The beach we never lay on.

Maceio. Lush tropical beaches, waves lapping the sand, rain pelting down to complete the tropical picture. Another early arrival left us dazed and wandering the streets looking for somewhere to stay. After a quick encounter with the local hostel we booked ourselves into the nearby business hotel which was cheaper and far nicer. It pays to shop around hey.

Felt we´d earned a stint on the beach. Unfortunately we slept through the good weather but woke up in time to join the excited Brazilians at a beach front barraca (place to eat and drink and guaranteed to have a wide screened t.v. showing the World Cup). The BBQ was a sizzling, the beers cold and the green and gold decorating every inch of the place. The t.v. crew was there which made all the Brazilian garota (chickas) rush to the mirror and check their hair. OK, Kaz tried to fix her rain plastered mop too (not quite as bad as the last hair do from Vitoria). Despite proudly letting anyone who cared know that we were Aussies, we cheered with the Brazilians through the highlights, beer shortage, sausage rawness (hard to BBQ in the rain when the charcoal went out in the first half) and the downpour (another one) from underneath the coziness of an umbrella made for 2, shared by 7 (at least).

Although there were some high expectations and some subsequent disappointment with Brazil winning with only goal, the Monday night partying was going ahead anyway. 2 hours later the axe truck (take one large truck, ply with as many speakers as possible and even more ampliphiers and throw as many dancers on the roof, including a few guys to lift the telephone cables up over the truck - these things are massive!) passed down the main road surrounded by half of Maceio dancing, drinking and pashing! Rounded off the healthy day with a tapioca foldover at a beach stall - don´t ask.

Gave the beach lounging another go but were foiled by Kaz´s over eagerness to go for a jog along the beach first. Did our best Baywatch impersonations including a dip in the ocean afterwards. Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately) there was no David Hasselhoff to pull Kaz out of the water and give her mouth to mouth after she was stung by a jellyfish - ouch! Stu did a perfectly good job instead. Blaaaah! After a little Pictionary the pharmacist assured us the sea monster Stu had drawn was safe as long as you were in a submarine. A bit of antihistamine and Todo Bem ;-) Not keen to swim again in Maceio we decided to leave the next day.

Kaz and Stu x

Sight of the week: fluorescent sign above pub (unfortunately the only photo we have of Maceio, it means seal)

Drink of the week: Capuccino ice - took a while but mmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Arse of the week: Santa´s search for a lavanderia