There has been a lot of travel over the past year and I’ve been terrible at posting any updates on it … (bad robot)

Anyway I topped off the year with a trip to Brazil which didn’t disappoint. Great weather. Excellent food. Unbelievable value for money. Fantastic beaches and the most lovely people. If you’ve not been there you should add it to your list.

Myself and Clauds soaking up the rays on Ipanema beach

I flew out from Heathrow on an overnight flight on December 24th and splurged out on a business class seat.  It was the most expensive part of the entire trip but well worth it just for the comfort of sleeping the entire 11hr flight.  Arrived on Christmas Day morning and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I made it through the airport. No visa required for Irish passport holders!

The one and only redeemer!

Okay so I had this image in my mind that Christ the Redeemer was on some rock overlooking the beach. Wrong! It’s about an hours drive to the back of the city. Anyway here it is in all its splendour. Fun fact, it was a gift from the French. What a great set of grifters they are. The experience was ruined by all the Instagram wamks trying to get the perfect shot. Wish they’d all just f*@k right off.

oh and we hopped into one of them helichoppers to experience the delights of Rio from above  but of an overcast day but still quite the thrill.

The food in Rio is delicious and very good value for money. Clauds ordered this fish dish. It took ages to prepare and when it came out we could see why. He did his best to finish it but there were some eyes leftover at the end.

New Year’s Eve was awesome. There were 2.5million people on the beach. Yes that’s right two point five million. It didn’t even look that crowded which just demonstrates how big the beaches are. It was a wonderful end to an amazing holiday.

And just like that as the sun set over Rio it was time to leave. I had an amazing time and will be back again soon for sure.

So after having to depart earlier than anticipated. Thanks to a Stena line cancellation. We made our way to the Devils Bit in county Tipperary.  And what a fabulous sunrise we were greeted with. It was bloody cold but worth the early morning hike.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. I point blank refused to put a TV into the bedroom. It’s an abomination I said, but here I lay on the bed in Kilkenny enjoying a show as Benson treats me with the contempt I deserve. I never left the bloody room since its introduction. It’ll be the ruination of me I tell ya.