Adventure Brazil Tres

It was Mr. Toad's wild ride yesterday. We got on the bus and Mike asked the driver to tell us when we were close to our spot to get off. The next thing we knew we were at the main bus terminal. We then got on a second bus who got us close. A 20 minute ride turned into an hour and a half adventure. The bus driver, like the taxi drivers, and the rest of the Brazilian drivers use their brakes once and their horns three times. We were bounced in our seats as vigorously as on the train ride at Disneyland.

We went to church. Priesthood started with eight people in attendance and I thought wow, this is worse than home everyone got old and moved away. However, by the close of sacrament meeting the chapel was full, wall to wall, and back into the cultural hall, a cultural hall with no basket ball hoops, by the way. As in all other church meetings we attended in Brazil Mike was introduced by the Brazilian pronounciation of his name "Elder Ilge."

We took a taxi to see the Christ statue which overlooks Rio. The driver charged us 50 real (Brazilian dollars) when the meter said 27.50. The statue is being refurbished so all our pictures have scaffolding up to his chin. However, the view was fantastic. Rio is built on several land areas separated by water, whether they are islands or penninsulas I couldn't really see but it was a wonderful view for 360 degrees.

We caught some lunch, a sumptuous bacon cheese burger which rivaled Dicks drive inn in Kamas, and then went to Sugar Loaf. We did it on the buss for another exciting ride. Once again, a truly unforgettable view. We watched the sun set over Rio and then came down for our infamous bus tour of Rio.

We are going back to North America tomorrow. Our flight leaves at 9:55 p.m. and arrives in Houston at 6:50 a.m. the following day. If it is a full flight it will be a truly long flight. Sleeping sitting up in a short seat was never my strong suit. It will bring back memories. When I was flying in the Air Force our over seas flights were always designed to be flown at night, usually all night.

We had planned to go to the beach today but it is currently raining. We will see. It is all water either way.