Recife

There is a warning that comes with this city, which is not to enter the sea further than a paddle as you'll be got by sharks. There have been 19 fatal shark attacks in the last 15 years and over 30 other 'shark incidents', whatever they may be... So we've not been to the beach here and have stuck to hanging out in the city, which incidentially has the highest murder rate in Brazil... It does say that as tourists we're much more likely to get mugged or pickpocketed than murdered or got by sharks though, so that's encouraging.

Other than that it's a nice enough place and the people are really friendly. We leave tomorrow to head further up the coast towards Belem, where our Amazon adventure begins. After this we're going to head into Peru. We're hoping we can pick up a cheap flight, as otherwise it could involve several days on a bus.

We went to a ceramic sculpure garden of Francisco Brennand yesterday - 'sexualised earthworms' was the description given to some of the sculptures. When we finally sort out our site for sharing all our holiday snaps you'll be abe to see for yourselves. It was a way out of town so we had to get a taxi and we even found our taxi driver wandering amid the sculptures with a bemused look on his face.

We've just been round a shopping centre which until recently was the local prison and all the shops are in the cells.

Very much enjoying the local customs of cake for breakfast and if it's a bank holiday, beer.

To look at our photos, the website is http://dansue3.shutterfly.com