EXPLORING: Goodbye Brazil - Sao Paulo hello Ecuador!

Just a quick note to say thanks for the messages and comments and for those who've listed themselves as followers on the blog - it´s good to know you're keeping an eye on us and I most enjoy the messages/comments!

My blogs have been coming through thick and fast in the last 24hrs however we head to Ecuador at 6am tomorrow and if the rumours are true connectivity in Ecuador is going to be limited so I will try MMS pictures and a brief note as often as possible.

Sorry limited exciting pics from Sao Paulo (this gringo was sticking out enough as it was without flashing his camera around) but here are the highlights:
- picking my way through the many homeless people on the pavement on my way to our hostel door at 6am on a public holiday (pretty sad actually). We are staying pretty central and to be honest Hilbrow has little on this area!
- ox-tail stew, beans and rice at the local cafe
- brief visit and view from the second highest building in Sau Paulo - Edifício Banespa
- walk with Mark to the Jardim Paulista area - absolutely beautiful - a bit like San Fran without the sea and Golden Gate/Bay Bridge but great vibe and great people!
- watching a great game between Arsenal and Liverpool at the 'Feel at Home' pub - yes we came all the way to Sao Paulo and spent the afternoon in an English pub drinking Speckled Hen ale!
- unfortunately we did not get to meet up with Renata as we have to head off early

Tomorrow we take our most expensive flight yet across the continent to Lima where we spend 12hrs in the airport and then connect to Quito. We finally arrive in Quito after midnight hopefully with our bikes intact. Not sure how but we then make our way by bus down to Montanita where we will be learning to Surf and speak Spanish - bring it on!

To all of you in SA enjoy you public holiday tomorrow and most importantly savour your vote - I'm quite jealous -let me know how it goes!