The kiss goodbye... in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

There has always been a country on the very top of my travel list. A country I idealise in my mind, stupidly certain I will love, regardless of its reputation. Overcome with irrational jealousy when others visit, despite any claims I have over it existing only in my mind, Brazil is the one country I have wanted to see my whole life. But just like the potential lover you prefer to place on a pedestal for fear of disappointment, visiting South America’s largest country has intentionally remained a distant dream for me… until now.

We began Brazil by going to see the world’s most magnificent natural border between three countries: Iguazu. Having spent the day before exploring the glory of the waterfalls on the impressive Argentine side, we were eager to get a different perspective. But just as we bought our tickets to Iguaçu National Park, the sunny sky turned an ash grey before gushing with angry rain, as if to compete with the cataratas themselves.

We accepted our bad luck, and got on the bus to the entrance, only to be left standing in the storm when the bus suddenly had to change route. It wasn’t until we were actually in the park grounds where a vicious coati - a racoon-like animal native to the area - jumped up to attack me that I wondered if my love for Brazil was going to be unrequited.

These aggressive, infectious animals live in the parks of Iguazu, and often attack visitors as a means of stealing food, clawing through plastic bags regardless of what's inside.

We strolled towards the lookout, our soggy shoes squelching with every step, and tried not to feel too disheartened by the bad weather, before seeing the view that would make us feel foolish for ever feeling unlucky.

Even in the rain, the Brazilian side of Iguaçu left us in awe. Our next stop was the city where a 40-metre tall, concrete icon watches over the beautiful people who rollerblade and run, cycle and skate along the promenades of the famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, swerving to avoid the crowds forming around bronze statues of heroes from the golden era of Bossa Nova, stopping only for granola and Açaí treats in new age eateries, where the theme is Favela Chic every day of the week. It’s almost too easy to ignore the crazy and the poor, their voices lost in the chorus of melodic Brazilian Portuguese that fills the hot air and lingers in the same streets they call home.

We decided to hike up the Corcovado mountain to get up close to the famous 'Christ the Redeemer' statue in Rio de Janeiro. Luckily, we didn't get caught in torrential rain until just after taking the photos.

And it was here, in the so called City of God that we were robbed... … by a cash machine. Just hours before we were supposed to arrive on the beautiful Ilha Grande, an island off the coast of Río de Janeiro state, the ATM where we would take out the last of our savings malfunctioned - clearing our bank account and leaving us without a Brazilian Real to our name. When we were told “everyone gets robbed in Río", this wasn’t really what we had in mind. Needless to say, by the time we resolved our cash flow issue, we had missed the bus that would get us on the last boat to the island. My heart sank as we walked around the small town of Angra dos Reis, looking for a cheap hotel to stay the night. But we eventually made it to our final destination, the tropical island of Ilha Grande, where we have spent the last days of our eleven month trip watching the hypnotic dance of the turquoise sea as it caresses and curls onto the white sand in time to the sweet song of the hummingbird perched on the lush green trees that we lie beneath.

And like a besotted lover, I will replay this scene in my mind over and over, remembering how we spent our final Tuesday under the sun, knowing we saved the best 'til last.

Hailed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, 'Lopes Mendes' beach can be reached after a 2.5 hour walk through the forest.

Guess what I found out in Rio de Janeiro? 1. Río de Janeiro is translated as “River of January”; it was named this way because the first explorers came to the harbour in January, and mistakenly thought it was a river mouth.

2. Brazil shares a border with every South American country except for Chile and Ecuador.

3. The unspoilt island of Ilha Grande once housed a high-security prison where some of the most dangerous prisoners within the Brazilian penal system were locked up. Fortunately for us, it closed in 1994.