Heathrow to Rio de Janeiro!

Off we gooooooooooo!

I need to start this off being real. We were stressing big time about whether we were making the right call. People kept telling us things like we are so brave and inspiring, but that's seriously not our style at all. We're all about our safe vibe at home in good ol' Liss!! Let's just say, we were not exactly feeling like the heroes everyone was making us out to be. What we were feeling was honestly pure terror!

Thank goodness Rio laid down the law and got us back on track. What a start to our trip! It totally smashed our expectations and obliterated any last-minute jitters we were holding onto...

After shedding some tears and giving the dogs an emotional and dramatic farewell, we finally convinced Floss that carrying their blanket on the plane might not be the best idea (not quite the in-flight scent everyone's looking for). With the blanket safely tucked away in the cargo hold, we embarked on our adventure!

As we boarded, it seemed like a light bulb finally lit up above their heads. Yep, we were definitely up to something different.. They were wide eyed experiencing their first long-haul flight - it was all a huge spectacle. And of course, the real showstoppers were the TVs in the seats - they sparked the most joy (and peace for us). And, believe it or not, the entire flight was a total blast! We all managed to squeeze in some decent napping sessions, and Pheebs and I even indulged in some midnight chicken tikka.

After landing, we thankfully fuelled up with a coffee at the airport, unknowingly ready to brace ourselves for the maddest taxi drive ever - all six of us crammed in like sardines with our mountain of luggage, definitely no UK road laws here. Honks blaring left and right, cars and motorbikes playing bumper cars, and people casually strolling by peddling goodies through car windows.

Once we safely arrived at our airbnb, the kids raced around to claim their bedrooms and then dive into the pool. Dan and I, on the other hand, decided to take a "power nap" that we wish could have lasted longer! Especially with a view like this…

We headed out, all excited to hit up the legendary Copacabana Beach, but as soon as we stepped out of the taxi, we were greeted by a dramatic entrance - a storm was brewing! The waves were going wild, the beach authorities were clearing everyone from the beach, and the sand was basically attacking our legs. It was chaos - stalls were frantically packing up, witnessing other vendors losing parts of their set up.

We managed to stumble upon the one and only beach bar that seemed to be surviving the apocalypse. We thought, why not have a quick re-convene while trying out the local cocktail, the Cairpranha (warning: requires a deep love for tequila!). And then we decided to do what all refined and cultural families would do - locate the closest McDonald's before heading back for a well needed full nights kip.

Who knew that getting to lie down for a whole night could feel like winning the lottery? Now, our second day and all feeling as fresh as a daisy, we face the forecasted rain and head off to visit the Selaron Steps.

While Dan and I look into the best bus route, the kids decided to become history detectives, digging into the origins of the steps and their creator. Turns out, it's a fascinating tale worth a peek! Who knew steps could have such a backstory? I love this kind of thing where it just goes to show that success doesn't always come in the forms we may expect - you can leave your mark on the world anywhere you step, quite literally! 😄 A message that is so important for us to get across to the kids during this trip.

With the steps being the third most visited tourist attraction in Rio, the AuDHD crew were definitely feeling the energy of the bustling crowds, so we decided to seek out a peaceful oasis at Parque Lage. Definitely the right choice as everyone starts to visibly relax with nature and space around them. To add to it, as we explored the park we couldn't believe there were adorable little wild monkeys frolicking in the trees.

A local man generously shared some biscuits with Poppy, and suddenly they become the monkey whisperers, luring the little fellas with treats. Poppy is losing her mind, claiming this is THE ultimate highlight of her existence. The rest of the gang jumps in, creating a magical bonding session while hand-feeding these sweet little monkeys. With the snacks finished, we bid "obrigada" to the biscuit benefactor, leaving with Poppy stating it was the best moment of her LIFE.

For day three we booked on a favela tour to visit Rocinha, the largest favela in Brazil. Feeling a tad jittery - would it be safe, should we actually be doing it, would we make it out alive?! We returned armed with a wealth of knowledge and a newfound appreciation for how these residents ended up in such a place. We learned about the world of Government, police, and drug lords, and how everyone seems to be in on a secret pact that says what's right is wrong and what's wrong is right. It's mad but somehow works and again, something that is definitely worthwhile to look further into and educate yourselves about if you are interested! Aside from a few sketchy areas, we did feel safe with our guide, Barbara, who was extremely well respected by the residents - and vice versa - and we definitely experienced a sense of community from within.

The size of the favela itself is absolutely mind-blowing! Can you believe there are around 300,000 people living there, including 40,000 children? And they all need to attend one of the six schools within the favela. It's such a challenging task, which might explain why the cycle continues. But amidst all this, we encountered some truly remarkable programs. For instance, picture a young child, about Poppy's age, confidently delivering a bilingual speech to a group of adults. This came from a volunteer programme teaching languages. Marcelo, the man behind our tour, donates 30% of every booked tour to charities within the favela. There are people out there truly dedicated to hopefully steering some of these families and kids onto a brighter path.

We soaked up so much information, education and history and we all gained a deeper and humbling understanding of real-life in Rio. No, it may not be in the National Curriculum, but the lessons our kids (and us) learned today were worth more than anything they could have been taught from a textbook. Today was definitely the big YES moment we needed to remind us exactly why we have signed up for this!  

Leaving the favela still with our jaws still touching the floor, we jump on the metro and head to Ipanema Beach to really switch up our day. As we get there, we are greeted by enormous Atlantic waves and we all happily dive in for an invigorating splash to reboot and reset. The colours, the sounds, the energy on the beach - it was like stepping into a whole new world! The sellers were all like Energiser bunnies - offering us drinks, ice creams, and even a menu of "special treats" that Dan got a peek at (and declined I should add!) while chilling with Phoebe - who was trying to catch a moment of peace during a sensory overwhelm.

We decided to explore the quieter peninsula nestled between Ipanema and Copacabana beaches in search of dolphins or turtles. Although we didn't spot any marine creatures, we wrapped up the day by witnessing a beautiful sunset together. A really memorable day from start to finish today.

Onto day four and of course we had to make sure we made time to visit the big man himself, Christ the Redeemer. With Rio's winter kicking off with a sizzling 30 degree heat by 10am, it was definitely a hot one! We were able to take a short stroll from our Airbnb to the Corcovado train station which whisked us away to the grand statue. The place was buzzing with crowds - lots of waiting in line and getting jostled around which, as I’m sure you can imagine, the kids were delighted with.

After conquering the 220 steps (and trying not to pass out), we finally reached the summit. And wow! Christo is absolutely stunning. The whole experience, despite being elbow-to-elbow with other tourists, felt super special. Can you believe we ended up at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, dragging our (complaining) kids along too? Today was filled to the brim with magic, awe, and wonder, sprinkled with a definite big tick of achievement. Hopefully, someday the kids will look back and realise how cool and lucky they were to experience this! We treated ourselves to a drink and some Brazilian pastels at the top restaurant to fully soak in the moment before reluctantly heading back down and settling for the view of Christ from our Airbnb.

After experiencing the heat plus the busyness of the past few days, the kids were happy to head back to relax at the Airbnb and actually they all eagerly delved into more research on Christ the Redeemer to add to their knowledge and fill their books with their new discoveries!

So, for our fifth and final day in Rio de Janeiro, we were scratching our heads, wondering what could top the last few days. Then, Dan gets lured in by one of those smooth-talking beach vendors and the last-minute decision was made to ride the surf at Ipanema beach! Well, everyone except me, the designated bag keeper and photographer.

What an absolutely amazing experience! The instructors were so enthusiastic and joyful, cheering on all the kids - and Dan! I was so impressed from the shore and smiling all the way through behind the photographs. That sea is fierce and they persevered, getting back up every time, matching the smiles of their instructors. Now that's what I call true resilience!

With a few extra hours to play on the beach after, what an absolutely perfect way to wrap up our trip - yet another unforgettable day for everyone!

As we come to the end of our time in Rio, we're all feeling like we've been given a major mood boost! It's finally sinking in for all of us just how incredibly amazing and one-of-a-kind this entire experience is and we are all feeling excited for whats to come. We couldn't have asked or imagined a better start to it all than what we've experienced these last five days in Rio. 🌟

Interestingly, Phoebe has made the bold decision to stop taking her ADHD medication, and the results have so far been really positive. She's been more engaged, happy, and settled in the past few days than she has been in ages. The sparkle of excitement is back in her eyes, and witnessing that is truly heartwarming! Floss was always going to thrive in this environment and, just as we expected, she's on a much lower dose of her medication than at home. Just so many positives already from making this decision and we are only on day five - long may it continue (especially in the Amazon!!).

And so, Rio, that's a wrap! What a stellar first pit stop - a solid 10/10 for sure! Enjoying the last moments with this view as the Amazon awaits us tomorrow….