Booze Brazil

The party officially started today in the maddest city on earth...we think the English know how to party but the Brazilians know best.

After a quick swim in the hotel pool, we made our way round the corner to Cinelandia Square...oh my god, we weren´t expecting the onslaught of party revellers. Some dresssed in as little as a baby´s nappy and others in full fancy dress, we stuck out like sore thumbs.

Well, if you can´t beat them, join them...we grabbed two cans of beer from a street vendor, a mini sequin hat for me and a rainbow mohecan for the boy. We pushed our way through the crowds snapping away and then quickly hiding the camera, as locals told us to be careful. Pictured is one of thousands of men dressed as women at the street carnival.

After two blocks we were sweating like pigs in the crowd and headed back to the hotel as we were off to the footy, apparently a must when in Rio - that´s what the boy said anyway!

After waiting 2 hours, the coach fought it´s way through the crowds and picked us up. We were finally on our way to the Engenhao stadium to watch Fluminense v Vasco Di Gama. As there´s no alcohol permitted in the stadium, we tanked up on Skol at the petrol station overlooking a favela. We arrived at the ground 10 minutes into the game, but hadn´t missed much as we took our seats in the Fluminense end. To keep it brief, Vasco scored a goooool!, popcorn at half time, Fluminense equalised thanks to Fred - goooooooooooooooool!, then coach home via the Estadio de Maracana - Brazil´s spiritual home of football which is currently being renovated for the World Cup and Olympics.

Next stop Porcao (which translates as ´portion´ but more aptly ´poor cow´ as we clearly ate a cow between us), it was the ultimate buffet with waiters constantly presenting you with large cuts of meat on skewers. Not a place for a veggie or someone trying to cut out salt. My god, it was good.

We rejoined the street party back in Lapa traipsing through beer and wee to see the last few drunken locals high on life sambaíng away to the band on stage.

There´s no doubt the party will continue tomorrow.