RIO!!!!!!!!!

Rio is an amazingly picturesque city. A gorgeous city. With big stone hills falling to a city skyline and then the beautiful famous beaches and the blue water, the Statue of Christ benevolently overlooking the whole scene, a photographer could explode with possibility. But the city also has quite a dark side with muggings and Slums called Favelas. We stayed in Ipanema, about two blocks back from the beach. Although the weather had not been kind to us over the past few days, it was sunny when we got to Rio.


Moments after arriving at our hostel we were washed away by a wave of people to a soccer game in the famous Maracana Stadium (sorry that analogy isn't great, but hey we're tired!). Rio`s (and Brazil's for that matter) biggest team, Flamengo were in action for the first time this season. Only half the stadium was full, but the supporters could make some noise! The energy and passion was electric.

The next day we took the roller coaster ride (aka tram ride) up a winding road to Santa Teresa. Roaring up the hill it would occasionally screech to a halt to let more passengers hang off the sides or to avoid a head-on collision with a bus coming the other way. It is an colourful area of ageing beauty, once the preserve of the wealthy, the space is now occupied by artists and poets. Feeling arty, we then visited the colourful mosaic stairs created by Chilean artist Jorge Selaron. Inspired by the Brazilan people, he covered more than 250 stairs entirely in tiles people sent from all over the world.

To gain an appreciation of the less glamorous side of Rio, we went on a tour of the nearby slums known as 'favelas'. Located all over the city, squished in between the rich and famous and ignored by city maps lies about 750 favelas. Favelas have a reputation for being 'no go' areas of violence, danger and poverty. The tour allows a different perspective. You get to see the unique architecture which allows so many thousands of people to live in these small cramped conditions, see the significant lack of access to basic public services such as clean water and learn about efforts to improve schooling and social services for the locals.

Photos to come.....