"The 230 miles journey by bus to Rio de Janeiro was along a very busy modern highway through lush green and often hilly countryside, and arrived just in time to get caught up in the evening rush hour, spending the last hour moving about one mile. I stayed at a hostel a few miles out in a nice area of the city. I had met the warden at the YHA conference in Buenos Aires; he was pleased to meet me again and made me very welcome, giving me a room to myself.
 
The next morning I called at a shipping office to find out about a ship back to the UK, and was told that a French liner, The Pasteur, was leaving in 3 days bound for Southampton; and if I went on that I would be able to travel at the cheap winter rate that ended that week. As I did not have enough money with me to buy the ticket I dashed to a bank to get some money telexed through from the UK, but as it was Friday and Rio was 7 hours behind the UK, I was told I would not be able to get any money before Monday.
 
Depressed, I returned to the shipping office hopeful that I may be able to pay later, but that was not on. Then the clerk suggested that my consul may be able to help and gave them a ring for me explaining my problem. The consul told me to call in and see them. I rushed round and to my surprise, after filling in a few forms, they made out a cheque for the amount I needed, and I was able to get my ticket.
 
I spent the rest of my day in Rio having a quick look round, including a trip on the ratchet railway to the top of Morro do Corcovado, with its staue of Christ on the top, and offering a magnificent view of the bay and the east side of the city. In general I thought Rio was a fine city in a beautiful setting, but I could not help but be put off by the extremes between the rich and poor, which seemed evident everywhere.
 
I returned to Rio to spend my last night at the hostel, and the following morning having another quick look at the city and buying a few souvenirs, including a large bag of coffee, before boarding the ship in the late afternoon for home.
 
The voyage back to the UK, although not as exciting as on the way out, was a nice rest with good food. I was given a table with the only other English on board, a young couple who were also returning home after a long tour round South America; so we had pleanty to talk about and it made a very nice way to round off one of the most interesting and enjoyable trips of my life" - MH