As one of my favourite countries in the world, I was saddened to hear of the volcano and then the storm which hit Guatemala this week. Boston.com always have some incredible pictures of current events and this weeks gallery of Guatemala pictures are no exception. Two particularly awesome pictures are Picture number 5 and Picture number 34. I hope little Melanie and

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We bought the tickets the day before through tiny holes in a concrete bullet proof shelter outside the ground. Tickets were BR$50 each for seats in the green or yellow areas – the best bits behind the goals – where vast swathes of fans sing in harmony,

Continue reading Flamengo vs Botafogo at the Maracana

Marju and I helped clear the mud which had fallen into the community hall of a centre in Santa Tereza, along with around 15 others. The mud was thick and gloopy and everywhere. We had only 2 wheel barrows – both (as is standard for Brazil) made from Aluminium (everything is here) – one of which broke half way through the day. We scooped the mud up and removed it from the hall, before hosing down and sweeping the floor of the concrete football pitch with these pooly made wooden water-pushers. The guys were

Continue reading Clearing Rio’s landslides

The lightning has been shooting down over Sugar Loaf Mountain and Santas Dumont airport most evenings which has given me some great shots with my DSLR camera.

Rio in the summer follows a very regular weather pattern. Hot sticky nights – perhaps 25-30 degrees followed by scorching hot blue sky days – 40 degrees plus during the afternoon – after which the sky turns grey, then black, then down comes the rain and lightning.

Here are some pictures of the Rio lightning as taken by my trusty D80 Nikon

Continue reading Rio Lightning photos