Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 14th, 2023

Blowing a gale, torrential rain and giant crashing Atlantic waves below my hotel window as I arrived at Barra Beach in Rio de Janeiro.

I broke the record for time taken to leave an airport this evening. Mexico City had that record of just under two hours but Rio smashed it.

One of the first off the flight after the upgrade to the very front, but joined a long queue behind every man and his dog and 85 mins to clear passport, then 25 mins in a spiralling customs queue and then 30 mins to arrange and get a taxi .. then half an hour in the driving rain with the cabbie hell bent on freezing my arm and shoulder with the AC on full blast… what a crazy day 🥂