Christ and the Favelas

Well, this is Rio de Janeiro. "Marvelous city" as they like to market themselves! And I guess they are within their rights to say so.

We arrived here Thursday about midday, and plunged ourselves straight into the city tour. A whirlwind trip up to Christ the Redemer´s statue, Sugar Loaf Mountain, as well as a visit to the modern conical cathedral, and the tiled steps (Escaderia Selaron). After seeing all the iconic images of Rio, it was amazing to actually be there looking at those views in real life. Thursday evening we went out for a buffet dinner (charged per kilo - excellent idea!) And then we stopped to buy water from a street vendor on the way home. We were all invited to have a drink with the locals, who were drinking beer and paying guitar on the street corner (kind of like a makeshift street bar!). It was great - those experiences you just can´t buy!

Yesterday we had a well deserved lie-in. After a 4am start on Thursday and a late night the night before. Then we went for a wander around our area of the town, and looked at the market stalls. Last night we went to a Carnival street party in Lapa. Crazy crazy.... So many people Samba-ing on the streets and partying the night away.

And then today we went for a tour of one of the favelas (the slums that Rio is so famous for.) It was very interesting to see and hear about, but you do of course always feel like a bit of an intruder. The favela we visited has been "under the control of the police" since November last year, as an effort to clean up the favelas in time for the World Cup and Olympics. However, there was a lot of rubbish and open sewers, so I think the clean-up is metaphorical rather than physical! Although, apparently 2 drug dealers were found dead there last night, so I don´t know how well their operation is working!

Tonight we are off to a Carnival Ball. We bought wigs, masks and glitter cheaply in Bolivia, so we are gonna do our best to dress up as carnivalesque as possible with our limited resources!! And then tomorrow is our trip to the official Sambadrome. Can´t wait....