up a room, I’m just thankful it was my room. 🙂

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

160,000 people live in Copacabana and 44,000 or 27.5% of them are 60 years old or older. Copacabana covers an area of 7.84 km which gives the borough a population density of 20,400 people per km². Residential buildings eleven to thirteen stories high built right next to each other dominate the borough. Houses and two-story buildings are rare. When Rio was the capital of Brazil this was considered one of the best neighbourhoods in the country if not the best. Therefore the sea front apartments are extremely luxurious and classical. In the 1970s the neighbourhood descended in the social scales and now is one of the most overcrowded in the planet.


Dave Wylie in his element.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

 One of the sexy babes with my good friend Dave who lived in Rio for around 10 years & speaks fluent Portuguese. He was the motivation for me to start my travel blog in June 2013.

My lovely friend Jackie

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

We met on the internet 3 years ago and have been friends ever since. Jackie has two children & speaks 3 languages, Italian, English & Portuguese. We are dining at Milano Doc between Copacabana & Ipanema in Rio De Janeiro

What about those beautiful eyes?

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

This is beautiful Diana, all 39 kilos of her. 🙂

The girl with the fluffy tail

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Here is Leila, as I said before anything goes in fashion when Carnival is on.

These sexy babes caught me with the camera.

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Sprung again, this is one of my favourite photos, I love the look on her face when she caught me taking the photo.

Sugarloaf mountain

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Sugarloaf mountain Rio De Janeiro  dominates the Copacabana skyline, take the cable car to the top for one of the greatest views in the world.


Street parade on Avenue Atlantica

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

Thousands of party animals follow the trucks which have music blaring and people cheering & having fun. I plan to write another post just on the street Blocos & the Carnival preparations, stay tuned. 🙂

Beautiful Carla

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

I met this beautiful lady 2 years ago in 2003 and I really must show you a photo from then.

Carla in 2003

Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach

 

Carla has the most magnificent skin colour I have ever seen.

Many thanks for visiting my Sexy Babes Copacabana Beach photo blog.

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Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos