tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84903833161874344792024-02-19T18:20:29.170+11:00Planet Rio de JaneiroSelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-62736298175796786572009-01-30T08:46:00.001+11:002009-01-03T20:10:12.192+11:00Rio ArrivalAfter an insufferable 20+ hours of flying, plane swapping, no bathing and furious prayers that I would not up-chuck my guts, my plane disembarked in Rio de Janeiro (Aerolineas Argentinas is an airline in need of major revamping, and the flight attendants need training in how <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> to be rude).<br />As I hobbled off the plane I no longer paid much attention to the inferiority of the airport; I had a chance to observe this in Argentina where to my spoilt eye most things appeared deteriorated.<br />I was grateful that I had endured the torture of flying (at each landing I felt my head would explode and therefore I would have to have a closed casket funeral) and reached my destination. In a few moments I would be reunited with one of my bestfriends whom I had not seen in 8 years. Though I did not know what to expect to discover in Brazil, the one thing I was certain of was our friendship. The space and time of those 8 years disappeared immediately when she greeted me.<br /><br />We then walked out into the sweltering night, and Melissa, her husband Douglas and I hopped on a bus. Amid our frantic conversation I began my acquaintance with the city of Rio de Janeiro. For a Westerner the most salient aspect was the poverty, most things were old and dilapidated; the city also seemed to serve as an old grimy canvas for the art of graffiti. I glimpsed the destitution I was well aware existed but for the first time without the filter of the television glass. It doesn't matter how great your knowledge of the indigence of the world, it is never tantamount to experiencing life in a 3rd world country.<br /><br />The bus let us off at Largo do Machado, one of the many inner city suburbs of Rio, and we went to a local supermarket to stock up on soy milk and other vegan things for me to eat. It was about 11 at night by then but the city never sleeps, it only dozes during weeknights.<br /><br />We then hailed a cab which took us up the mountain in the region of Santa Teresa where my friends live. The road snakes upwards and there are secluded mansions on both sides, further shrouded by trees and climbing plants. It's also a bouncy ride, as the streets are full of pot holes and stretches of cobble-like stones, and of course everyone drives like a maniac.<br /><br />Another aspect of life in Rio that was immediately conspicuous to me was the way in which people communicated. Though I do not speak Portuguese, I was still able to perceive that people communicate with each other in a very casual manner, as if they are long-time acquaintances.<br /><br />Finally we arrived at the <span style="font-style: italic;">favela</span>, which means a shanty town or ghetto, where Melissa and Douglas reside. It looks like a mini-city, with narrow, concrete pathways, many of which are a challenge to navigate. We dragged my luggage to their tiny two-bedroom apartment, where I found Douglas's very cute brother sleeping on the couch; a nice sight indeed.<br />The bathroom looked like something out of a horror movie but it had running water and a toilet that flushed, which by now I felt to be a luxury.<br />Exhausted I pulled the curtain to my room shut (no, no door) and hit the sack, being horizontal never felt so great.Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-9708901088783118392009-01-28T19:33:00.001+11:002010-06-07T12:44:12.644+10:00Getting Deeper into Rio Visually<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvDpeNvsxD-tewb-F125yHKJda1kRvdtLW7ISbshYHxES6X8Nukr3hDrSYLcX28WsPAkgcKY_yaBVfF8JDncoHryil7QqSJ_bsVBgLOkhjA_LYZmEs0JBxmngT1UDFVMYrJjQecFHoF8/s1600-h/Rio+18.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266590252124517954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPcc9oinOHwuMMpfBvmyrgZUUEONNzdhAvTmkvPinUQSyWIGkd-GX1hcC6uoMwMmioDl1_ohiN3S1JbgpEsvskwgj1wfYDGyMpuw9W2SSzsVHQwHus1RvJgH6T6W8z0FaKfCwjcgbqUk/s400/Rio+1.jpg" /></a>Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-74609002968705348082009-01-26T09:22:00.000+11:002009-01-03T20:02:08.179+11:00Welcome to the FavelaThere are many <em>favelas</em> all over Brazil, the one I'm living at is considered small, with an estimated 200 families occupying it. One of the largest <em>favelas</em> houses about 300,000 people, and I imagine it would be like a labyrinth.<br />The building pattern for the various apartments seems to be rather loose, basically houses are squeezed in where ever there is room. There is the one main pathway and then numerous passages and treacherous staircases leading up, down and every which way.<br /><br />The apartment I'm staying in is tiny and has two bedrooms in theory, as neither has a door. The two bedrooms are separated by a sliding door and my room is separated from the living area by a crude curtain, a transparent one at that. The bathroom also features a sliding door, and it boasts several leaks, missing tiles and an unsophisticated hot water system; in short a bunch of wires are attached to the shower head with electrical tape.<br />It is not common for kitchens to contain a hot water faucet; therefore, getting grease off pots and pans is a tad arduous. Particularly as the oven doesn't work, so most of the food is fried and I am the self-appointed dish washer. However, we do have broadband internet, with the wires from the computer passing out through the living room window, which then connect to the greater network of cables strewn around the neighbourhood. This is one of the many visual charms of the area.<br />This narrow space was already housing 3 adults and 2 kids before I arrived to complete the picture. I have a room all to myself, with the kiddies sleeping in the 'master' bedroom with the parents in the same bed. Douglas’s brother, Nildo, lives on the couch and spends most of his time shirtless, so I don't complain. Especially, when he prances around in a towel after showering; after all I came to Rio for the scenery.<br /><br />Now, it is customary in Brazil for people to frequent each other's houses without invitation. So on my first morning in Rio I found about 8 people in the house. It was crammed enough with the 4 adults and 2 kids that lived there and it became much smaller with additional bodies. I dreaded having to push through all the human traffic to reach the bathroom which was of course located on the other side of the living area. Melissa managed to stem the amount of people coming over but not entirely as such is life in Rio. Being a westerner, this was a big issue for me initially as I am accustomed to space, so I tried living with Melissa's cousin for some privacy, her place being empty most of the day. The tenant that had occupied it prior to her had been involved in drugs and was now serving a prison sentence. There was still a bullet hole in the living room window from the police raid and I had already heard gunfire, which took place at the front of the <span style="font-style: italic;">favela</span>, very close to Melissa's cousins' apartment. Yet it did not seem to move me; perhaps it was the sense of it all being unreal.<br />Instead, what worried me was the walk from Melissa's place to her cousin's place of an evening; it was dark, enclosed and deserted.<br />Additionally, it seemed I had begun to adapt to the living arrangements, I came to realize that it was like living with family and that we co-existed in harmony.<br />There was also the magnificent view my accommodation afforded me; I have the Christ on the right, the Sugar Loaf on the left and the city of Rio de Janeiro in the middle.Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-71574303780876788372009-01-24T23:54:00.000+11:002009-01-03T20:02:55.198+11:00Life in the FavelaAlthough my friends live in a <span style="font-style: italic;">fav</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">vela</span> (translation 'the hood') as I now call it, many people don’t lock their doors. We don't have a lock as such, just a small padlock which is to be used when the house is unoccupied for long periods of time, which is virtually never. The danger of theft is low and if anything did go missing we would speak to the 'owner', meaning the person in charge who oversees the proceedings of the <span style="font-style: italic;">favela</span>, such as the trafficking of drugs. Although they are involved in criminal activities, the 'owners' usually have a sense of honour and take care of their own.<br /><br />Gunfire is an unavoidable part of life in the <span style="font-style: italic;">favela</span> primarily due to police raids, and the fact that there is a high level of corruption within the police force only exacerbates matters.<br />During my first week I heard the gunshots that resulted in the death of the 'supervisor' of drug trading. I heard gunfire on a few other occasions but it all seemed very surreal and I think I have a minor death wish.<br />The news is dominated by incidents of shootings and I suspect that as with all things that transpire on a regular basis, however awful, desensitization is inevitable.<br />Overall though, life in this particular <span style="font-style: italic;">favela</span> is quite sedate in comparison to others.<br /><br />Clearly, you cannot enter <span style="font-style: italic;">favelas</span> at your whim, you need to have friends there (this is of course conditional) or be involved in a volunteer project. Such projects are abundant and to become truly conversant with life in Rio I think you need to become acquainted with life in <span style="font-style: italic;">favelas</span>.<br />Now Melissa knows many people within the community and they are aware that I am a close friend who's staying with her, specifically I’m a Gringa (a white foreigner) but this term is not used in an offensive manner. However, I still need to take precautions when taking photographs, obviously certain people cannot be photographed and when taking pictures at night I can't be too conspicuous because I might be mistaken for a journalist.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the majority of people living within <i style="">favelas</i> are hard working people that simply do not have the luxuries we enjoy so liberally in the developed world.<br /><br />Additionally, and unexpectedly, I experienced a sense of community closeness that I have never encountered before.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1ClEJU72wVPn3uGcVAFXelc9g8Zq1vuoLlWODVVT9_sUM8X5nn-SWY1JWKkN20bagXUTVh1NLdjG5-xr9Vc6pm5X5kVclVbA_FgKDZ4z_rTSYQHTuZEZJGSHYZdJPawZDQakNM0vrn0/s1600-h/Favela+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1ClEJU72wVPn3uGcVAFXelc9g8Zq1vuoLlWODVVT9_sUM8X5nn-SWY1JWKkN20bagXUTVh1NLdjG5-xr9Vc6pm5X5kVclVbA_FgKDZ4z_rTSYQHTuZEZJGSHYZdJPawZDQakNM0vrn0/s400/Favela+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263217682523662882" border="0" /></a> Welcome to the favela! That's Nicholas (my bestfriend's son) striking a pose.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDovsV0FSnVI6rzlbZqtd1_YlU_eB1RahZdfAlU0QGp23Y9Z2Ci4PkN6VPUXl7Sp4U6pEsMoDJWC78y4ZSKn5Ub5SQAsopz-FnGKOFIUWyO52kjly22I1isrxj68DezEAjCF0Pd0I35I4/s1600-h/Favela+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDovsV0FSnVI6rzlbZqtd1_YlU_eB1RahZdfAlU0QGp23Y9Z2Ci4PkN6VPUXl7Sp4U6pEsMoDJWC78y4ZSKn5Ub5SQAsopz-FnGKOFIUWyO52kjly22I1isrxj68DezEAjCF0Pd0I35I4/s400/Favela+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263220647315910610" border="0" /></a> The favela entrance by day. Inviting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVfKJNPg-zQdhXh08fN923dFJsyP6H_XXKTtRf8mHflFWFCfNWp871fShv-CfQ_KGWO_4do7VLQK4Q4ZoR2mY81z7K6a1fM_rI0pNni7t76Wug3o1iG4rCxVlFuZRZ4xBmuUO0qFwgIQ/s1600-h/Favela+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVfKJNPg-zQdhXh08fN923dFJsyP6H_XXKTtRf8mHflFWFCfNWp871fShv-CfQ_KGWO_4do7VLQK4Q4ZoR2mY81z7K6a1fM_rI0pNni7t76Wug3o1iG4rCxVlFuZRZ4xBmuUO0qFwgIQ/s400/Favela+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263212506890925778" border="0" /></a>The main pathway of the favela.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXfbnt9ZZXP82UCptVyaEbAcABVtKzSgUp51JuWNFp5OWYDAUP0fLZKSu5yuiK4YaB53YannFCcZpUDSJd839dP7mllZsSAF3wX2tjjRJywr4J-_ByJxQQqTSRijIL6XWXDdrYZwKIoY/s1600-h/Favela+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXfbnt9ZZXP82UCptVyaEbAcABVtKzSgUp51JuWNFp5OWYDAUP0fLZKSu5yuiK4YaB53YannFCcZpUDSJd839dP7mllZsSAF3wX2tjjRJywr4J-_ByJxQQqTSRijIL6XWXDdrYZwKIoY/s400/Favela+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263221686401203858" border="0" /></a> Our place is the one at the very bottom on the left.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF49ylmLwKnh2GzL2dc7Ij4lfxyyNo31RpdDl7_ieX147MRJbdlZRtkwjDQVkb3ILdaY5wDqAKa9P8f3FP07l2Msc3OMuM8VtmHlOvxpbeT7TGBJboXm-RIzxWtKvARfCpRM4T2KugT4U/s1600-h/Favela+7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF49ylmLwKnh2GzL2dc7Ij4lfxyyNo31RpdDl7_ieX147MRJbdlZRtkwjDQVkb3ILdaY5wDqAKa9P8f3FP07l2Msc3OMuM8VtmHlOvxpbeT7TGBJboXm-RIzxWtKvARfCpRM4T2KugT4U/s400/Favela+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263224652945436418" border="0" /></a> The view from the living area that greeted me every morning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIi4YIpPM4-CwdmwyIKNorLCMVr8Ol9v9cAB4fJoL2NXsRCPDUj3o1XOx1tfv9HHV6jG-2w7DyJjLoxi6zZ2LdoiNPG5hfIisTFNuXjQy_xe9l_pHHp8Mb9qPZyuYJff0SJeox86WEeio/s1600-h/Favela+22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIi4YIpPM4-CwdmwyIKNorLCMVr8Ol9v9cAB4fJoL2NXsRCPDUj3o1XOx1tfv9HHV6jG-2w7DyJjLoxi6zZ2LdoiNPG5hfIisTFNuXjQy_xe9l_pHHp8Mb9qPZyuYJff0SJeox86WEeio/s400/Favela+22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264341240313645186" border="0" /></a> Our front door. The aliens have landed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RmodwxLfTywAXBcGdFC5H3A09g304WJ5qgA6joao6B5QmqLK1FLIRS0ZsAYgm28UG_92ETfiyjqOg9-uMosIdxLvxsqacHoqQhBh6hV8pmpL_LrTUJwo3hHSdiVXq6yRocmf1NGbKcc/s1600-h/Favela+7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RmodwxLfTywAXBcGdFC5H3A09g304WJ5qgA6joao6B5QmqLK1FLIRS0ZsAYgm28UG_92ETfiyjqOg9-uMosIdxLvxsqacHoqQhBh6hV8pmpL_LrTUJwo3hHSdiVXq6yRocmf1NGbKcc/s400/Favela+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264355564727380914" border="0" /></a> Night view out of our window.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJBIjSMmZjT6sGniJklJ7f1ROOikuAm6Zk5fmLif5wLGuXs97Pyb3QjOvLhclwU7Zl01rvAHKwigamJIF0vi71btJ4FVUbl4UQAvdayp6Il0xHNHPAI7LShfl2OBx4qHqw-_tZMOLfDE/s1600-h/Favela+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJBIjSMmZjT6sGniJklJ7f1ROOikuAm6Zk5fmLif5wLGuXs97Pyb3QjOvLhclwU7Zl01rvAHKwigamJIF0vi71btJ4FVUbl4UQAvdayp6Il0xHNHPAI7LShfl2OBx4qHqw-_tZMOLfDE/s400/Favela+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264355552169220194" border="0" /></a> The joys of doing laundry. Thankfully our friends let us share their improvised clothes line.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpLdTmKIgT5opTAAOYGr-3zKphlFYANv8sG4SYOwF1cIAyipBpZPzsS6uGyi0BzlKK08HOECYzYyixxDdKh8PhztVT9iYJENu5JzhfAlA5uNNq0wTfVzAJ0fxZ6K1RU3jUMoO4IesNzo/s1600-h/Favela+6x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpLdTmKIgT5opTAAOYGr-3zKphlFYANv8sG4SYOwF1cIAyipBpZPzsS6uGyi0BzlKK08HOECYzYyixxDdKh8PhztVT9iYJENu5JzhfAlA5uNNq0wTfVzAJ0fxZ6K1RU3jUMoO4IesNzo/s400/Favela+6x.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264355565048268210" border="0" /></a>More joyous laundry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCT5DWy7qkFbIIxPg0O725yEs-Ix-PoAuKh8-Blrg4ikhvzOBbyZbkmHYxTG-gUKV9wxskXhp70oWcpFQzxykYK6gsy6eenDqaf81OtrmfxlbZi0ayO1J-SCUo8VWI0YvmWpPN0qPzkY/s1600-h/Favela+20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCT5DWy7qkFbIIxPg0O725yEs-Ix-PoAuKh8-Blrg4ikhvzOBbyZbkmHYxTG-gUKV9wxskXhp70oWcpFQzxykYK6gsy6eenDqaf81OtrmfxlbZi0ayO1J-SCUo8VWI0YvmWpPN0qPzkY/s400/Favela+20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264383898049208866" border="0" /></a>Just inside the entrance. Quiet night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSHzTaz5RIE5xoxPJ6fAHT6_SYTia06tilfI8m1Kg2ssT-dMpBh435C2fnSoJxkFLFf5No6QGVAcUmJeei8zrxwZgUTSS0ADe_tEwgmDKF3w35i3p97hEd-LE0s5btJEswjBrAGj4-cE/s1600-h/Favela+21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSHzTaz5RIE5xoxPJ6fAHT6_SYTia06tilfI8m1Kg2ssT-dMpBh435C2fnSoJxkFLFf5No6QGVAcUmJeei8zrxwZgUTSS0ADe_tEwgmDKF3w35i3p97hEd-LE0s5btJEswjBrAGj4-cE/s400/Favela+21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264383902103682130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCejMSvdCbxwTOQnTvce5bEwSJ_R3es7xnYTjlavjvlPcFpbQbBQhdLQHptn2QewYQNWDiof3d-n-s5c0Uj5QMUGYBy7f3rMXsSaf59fbYlf85CsGdH6n9k4Vsk43hlO1MPttDKcVRB_0/s1600-h/Favela+doggy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCejMSvdCbxwTOQnTvce5bEwSJ_R3es7xnYTjlavjvlPcFpbQbBQhdLQHptn2QewYQNWDiof3d-n-s5c0Uj5QMUGYBy7f3rMXsSaf59fbYlf85CsGdH6n9k4Vsk43hlO1MPttDKcVRB_0/s400/Favela+doggy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266986733510792210" border="0" /></a>Favela pup. He didn't like the camera flash all that much.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSX_VjGsotykp3Dj5MlQ9uyu44r_d1E6htLs1gPAwhdrdFExUB9l7ZjmK9EVDmfv3ENr-moraeWc4O9BdVYs68ncd2ck12vpMPYBAlQsS-vECzgRGVNb8ghhwqcXJU7c0nHpRn6rkqeA/s1600-h/Favela+18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSX_VjGsotykp3Dj5MlQ9uyu44r_d1E6htLs1gPAwhdrdFExUB9l7ZjmK9EVDmfv3ENr-moraeWc4O9BdVYs68ncd2ck12vpMPYBAlQsS-vECzgRGVNb8ghhwqcXJU7c0nHpRn6rkqeA/s400/Favela+18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264382022156511618" border="0" /></a>Going down into the depths of the favela.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9Ct3h5PTYiPzFf3v8h-WJGuP_56wQ5-NxX6n72uFudML5_ZKURUyvf5-YypvKWjhWiZjwurK0fHqylpuZGCd1IxAhPWNhuRlL1HrPlQApI8YYoQqQIx6kUFEpDsvEq1IcCP4pjrFzr4/s1600-h/Favela.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9Ct3h5PTYiPzFf3v8h-WJGuP_56wQ5-NxX6n72uFudML5_ZKURUyvf5-YypvKWjhWiZjwurK0fHqylpuZGCd1IxAhPWNhuRlL1HrPlQApI8YYoQqQIx6kUFEpDsvEq1IcCP4pjrFzr4/s400/Favela.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263226278498907522" border="0" /></a>This is the same slope but leading up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuFoWwoUVVpi3EHPaycPuQjjVntlRQqWbVE5hugIw8c5OnE4H1kuhdIyi0fQrInD2wfsioP2bHOH6_UxcGNJURNMtKSIcLGS_xqglFeso2IffwMam-0aYZdOOAuyzKwW0Z7Q-YTgswjw/s1600-h/Favela+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuFoWwoUVVpi3EHPaycPuQjjVntlRQqWbVE5hugIw8c5OnE4H1kuhdIyi0fQrInD2wfsioP2bHOH6_UxcGNJURNMtKSIcLGS_xqglFeso2IffwMam-0aYZdOOAuyzKwW0Z7Q-YTgswjw/s400/Favela+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263213805030194946" border="0" /></a>The back stairs leading out of the favela.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6-uuiqETb76DQmCBZkhSWcxzmKpZDniOc4-Mo7BrF4xZoUnOipROO4XDTsKfEJszrCJIVzxZG14ylr7GLM68EOj73ijgFYwLkqY1YomxAH_Q1HDHbJGE1sXzgGllrZVXn77U2oakw-4/s1600-h/Favela+5xx.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6-uuiqETb76DQmCBZkhSWcxzmKpZDniOc4-Mo7BrF4xZoUnOipROO4XDTsKfEJszrCJIVzxZG14ylr7GLM68EOj73ijgFYwLkqY1YomxAH_Q1HDHbJGE1sXzgGllrZVXn77U2oakw-4/s400/Favela+5xx.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264355542540871842" border="0" /></a><br />The back stairs ascending. They really worked my gluteus maximus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCyd-5wXtdUk_TAJtjrqhPvBvDyNQNIak1K1xdPLijsc2PI71Rd7NRJ-2Eb2YfsNvhnA2tc9c1hVDEM-3SElCQVoRix68fFCNdHTv2pI3QslttNTz1NzTBsrEcZOrJPdzIiYNkscNTm0/s1600-h/Favela+9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCyd-5wXtdUk_TAJtjrqhPvBvDyNQNIak1K1xdPLijsc2PI71Rd7NRJ-2Eb2YfsNvhnA2tc9c1hVDEM-3SElCQVoRix68fFCNdHTv2pI3QslttNTz1NzTBsrEcZOrJPdzIiYNkscNTm0/s400/Favela+9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264355578711642386" border="0" /></a>Endless stairs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGRnkaiTtCmMkfh_7xucV412e4UxZ1dDhUcnW2Vj7Yng_QTQyHwDshHsm9u2JTnf7ywSUvbEUqsTGxJK1LH-CRcVAfNLXYYjiWImIKMjRsM-Xl06FhqTIqQbaQ1gUFZfnh8FWB1mZjos/s1600-h/Favela+front.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGRnkaiTtCmMkfh_7xucV412e4UxZ1dDhUcnW2Vj7Yng_QTQyHwDshHsm9u2JTnf7ywSUvbEUqsTGxJK1LH-CRcVAfNLXYYjiWImIKMjRsM-Xl06FhqTIqQbaQ1gUFZfnh8FWB1mZjos/s400/Favela+front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262869458998740274" border="0" /></a><br />This was the main street at the front of the favela. It could take you up down and all around.Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-8911915026692972722009-01-22T22:26:00.000+11:002009-01-03T20:03:20.151+11:00Deeper into Rio 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpABVhtelPMKJYTNoFPNeWviLS0g8iMZIUkHUskqYdT6VB1g1Knr6HKYsGto5C88THkpDIS6wUhl2wWFg9tA9wU6vjpyavaZRajgsveR9REMTm0kz02yEDot3CMg-DgGLuj2VLzEIJ9Q/s1600-h/Rio+41.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpABVhtelPMKJYTNoFPNeWviLS0g8iMZIUkHUskqYdT6VB1g1Knr6HKYsGto5C88THkpDIS6wUhl2wWFg9tA9wU6vjpyavaZRajgsveR9REMTm0kz02yEDot3CMg-DgGLuj2VLzEIJ9Q/s400/Rio+41.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269587368480404626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-Hcuj-lt8lm-u2QdISJIllJNoGZXk7zBwKtsiZYTtsdZHGmResLxaBCpdMezKqM8a8XlTO2aeRvvVm4pDhVLKTJQ_h1tQkjpvSTH7TF3fhEGJ2brc-if71YoddBv3SdlaEA3-LdGf5o/s1600-h/Rio+42.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-Hcuj-lt8lm-u2QdISJIllJNoGZXk7zBwKtsiZYTtsdZHGmResLxaBCpdMezKqM8a8XlTO2aeRvvVm4pDhVLKTJQ_h1tQkjpvSTH7TF3fhEGJ2brc-if71YoddBv3SdlaEA3-LdGf5o/s400/Rio+42.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269587368425890866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SfwvEnjr3_QBpWHSgg92dDo5obCKSsy6vjFkbB8EYbGp2MbwTp7n5egb8xDHKv0RqIQ1FXgmUBsD4kAdYOpCC6-4AIrnqSL0-pIPyMihDFBv594IP8LKsMDWeL9wsuU1uOPP-p6TSTg/s1600-h/Rio+43.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SfwvEnjr3_QBpWHSgg92dDo5obCKSsy6vjFkbB8EYbGp2MbwTp7n5egb8xDHKv0RqIQ1FXgmUBsD4kAdYOpCC6-4AIrnqSL0-pIPyMihDFBv594IP8LKsMDWeL9wsuU1uOPP-p6TSTg/s400/Rio+43.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267003595774432210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGY6lNF85yzpk-5hTQMTKaBjimRCSh0SRu_BGXHElOWDFl8V342OS-eg58BrDEAFGWeGDyTwoiHn3PDCHwbFFP0VluXdxuvxItwnxhL-1a3TRVytbIVApbdvfB97COkSFHSc4n-jtkTZg/s1600-h/Rio+39.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGY6lNF85yzpk-5hTQMTKaBjimRCSh0SRu_BGXHElOWDFl8V342OS-eg58BrDEAFGWeGDyTwoiHn3PDCHwbFFP0VluXdxuvxItwnxhL-1a3TRVytbIVApbdvfB97COkSFHSc4n-jtkTZg/s400/Rio+39.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267003585031380514" border="0" /></a><br />I wanted to take pics of the boys playing football but it was too dark on the court. So I took this artsy-fartsy one instead.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN6kovKD7Bl7BBJXSaNf0_ojd7K4YgvLhkWDGGRCuD19SreCO6tNbHkwn9_l588hPdtp7CaASf05VXzGscpR_nSKr9O06krhifYaHAbTzQEgp3LiSYDHX4eU-DfZPV8_RfsXziyiTWCg/s1600-h/Rio+36.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN6kovKD7Bl7BBJXSaNf0_ojd7K4YgvLhkWDGGRCuD19SreCO6tNbHkwn9_l588hPdtp7CaASf05VXzGscpR_nSKr9O06krhifYaHAbTzQEgp3LiSYDHX4eU-DfZPV8_RfsXziyiTWCg/s400/Rio+36.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267003580714130850" border="0" /></a>The view from the train station near the animal shelter SUIPA.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPSHpmAeKImdM029iFCXR5dPmbWxfJ5WI6tWkmtFTRc0RFj2xydCm8bxLlvZTiiUqMk-NjltIdUrlr1-4MOs7lXF9S98QuQsr8cyqPudC-Gyw4qQCoIyaRSisOt7xRBN5HxpFb0kCGqM/s1600-h/Rio+35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPSHpmAeKImdM029iFCXR5dPmbWxfJ5WI6tWkmtFTRc0RFj2xydCm8bxLlvZTiiUqMk-NjltIdUrlr1-4MOs7lXF9S98QuQsr8cyqPudC-Gyw4qQCoIyaRSisOt7xRBN5HxpFb0kCGqM/s400/Rio+35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267001649952839666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kt7-FxujG-1GFPRhquJP14cT7Ahmxkt8dhbZ4jXF07CpR6xEGeH7zGVm24S0pQ8pVcwU1IyDreLTiIwyv3Kn4iSHxqQWjeMjMI_q_4AmODFGAQuBPPwHR76bBNrfi-ZPPATZ-UO5pa0/s1600-h/Rio+34.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kt7-FxujG-1GFPRhquJP14cT7Ahmxkt8dhbZ4jXF07CpR6xEGeH7zGVm24S0pQ8pVcwU1IyDreLTiIwyv3Kn4iSHxqQWjeMjMI_q_4AmODFGAQuBPPwHR76bBNrfi-ZPPATZ-UO5pa0/s400/Rio+34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267001643819605746" border="0" /></a>This was taken out of a taxi window after an exhausting night of partying.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1sr70nfFQivJwAYRljUloF5s9hoFKT_tJP-78-sElLPomFBuSqprc9UONHUsOD1bu2QsSpHCXp5cX4sdKUvO0rT4k4TFLfLLEGHJB_0oBfs7TY9jTSd2ck_F3UwiNFBupLbwVKvvkPE/s1600-h/Rio+33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1sr70nfFQivJwAYRljUloF5s9hoFKT_tJP-78-sElLPomFBuSqprc9UONHUsOD1bu2QsSpHCXp5cX4sdKUvO0rT4k4TFLfLLEGHJB_0oBfs7TY9jTSd2ck_F3UwiNFBupLbwVKvvkPE/s400/Rio+33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267001640505243954" border="0" /></a>As above.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z5SLkq4kkHiaJYlH58NdYMrXJgEusdjVFDNvrEZS_L5nhYEXUU8IJv07x2lYgBADeVk5E6x6UXFpCXd9ggJJdM2WImd0lqXRH8l1eEgIBTm88hEFSOnB_dSBL8zS3Bjt5YwZ6vK8cn4/s1600-h/Rio+32.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z5SLkq4kkHiaJYlH58NdYMrXJgEusdjVFDNvrEZS_L5nhYEXUU8IJv07x2lYgBADeVk5E6x6UXFpCXd9ggJJdM2WImd0lqXRH8l1eEgIBTm88hEFSOnB_dSBL8zS3Bjt5YwZ6vK8cn4/s400/Rio+32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267001633797415938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzQWruq98kLF0hsR5lQhVB7FBx7__JLeuKhMsApYnTpsZBS96XDBp_8HsfQUzwMYId8gNH9r6hqe1Bm2KP4OkLtODs5g5gXParbFqV1klqu_YzLqRnS2rNMJjRtZGu3Om_GDBK19IsGE/s1600-h/Rio+31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzQWruq98kLF0hsR5lQhVB7FBx7__JLeuKhMsApYnTpsZBS96XDBp_8HsfQUzwMYId8gNH9r6hqe1Bm2KP4OkLtODs5g5gXParbFqV1klqu_YzLqRnS2rNMJjRtZGu3Om_GDBK19IsGE/s400/Rio+31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266999249850472514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoHd_n-4DDzZqPOBLw9P9054acfrtFCN83KtIIMbxa8DMVCv4LgFyHXSMAMQNJmtVn35muYpSFPp-oBnqz4ee0A37jv8iPmdQnnJI_xSOck0bc7_lfHEgv-KcSzq1W2FC-a_pnT9Yi0U/s1600-h/Rio+30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoHd_n-4DDzZqPOBLw9P9054acfrtFCN83KtIIMbxa8DMVCv4LgFyHXSMAMQNJmtVn35muYpSFPp-oBnqz4ee0A37jv8iPmdQnnJI_xSOck0bc7_lfHEgv-KcSzq1W2FC-a_pnT9Yi0U/s400/Rio+30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266999249678424690" border="0" /></a>The guard station near our favela.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_hhsS9Bt9ppx1w5nBEqpGrA9_JCDFMIfjUuZ63oZHljGPQb1OqSOoT9NT1iia34i7JgHvaMEfQCDbUu0GFo7aDlMferHNM4EwGquDMXj02BMpgZcpBWqrKKf-y_VkugEvRcvoTS_DPw/s1600-h/Rio+27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_hhsS9Bt9ppx1w5nBEqpGrA9_JCDFMIfjUuZ63oZHljGPQb1OqSOoT9NT1iia34i7JgHvaMEfQCDbUu0GFo7aDlMferHNM4EwGquDMXj02BMpgZcpBWqrKKf-y_VkugEvRcvoTS_DPw/s400/Rio+27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266999247146433618" border="0" /></a>These were taken from the roof of one of the houses in the favela.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AyhUlS4HTOR5lonSQ9PFF-yrACsqXXB0Jwwt3I5NTZmIt5ANv7F1TTvHva2cmsyR1HZURczbEU9c6-1TOw3mypMzZnfZN7FBIYRCqDfWWgNnxrpWM1EGjWRssZCxPfDyei24O4Vkwh4/s1600-h/Rio+26.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AyhUlS4HTOR5lonSQ9PFF-yrACsqXXB0Jwwt3I5NTZmIt5ANv7F1TTvHva2cmsyR1HZURczbEU9c6-1TOw3mypMzZnfZN7FBIYRCqDfWWgNnxrpWM1EGjWRssZCxPfDyei24O4Vkwh4/s400/Rio+26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266999244121146450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSRMHPaOzKn4DYOnoZK-eXSajmxGropcBGazJV1e6BArGjQ5jtRwXxwOfbVpiwMBhE1SOYGtE1LvsNz25vad6kvpV4b-lceme4wUNFIXoJSZ9zDYouQR4yQp7iDgOXDmap6Do3ikDt94/s1600-h/Rio+25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSRMHPaOzKn4DYOnoZK-eXSajmxGropcBGazJV1e6BArGjQ5jtRwXxwOfbVpiwMBhE1SOYGtE1LvsNz25vad6kvpV4b-lceme4wUNFIXoJSZ9zDYouQR4yQp7iDgOXDmap6Do3ikDt94/s400/Rio+25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266997611877622786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKq8JvdATMVbRD39XXK1NQVgAnzVdOO-f9fJbhxOUyB67BojUxFmE6gR_3M0qO2n11bDWS20QOebe-j0sKoPeCVGRFmtd13FKHHVVZs7AHqHdlz1TeFvgytesU5tv5zE_Jl-ccOk6__Y/s1600-h/Rio+24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKq8JvdATMVbRD39XXK1NQVgAnzVdOO-f9fJbhxOUyB67BojUxFmE6gR_3M0qO2n11bDWS20QOebe-j0sKoPeCVGRFmtd13FKHHVVZs7AHqHdlz1TeFvgytesU5tv5zE_Jl-ccOk6__Y/s400/Rio+24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266997611904991842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxvlkCzNaal_Mm1oRVthv2iHucxHdJSpkrAsEtqka9bka1lIFJ385QE3HUNbdOtRch7dwP40gQB3_6I_DVUZtjG-PoGyAOUnurorIQAU1F3NS25K6dSAZOEWsSOzpQfcm6DI2hnodsMU/s1600-h/Rio+23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxvlkCzNaal_Mm1oRVthv2iHucxHdJSpkrAsEtqka9bka1lIFJ385QE3HUNbdOtRch7dwP40gQB3_6I_DVUZtjG-PoGyAOUnurorIQAU1F3NS25K6dSAZOEWsSOzpQfcm6DI2hnodsMU/s400/Rio+23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266997606182395698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizei9W-Dl0FgarLXOiAJw1p-6zjHjrmxDo6Hn0oUyHpYpASEXiGZTtXjq76PzEnvOOrfDyvQmnuov2EFpv-s0zvbZGBahrKCEE7x8wYTKu9kJOvUeo51QDBYWOFHrlNGvGQR2v-YCGxZk/s1600-h/Rio+11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizei9W-Dl0FgarLXOiAJw1p-6zjHjrmxDo6Hn0oUyHpYpASEXiGZTtXjq76PzEnvOOrfDyvQmnuov2EFpv-s0zvbZGBahrKCEE7x8wYTKu9kJOvUeo51QDBYWOFHrlNGvGQR2v-YCGxZk/s400/Rio+11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990520744110082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTTVlkbapYTYHEH-2dpemGY5sMGqZHsgmDaACvOpE9GVY-nAIsN-w4EkXdgeLC3t_jMiuXW0JpfSbDjV0y2-I6qe3omWH69RTPWK0ZylZxrOPbt0gQNMCDaC8uORowQqeFVDUHUY0zFk/s1600-h/Rio+13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTTVlkbapYTYHEH-2dpemGY5sMGqZHsgmDaACvOpE9GVY-nAIsN-w4EkXdgeLC3t_jMiuXW0JpfSbDjV0y2-I6qe3omWH69RTPWK0ZylZxrOPbt0gQNMCDaC8uORowQqeFVDUHUY0zFk/s400/Rio+13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990571762337986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2V5zzjOKm2h7wQwLnkCBpLX5K-HsSlfn1Gpfu8QgAJ97UcIveF8FWnICF7NGoBw4rdng-h7cdOwW7YpDTUXTtkoR_XghGRjx5nXgBSQgPpzusDcrqLWWZYSpodk4y4FoFI5eF1QUsUc/s1600-h/Rio+12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2V5zzjOKm2h7wQwLnkCBpLX5K-HsSlfn1Gpfu8QgAJ97UcIveF8FWnICF7NGoBw4rdng-h7cdOwW7YpDTUXTtkoR_XghGRjx5nXgBSQgPpzusDcrqLWWZYSpodk4y4FoFI5eF1QUsUc/s400/Rio+12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990562055670594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2h3Ng8jCWnquuF_z4eHjciQjSvuTfXmtZ8kGh3f-ySO_RKuowKHHk6csvWoyzBPZ8uIeY2z3dGv0y4o_ZJ-e6slBReVdnin82YLXO4oWzd4SyYaWLHHrI8rEQrN4oqa5DArU6CU2sA8I/s1600-h/Rio+14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2h3Ng8jCWnquuF_z4eHjciQjSvuTfXmtZ8kGh3f-ySO_RKuowKHHk6csvWoyzBPZ8uIeY2z3dGv0y4o_ZJ-e6slBReVdnin82YLXO4oWzd4SyYaWLHHrI8rEQrN4oqa5DArU6CU2sA8I/s400/Rio+14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267003570564228610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL55arReCfpXXwtfcD0BYbDSHN-mv9sMSk7XtkX2d9eA11vpOh17Je0dtOFm1BYt_JVAoDwj1acZtgrWSNRyEEzpY9kOhFWAwaKiRHDdtdnhGFRtl9WxYkZB3f-Hc7tkL7QoUS4wG6Tjk/s1600-h/Rio+10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL55arReCfpXXwtfcD0BYbDSHN-mv9sMSk7XtkX2d9eA11vpOh17Je0dtOFm1BYt_JVAoDwj1acZtgrWSNRyEEzpY9kOhFWAwaKiRHDdtdnhGFRtl9WxYkZB3f-Hc7tkL7QoUS4wG6Tjk/s400/Rio+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266990520959804850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIETq1wqu4zRn_xtcnVqc0qw3jYDoLLWicDl9gT2z_cZvE2amn326BaviIJkOSLKDB9mVHFVzsho12iSGDLnJHXgRmZ7Lpkv5uSms6zThkNTtlAxsA18sptGF7N0tfMflCb21cVEv-DA/s1600-h/Rio+46.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIETq1wqu4zRn_xtcnVqc0qw3jYDoLLWicDl9gT2z_cZvE2amn326BaviIJkOSLKDB9mVHFVzsho12iSGDLnJHXgRmZ7Lpkv5uSms6zThkNTtlAxsA18sptGF7N0tfMflCb21cVEv-DA/s400/Rio+46.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269587375431602722" border="0" /></a>The famous beach that features in a song: "At the Copa, Copacabana".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3fBarwzk2YERJjCJzwChEb1twfrHhdb7rpjMp7rTMo0KufdyCGVrcO_jKazSyNUQweHw57aYENlKPT91LpuTIAD3Rgcg_cJeaH1RwWQ-O2qkp2Fl7HiW3TxvdOEbGUa0PmpxureGAM4/s1600-h/Rio+45.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3fBarwzk2YERJjCJzwChEb1twfrHhdb7rpjMp7rTMo0KufdyCGVrcO_jKazSyNUQweHw57aYENlKPT91LpuTIAD3Rgcg_cJeaH1RwWQ-O2qkp2Fl7HiW3TxvdOEbGUa0PmpxureGAM4/s400/Rio+45.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269587369977932754" border="0" /></a>Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-66981855740732771322009-01-20T06:00:00.000+11:002009-01-03T20:03:45.026+11:00Getting Deeper into the CityIn spite of the over population and the impoverishment the country suffers the people remain in high spirits. Though much activity takes place during the day and night, everything unfolds at a leisurely pace. Apart from the familiar manner in which people communicate, they are also exceedingly patient, and though there are scores of people on the street, there is no mad rush. Even in the very city centre a kind of calmness is retained.<br />Not being able to speak the language is not as much of an obstacle as you might think. If you learn a few simple phrases you can easily ride public transport and people will communicate with you regardless, even by using highly unrefined sign language. Or they'll speak Portuguese to you in the hope that you might get the gist of what they're saying.<br /><br />However, two things I find appalling are public urination (by males only of course) and spitting (by both sexes). Both are common practices and make me want to yell 'do you have the bladder of an infant??' and 'swallow your phlegm!!'<br /><br />Apart from the usual methods of transport there is also the option of taking a motor bike taxi or public Kombi van, which is the most economical. The only car at our disposal is not entirely road worthy, is unregistered and I'm the only one with a license. Road rage does not appear to be an issue here but people still drive like loonies so I haven't been brave enough to take the car for a spin yet. But I hope to take it down the mountain at least once.<br /><br />The perils of Rio de Janeiro are overhyped but of course you should take the same precautions as you would anywhere else. I chose not to carry a bag and as advised I dispersed my money amongst my pockets, and I avoided obvious things like walking alone at night in vacant areas. I was able to take photos in most places; apart from other ghettos and the city centre where there was a high chance the camera would be snatched.<br /><br />When returning home after a night out it is normal for people to drive through red lights at night if the way is clear due to the risk of being robbed while your car is at a standstill. Locking your doors is ineffectual as thieves are usually armed. However, this only applies to certain areas, and worst case scenario you get stopped and are forced to hand over your valuables. So as in most big cities it is not recommended that you carry large sums of money or drape yourself in expensive jewellery; having said that, awareness always guards one well.Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-69267578994827711832009-01-18T20:39:00.000+11:002009-01-03T20:04:06.489+11:00Visuals from the Favela 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz9jsj_smsypT1hwXErzI9f9G39Pd2e52UTxurbJnPZc2b58R-kkYNjvbOEaXVHrLvAKAzmszTRT2RTnD2r9vsEZpPWbyFmVW0Bd6LaDIPI9oJEgwU_lRBeZE9HOmqtFlQPKx5Ju-sVg/s1600-h/Favela+17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz9jsj_smsypT1hwXErzI9f9G39Pd2e52UTxurbJnPZc2b58R-kkYNjvbOEaXVHrLvAKAzmszTRT2RTnD2r9vsEZpPWbyFmVW0Bd6LaDIPI9oJEgwU_lRBeZE9HOmqtFlQPKx5Ju-sVg/s400/Favela+17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264400637427839906" border="0" /></a>The little shop in the ghetto. Sells delicious sweet wine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEeQFWlnuT7YdC5sonf7Apti7DYqCsS6VrErXWTpFyus4vz5wu9swM6yONLm31aeux4rWbfK18GRF9TyY7XGVBICaAf1hqvKg4dVfr95E8joNEU-DJaC74GJnhghk8wYTLldnLTS2LSU/s1600-h/Favela+16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEeQFWlnuT7YdC5sonf7Apti7DYqCsS6VrErXWTpFyus4vz5wu9swM6yONLm31aeux4rWbfK18GRF9TyY7XGVBICaAf1hqvKg4dVfr95E8joNEU-DJaC74GJnhghk8wYTLldnLTS2LSU/s400/Favela+16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264400633697366066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMDcVQzU6yTE4j9cl0475wvqzwxFkr8HNo6KHLWihyq_5Z-kFVD2DIhOhF89Lv-2pYN3X2XPpeX5XH_oETun_GDuSK1szRxyWldBNSxb3WH2NQPzJLRIav-OFRG3FsgyeSl4ezkFAaJI/s1600-h/Favela+15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMDcVQzU6yTE4j9cl0475wvqzwxFkr8HNo6KHLWihyq_5Z-kFVD2DIhOhF89Lv-2pYN3X2XPpeX5XH_oETun_GDuSK1szRxyWldBNSxb3WH2NQPzJLRIav-OFRG3FsgyeSl4ezkFAaJI/s400/Favela+15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264400626037781138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3rTK6m-bhLZwDneLXYr9_JGt8H4LcLBhCT7VVGcrSw5jX8HBlVWb5cJtRI5RGvlHofDdQBDCSYPTsj1H7A9Z7VY3LEFRA7m012u8wJ7ZTKzunN9_hfrc2fXeKK9O8DjgdGC_-Z-3X3M/s1600-h/Favela+way+to+Carole%27s+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3rTK6m-bhLZwDneLXYr9_JGt8H4LcLBhCT7VVGcrSw5jX8HBlVWb5cJtRI5RGvlHofDdQBDCSYPTsj1H7A9Z7VY3LEFRA7m012u8wJ7ZTKzunN9_hfrc2fXeKK9O8DjgdGC_-Z-3X3M/s400/Favela+way+to+Carole%27s+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265844516470040082" border="0" /></a>This was the way to Melissa's cousin's house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXTd-dLWxoXrVat8qvTNwvVEqkqWgCRr69iaw5S0EtuErBI6IK4yctEOugmhlEjNuLgQem9xPnFlyQ9b5bTRrqSjpjc1PreSwRaVyIaUWfaLh4q8vwkeV4N5ajRfeE3J7iIUwSuYKrKs/s1600-h/Favela+way+to+Carole%27s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXTd-dLWxoXrVat8qvTNwvVEqkqWgCRr69iaw5S0EtuErBI6IK4yctEOugmhlEjNuLgQem9xPnFlyQ9b5bTRrqSjpjc1PreSwRaVyIaUWfaLh4q8vwkeV4N5ajRfeE3J7iIUwSuYKrKs/s400/Favela+way+to+Carole%27s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265844514714390818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkyCvnKOAbF1wbdmZ0nhMFiXEDXOwn_vNxFpwyLYmtCs-ivLhwfzCGZ-y9M7b8S8prhhPb0ckeuhUVotQvhyphenhyphenp1nbnIKvSucBA5VpsfjvBPHUQtJR6J8bM1vGx6KRk6a2c07lTq4u0mWo/s1600-h/Favela+monkey+bars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkyCvnKOAbF1wbdmZ0nhMFiXEDXOwn_vNxFpwyLYmtCs-ivLhwfzCGZ-y9M7b8S8prhhPb0ckeuhUVotQvhyphenhyphenp1nbnIKvSucBA5VpsfjvBPHUQtJR6J8bM1vGx6KRk6a2c07lTq4u0mWo/s400/Favela+monkey+bars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265844511700429682" border="0" /></a>Kids play area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLy8S1G-fhV9iq-eeq6hJEceb4wIT0FjDG5pPUYYXn87LIKijiBvafhff8EI8pZxpbYyrCwH-3TTpadHS0pSeXt-88BXQorHPHs48FPu44mNEvaHwg6ZpjFzczlGkBbXlJGHDsDtOFus/s1600-h/Favela+day+care+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLy8S1G-fhV9iq-eeq6hJEceb4wIT0FjDG5pPUYYXn87LIKijiBvafhff8EI8pZxpbYyrCwH-3TTpadHS0pSeXt-88BXQorHPHs48FPu44mNEvaHwg6ZpjFzczlGkBbXlJGHDsDtOFus/s400/Favela+day+care+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264751329917666562" border="0" /></a>The blue part of the building is the day care centre.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpIdmyuMRNloTdnacJD-rWq1_IqyyNkko-hv4KEdouyMCuk7MaBFpJItFytaYtXMnO0_lbNrJGbcoCzM4pTa9hg8qp5hO_YOHj1_H1Gz7vc98YxvBWeO9F1MwSjC7-xaSnLJD8pTLD48/s1600-h/Favela+day+care.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpIdmyuMRNloTdnacJD-rWq1_IqyyNkko-hv4KEdouyMCuk7MaBFpJItFytaYtXMnO0_lbNrJGbcoCzM4pTa9hg8qp5hO_YOHj1_H1Gz7vc98YxvBWeO9F1MwSjC7-xaSnLJD8pTLD48/s400/Favela+day+care.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264751328290968834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYENjLU5_JyUpNdWJjkGUnwNR5b3KL8_rG0k3LfyBtc3RAgNN8T22pmMHgfgk2OAbrYZoYHXBOUG7QnsiB5ykZiWPeNLZTTWSH-xQnN1Ph2EaH78wH__OUXvWyezzw-gtb2oa94ubwYI/s1600-h/Favela+bar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYENjLU5_JyUpNdWJjkGUnwNR5b3KL8_rG0k3LfyBtc3RAgNN8T22pmMHgfgk2OAbrYZoYHXBOUG7QnsiB5ykZiWPeNLZTTWSH-xQnN1Ph2EaH78wH__OUXvWyezzw-gtb2oa94ubwYI/s400/Favela+bar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264751321817208482" border="0" /></a>Favela bar. Inexplicably empty, must have been a school night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDdyAloc-gyRHSKekj__zSYYLA4WbIyKiUODkr6XNGeKM9GsgtUdTIstjuXXXqCnTHICGkucOk-prBB5X9y6PzKxUTqhVRcRvqvGIFsl7Yc-ZFv5skL4N9OHrEzwOl-ModaWpBF7gEC0/s1600-h/Favela+28.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDdyAloc-gyRHSKekj__zSYYLA4WbIyKiUODkr6XNGeKM9GsgtUdTIstjuXXXqCnTHICGkucOk-prBB5X9y6PzKxUTqhVRcRvqvGIFsl7Yc-ZFv5skL4N9OHrEzwOl-ModaWpBF7gEC0/s400/Favela+28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264751317113936034" border="0" /></a>One of the many passage ways.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG8uxBS0KxgIDO7eJKzAhbEg1tV1cY83eo2XDtuHFyoCKpSiPkxcdG3w0g5oz-WOgvgROf8Xsat7Hg8xfmeHs5QZ9Tx1DrTdnXG5IRHmf3TGnxES6k_bZae_yvqHw1Arl_Ck3y7pSKPw/s1600-h/Favela+27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG8uxBS0KxgIDO7eJKzAhbEg1tV1cY83eo2XDtuHFyoCKpSiPkxcdG3w0g5oz-WOgvgROf8Xsat7Hg8xfmeHs5QZ9Tx1DrTdnXG5IRHmf3TGnxES6k_bZae_yvqHw1Arl_Ck3y7pSKPw/s400/Favela+27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264405972770515634" border="0" /></a>The journey down the stairs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQLFQWUfYFomZlFSze42kFCPkGeJ5dB_J8KiIb1N2V1wkanIy44ZjXz_ko7pH2yX8RxTWIzhasfecZx-opWOzCk9B9aH3qamKmi7SiF0tNN_6XjaWIo100vZ6a7WrBndRFgOef2qwssQ/s1600-h/Favela+23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQLFQWUfYFomZlFSze42kFCPkGeJ5dB_J8KiIb1N2V1wkanIy44ZjXz_ko7pH2yX8RxTWIzhasfecZx-opWOzCk9B9aH3qamKmi7SiF0tNN_6XjaWIo100vZ6a7WrBndRFgOef2qwssQ/s400/Favela+23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264400634131165186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUFe-HGpBdbLT29IH9KZDUuSQ8Yb_9x_dG5hmAwMYNQtJMHAn5fOpUeISQCNs_HmG_kQmhOwCRwd-8HEfO2Woez5-36TB3S4BLmcniROpZuI6lxhqRB8_ZGt_mkuj7kZarQXhVLMGzUQ/s1600-h/Favela+24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUFe-HGpBdbLT29IH9KZDUuSQ8Yb_9x_dG5hmAwMYNQtJMHAn5fOpUeISQCNs_HmG_kQmhOwCRwd-8HEfO2Woez5-36TB3S4BLmcniROpZuI6lxhqRB8_ZGt_mkuj7kZarQXhVLMGzUQ/s400/Favela+24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264405958472485698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWeMzxXO7uxhM04tAwwHKOTIFUrJq2_CvW-nYILL8MPt2krgpXtXmsxMx3Mqsfpzz-exUIoGSVRRmhEW7mtg-kuRAVOQIVkqQScj1mnEoGgocWPXmjLQZaRNvPzWyG46ySimptBPLIo4/s1600-h/Favela+25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWeMzxXO7uxhM04tAwwHKOTIFUrJq2_CvW-nYILL8MPt2krgpXtXmsxMx3Mqsfpzz-exUIoGSVRRmhEW7mtg-kuRAVOQIVkqQScj1mnEoGgocWPXmjLQZaRNvPzWyG46ySimptBPLIo4/s400/Favela+25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264405957644971234" border="0" /></a>We walked down these stairs virtually everyday, hence all the pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VRvTUVgjewlZ0ZlGucA3nnqFkUITyfNCRRDWkPG7UEvpblr6hB92wntEuF_gOQ5tkLNz3AZeEddP8DgM14NJNeL8xB9p49WXw5bmy1ClwyECLlbRNlzJFFBP26WOww-ZD64NMe9z3rw/s1600-h/Favela+26.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VRvTUVgjewlZ0ZlGucA3nnqFkUITyfNCRRDWkPG7UEvpblr6hB92wntEuF_gOQ5tkLNz3AZeEddP8DgM14NJNeL8xB9p49WXw5bmy1ClwyECLlbRNlzJFFBP26WOww-ZD64NMe9z3rw/s400/Favela+26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264405967359387666" border="0" /></a>I walked up these stairs on 3 occations and even though I am fit, each time I thought I was going to have a stroke.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zPrTGAfllvduTFK8LAzmvCl6GS7IVgK3lbqM-LU5c9dFfA1eUy8ST0l9M44uuOq_yXguqInTLhEiqTGDscja0q3fQgCp_Dd4b8AvPrubQqTFUPXNaT80U2Qz3dpCRLdqU9FSJwoUYvE/s1600-h/Favela+11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zPrTGAfllvduTFK8LAzmvCl6GS7IVgK3lbqM-LU5c9dFfA1eUy8ST0l9M44uuOq_yXguqInTLhEiqTGDscja0q3fQgCp_Dd4b8AvPrubQqTFUPXNaT80U2Qz3dpCRLdqU9FSJwoUYvE/s400/Favela+11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264396775035141842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxDOgFLBKGhtJxAERJ72QXd1T6RC0gbCP3BIcxDRPPKZg9Er_bRJmBH3gdEPcJz04L29Krs-O6uHJnTymmDEn5kIAqJxu6YYp0ufTOuIPNtTv4toDogVUGoPXAHDV8889XCFI5wA0l7Y/s1600-h/Favela+12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxDOgFLBKGhtJxAERJ72QXd1T6RC0gbCP3BIcxDRPPKZg9Er_bRJmBH3gdEPcJz04L29Krs-O6uHJnTymmDEn5kIAqJxu6YYp0ufTOuIPNtTv4toDogVUGoPXAHDV8889XCFI5wA0l7Y/s400/Favela+12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264396784803092450" border="0" /></a>This slope was fun to hike up, especially when it was raining.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2pLN_8hB1HJN_0AtWo7k-jGpKgTpU_1pmq6tDau5F-YPQeGQkyyKQd6t84tViGYQxskDv5hjpjYyT6JXQNzTo2yEtl8aQekr1YXn9RUMSF48-QoloCRJCMZ5OFuWWswu638lvnZKwXM/s1600-h/Favela+14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2pLN_8hB1HJN_0AtWo7k-jGpKgTpU_1pmq6tDau5F-YPQeGQkyyKQd6t84tViGYQxskDv5hjpjYyT6JXQNzTo2yEtl8aQekr1YXn9RUMSF48-QoloCRJCMZ5OFuWWswu638lvnZKwXM/s400/Favela+14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264396794972850530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmi1D-YOmbxkFGR1hyNJcJAwQsLUHrHZKCAVgZp1KRDoRiAGLoCwapHHqukwPrTYW21kaRaxXgOJerGZiipuegselZX-vBlhuaCrn7_j89idseYzB7cKGyyxMr6Nz8Na9hezfdb9cYJo/s1600-h/Favela+10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmi1D-YOmbxkFGR1hyNJcJAwQsLUHrHZKCAVgZp1KRDoRiAGLoCwapHHqukwPrTYW21kaRaxXgOJerGZiipuegselZX-vBlhuaCrn7_j89idseYzB7cKGyyxMr6Nz8Na9hezfdb9cYJo/s400/Favela+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264396764492356418" border="0" /></a>The community centre, where various activities are organised for kids and where volunteers lend a hand.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BDp8hmRG8nmU8CsJCLeIunB7c8ml6SFCH728gYJ6ABb4yM6D_xb3TMmgVoKW8mz6iT9ZzJRP-7OZYi55rbY-uebvw1ldnku4s8wpebytlbDp2VAiw_KSqI7658Fmr9Ole4dny1qKmqg/s1600-h/Favela+13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BDp8hmRG8nmU8CsJCLeIunB7c8ml6SFCH728gYJ6ABb4yM6D_xb3TMmgVoKW8mz6iT9ZzJRP-7OZYi55rbY-uebvw1ldnku4s8wpebytlbDp2VAiw_KSqI7658Fmr9Ole4dny1qKmqg/s400/Favela+13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264396790423849266" border="0" /></a> Community centre building, less spooky during the day.Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-65718755932898351482009-01-16T17:09:00.000+11:002009-01-03T20:04:31.933+11:00Rio AnimalsThe metro which takes you to the SUIPA animal shelter passes over some particularly poor areas; it feels like a forgotten part of Rio. It is curious that this region contains the largest shopping complex, to which people are ferreted away in a bus straight from the metro. There is also a massive religious structure next to the 'mall'; I did not see another such decadent structure in all of Rio de Janeiro.<br /><br />SUIPA is the only animal shelter in the city of Rio and it has a no-kill policy. As to be expected, it is a small, worn structure bursting at the seams. There were a few thousand dogs and about four hundred cats at the time I was there.<br />The shelter has the standard holding area for surrendered/stray animals and a vet clinic where animals can also be groomed for a reduced price.<br />The dogs that get along with one another share a large court-yard, while those that are dog aggressive or people aggressive are kept separated.<br /><br />The main office area holds a mixture of people and dogs hard at work; well actually the doggies just lay around.<br /><br />Although it is crammed, all the animals looked to be healthy and as happy as can be given the circumstances.<br /><br />There is a fee when adopting an animal and you must supply documentation to prove you have a stable place to reside at.<br /><br />If you would like to donate money, please visit: <a href="http://www.suipa.org.br/ingles/index800.asp">SUIPA</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9W4wETXB35vc6hUXSU6kEenQQTtnCryDKAAYDUdRymiwjHRCpvzE7KOATEXJNyTm0s_qkHMutD8g9Emk4V_dHRGnL_DB6UC2cQ1sof5xvbw8FJtafI2PFa1UrMcySoAsH9_313SEuO7U/s1600-h/Animals+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9W4wETXB35vc6hUXSU6kEenQQTtnCryDKAAYDUdRymiwjHRCpvzE7KOATEXJNyTm0s_qkHMutD8g9Emk4V_dHRGnL_DB6UC2cQ1sof5xvbw8FJtafI2PFa1UrMcySoAsH9_313SEuO7U/s400/Animals+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275079995110806562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ8WxTxSREomHjPdzbBUsKdoiWs_m7XjejMF2LJLxNybOb1O8sNcx93P9o2KlsH7IHJ-h0yaJdkWvuGhkMIUGJO0qTiPg_VbXquOvxZlhWyMeAuvfIXPk2tyjML_dF-jE8keBBTwp09c/s1600-h/Animals+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ8WxTxSREomHjPdzbBUsKdoiWs_m7XjejMF2LJLxNybOb1O8sNcx93P9o2KlsH7IHJ-h0yaJdkWvuGhkMIUGJO0qTiPg_VbXquOvxZlhWyMeAuvfIXPk2tyjML_dF-jE8keBBTwp09c/s400/Animals+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275079993183212754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VzRdxKIVsldvZ032qqo62igmjiss00zb63AR2e6WnoIVWe2znr_e5xb7AdxmhHVnbdijB8xJK2ki4zyoFPrvTXpTm7AWi3LI9qJfKIhGGTjmXVbQjCQ7WWht5lw0RUCaS0gr6SzgGt0/s1600-h/Animals+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VzRdxKIVsldvZ032qqo62igmjiss00zb63AR2e6WnoIVWe2znr_e5xb7AdxmhHVnbdijB8xJK2ki4zyoFPrvTXpTm7AWi3LI9qJfKIhGGTjmXVbQjCQ7WWht5lw0RUCaS0gr6SzgGt0/s400/Animals+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275079995933058722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKG97Yw-fNqM0uk9IVXlejx_k3FUYAeLm37LjnozJ_mI0IIa3IjPzqq0hi2ZZtp-xYPmwFQksKnR2ko8bLMQBI1xFCFlniByhaUUyOg_fJlHt2DGKiAnxbc0CUjZg-bXq_DF3TuWM7yQ/s1600-h/Animals+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKG97Yw-fNqM0uk9IVXlejx_k3FUYAeLm37LjnozJ_mI0IIa3IjPzqq0hi2ZZtp-xYPmwFQksKnR2ko8bLMQBI1xFCFlniByhaUUyOg_fJlHt2DGKiAnxbc0CUjZg-bXq_DF3TuWM7yQ/s400/Animals+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275079990296380034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvSAaKxKAwPg9NnHFud9eEUNO0Ty0NCH56twtSfJ1vwNM1XNPI9ZEflUsElrAW3CzY7umY1xPTGZOIgvtqn9VUKa2BRT4i8c-xy61ypTngtRlL6wYa5XdH6AIhhBOLWfF9SMHxMs5xlc/s1600-h/Animals.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvSAaKxKAwPg9NnHFud9eEUNO0Ty0NCH56twtSfJ1vwNM1XNPI9ZEflUsElrAW3CzY7umY1xPTGZOIgvtqn9VUKa2BRT4i8c-xy61ypTngtRlL6wYa5XdH6AIhhBOLWfF9SMHxMs5xlc/s400/Animals.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275079985675069458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The government has also launched a campaign where it is sterilising animals for free and re-homing abandoned ones. They have set up small clinics in several busy neighbourhoods where people can bring their cats or dogs to be de-sexed and where stray animals can be surrendered.<br />The re-homing project takes place once a week at different suburbs; a stall is set up, with the animals available for adoption on display. All the adult animals are sterilised, while the kittens and puppies need to be brought back in by their new owners to be de-sexed. There is both a vet and a psychologist present who interview people wishing to adopt, however, I believe that they should not be giving the animals away. People who can afford to maintain an animal should be willing to pay an adoption fee.<br />On the positive side, at least the Brazilian government has put this initiative into action.<br /><br />In addition, I helped a few people in the local community with their animals, including vet checks and parasite control. On a few occasions we travelled to a clinic slightly further out as it was more economical, specifically being set up for people who cannot afford to otherwise provide their animals with medical care. The clinic is called the Jorge Vaitsman Institute of veterinary medicine.<br /><br />This has all motivated me to start my own foundation; can’t wait to start fund raising.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzksPA5ct-BplvUGwePhE2dAxGlhZJlDi354RZPp37Gu0OxBX1V-uUW7v2GE0_gfIWgYhkWqUwJyo0EJnpVbWLYwEYK5XrepnRA_6kOQIIDgw_-o1bLYNE0Tun9bKhMBfSkMrZkIf8WUc/s1600-h/Vet+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzksPA5ct-BplvUGwePhE2dAxGlhZJlDi354RZPp37Gu0OxBX1V-uUW7v2GE0_gfIWgYhkWqUwJyo0EJnpVbWLYwEYK5XrepnRA_6kOQIIDgw_-o1bLYNE0Tun9bKhMBfSkMrZkIf8WUc/s400/Vet+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275075473912458290" border="0" /></a><br />Jorge Vaitsman Institute of veterinary medicine<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjert-XdvVjZyYDsgYef_gguIUoFBZoa5Bfj-CspUgOpebN0qNERTeZ3JVEgFFdSGhHIKicFKeAO_HolMEDaajYlb9e1EABmtRBaCnpCpRRwqpZSu-Zd1CTwdAWrTt52x5FcQaPMc5YqEc/s1600-h/Vet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjert-XdvVjZyYDsgYef_gguIUoFBZoa5Bfj-CspUgOpebN0qNERTeZ3JVEgFFdSGhHIKicFKeAO_HolMEDaajYlb9e1EABmtRBaCnpCpRRwqpZSu-Zd1CTwdAWrTt52x5FcQaPMc5YqEc/s400/Vet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275075466319839634" border="0" /></a><br />Jorge Vaitsman Institute of veterinary medicine<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd00asq3Z9noEU-Bh6D7dggu8L7KPjp_VVGDsdt7FJgLjYouRcI_nv9LUyf8zfdd4EU8SUZfbGGqpc4lIHd3gpX3OckTFimFcB9FiL9TcfGzN2KQOJPrPt2D_X1kedODzpggE18Lh-8zA/s1600-h/Animals+7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 377px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd00asq3Z9noEU-Bh6D7dggu8L7KPjp_VVGDsdt7FJgLjYouRcI_nv9LUyf8zfdd4EU8SUZfbGGqpc4lIHd3gpX3OckTFimFcB9FiL9TcfGzN2KQOJPrPt2D_X1kedODzpggE18Lh-8zA/s400/Animals+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275081511433276850" border="0" /></a><br />This is Fred before he was treated.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQnAXn0VAq_qpMSddBkOmwiwo1QzxHNd8c1KMUWfgIPV98xJpbY9wlQ8yIbKwl7YiAQnd-TDrJFxbfq30jf2z8RettcYhejNggNxr3J8lUlZ3l4CvIOc58Riz8x3a6MOAJFC_YkBlvrg/s1600-h/Animals+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQnAXn0VAq_qpMSddBkOmwiwo1QzxHNd8c1KMUWfgIPV98xJpbY9wlQ8yIbKwl7YiAQnd-TDrJFxbfq30jf2z8RettcYhejNggNxr3J8lUlZ3l4CvIOc58Riz8x3a6MOAJFC_YkBlvrg/s400/Animals+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275081513069485586" border="0" /></a><br />This is Fred after his make over. He still looks a little scared in this photo but he became a very happy dog following his treatment.Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-16893796152115599252009-01-14T21:23:00.000+11:002009-01-03T20:04:48.064+11:00Music: Let Your Body FollowIt is heartening to see that the majority of the music played in Brazil is native. The various states of Brazil each have their own style and rhythm but I think the Samba, which originates from Rio de Janeiro, reigns supreme.<br /><br />Brazilian music has its roots in Africa and percussion is often the most significant component, with other instruments playing a less prominent role, apart from styles such as the renowned Bossa Nova.<br /><br />A style that didn’t educe enthusiasm in me was Pé de Serra, which comes from rural regions. I found it to sound like a horse plowing along and I loathe the accordion, which is a major aspect of the music.<br /><br />Pagode and Axe are cool styles, with the latter being less complicated; while Pagode actually colours much of my memories as I frequently heard this music when my bestfriend lived in Sydney.<br /><br />Overall, the music is overwhelmingly uplifting; it is exceedingly rare to hear dark, sombre compositions.<br />In addition, live music appears to be much more popular than DJ’s, with the venues that I attended always featuring live bands.<br /><br />Lastly, for all those challenged by the intricate rhythms of Brazilian music, just loosen your hips and let them slip from side to side. The rest of your body will follow, god-willing.Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-5591612860493536962009-01-12T17:23:00.002+11:002010-05-31T18:23:25.558+10:00Life of the NightHaving sampled the nightlife I discovered something of paramount importance: men here can dance like there's no tomorrow, they move those hips like it’s their last night on earth.<br /><br />First I visited the infamous Lapa district, a favourite spot for tourists which has a decidedly seedy flavour. The section we went to has portable bars set up on the street, along with food stations, and music blaring from every direction. There are a few indoor venues but the majority of the action takes place on the street. Basically, you stroll up and down the main stretch, get intoxicated and dance.<br />The Lapa area’s prominent feature is the Lapa Arches along the top of which the tram travels, at its terminus it is said to rival the vista you are awarded at the Sugar Loaf.<br /><br />Another great nightspot is the Feira de Sao Cristovao or the ‘night markets’ as we called it and as the name suggests, there are stalls selling anything and everything. There is one main arena featuring live music and then a few smaller joints playing different types of Brazilian music, there’s even karaoke. It is comparable to a festival except that it takes place every weekend and it is the ultimate place to purchase souvenirs.<br /><br />I also checked out Ipanema, which has all the gaudy features of areas that draw high numbers of tourists but it has its charms. Once we were inside the nightclub, though, it was precisely like being in a club in Sydney; there are even pubs in the region for those people who feel absolutely overwhelmed with homesickness.<br /><br />Another great way to spend the evening is to attend a club where they play ‘funky’, which can be described as the Brazilian version of r’n’b, except there is more focus on drums rather than bass. Again, it’s a perfect opportunity to perve on all those wonderfully dancing male specimens.<br /><br />I also felt that the attention from men was less intrusive then in Sydney and there wasn’t that maliciousness that is sometimes felt when men are under the influence of ‘pack mentality’.<br />In my experience, men in Rio were better mannered, had a better approach, and were gracious when they were turned down.<br /><br />Moving amongst the hordes of people when out at night, I was always pleasantly surprised by how polite and tranquil people were. I felt I was indeed moving with the people rather then struggling upstream in a disconcerted crowd. There is a sense of well-wishing towards others that is lacking in Sydney and although the people of Rio are calmer by nature, they still possess that integral element: passion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHGrat8s-_Xj7SYxWRhj0cxyy5F45LKjUxUs2vQGX4w0WTNAIUrLlqlOCixOKrxWaqX7QBEfRUQbxAjUMaScP7HHdoMfOFk4Ipr4tzP1YPPZFIkJq7SdHS9-AUo0VVWDpdrKm-lUJJ7o/s1600-h/Lapa.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267283672525455426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHGrat8s-_Xj7SYxWRhj0cxyy5F45LKjUxUs2vQGX4w0WTNAIUrLlqlOCixOKrxWaqX7QBEfRUQbxAjUMaScP7HHdoMfOFk4Ipr4tzP1YPPZFIkJq7SdHS9-AUo0VVWDpdrKm-lUJJ7o/s400/Lapa.jpg" /></a><br />The notorious Lapa. Spiritedly sordid is how I felt it to be.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iIpokVZP4fr1Vfhlhbfqees6kJl7E0tMVN_YTdcFVuX6G1cLHjZPxX5y74_HBgnIdo9msXHH4ryBWDw3DZ9NdPrvDBrNN4xCL3wqGYhQObtQCnMTkFSk-4_MmlvHlNl8vTRVKzU9MTM/s1600-h/Lapa+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267283669507843106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iIpokVZP4fr1Vfhlhbfqees6kJl7E0tMVN_YTdcFVuX6G1cLHjZPxX5y74_HBgnIdo9msXHH4ryBWDw3DZ9NdPrvDBrNN4xCL3wqGYhQObtQCnMTkFSk-4_MmlvHlNl8vTRVKzU9MTM/s400/Lapa+2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjii9kM5jcklQr18s_6KaxW2RW-BNfzq_KXpF851pGKLHUWZXcTk3APuaezGvN5zl0FxCmdlsC2WpeeuFHO_xgEUVsBwCRReWfU3et6o8t4oivpnOHWeBUB2vAO_Rprh3uiyLpTFSbDin8/s1600-h/Night+markets+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267283679951438642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjii9kM5jcklQr18s_6KaxW2RW-BNfzq_KXpF851pGKLHUWZXcTk3APuaezGvN5zl0FxCmdlsC2WpeeuFHO_xgEUVsBwCRReWfU3et6o8t4oivpnOHWeBUB2vAO_Rprh3uiyLpTFSbDin8/s400/Night+markets+2.jpg" /></a>Feira de São Cristovão or the 'night markets' as we referred to them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JkTiajq-T4z8s3OChlkv_MDVpQXfz8Wb5n6lCd6OtMdteTKuo6GbuLS5loFSFPJjF3H5fLQZb7Q9uwNATLB9kEFxZwX1f7Fla9E6ytZzWGVNUxSdj2nPrcXaRBODNl2606ZmL64e8wU/s1600-h/Night+markets+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267283680482597682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JkTiajq-T4z8s3OChlkv_MDVpQXfz8Wb5n6lCd6OtMdteTKuo6GbuLS5loFSFPJjF3H5fLQZb7Q9uwNATLB9kEFxZwX1f7Fla9E6ytZzWGVNUxSdj2nPrcXaRBODNl2606ZmL64e8wU/s400/Night+markets+3.jpg" /></a>Pretty tame 'cos it was Sunday and raining.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R8l_YplZyuHDecxxsubN9lxDwkPNdkxOQPisoe16VGUpFUb1suVw4lwWu_TPEfczHtIDyVLlmB7qJCdfqadK_N-85-LWgrfu4C3ykfqNIM6xO2Z65GjXW7otP2IrCliNYpnep8ozz0Y/s1600-h/Carole+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267281920525995602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R8l_YplZyuHDecxxsubN9lxDwkPNdkxOQPisoe16VGUpFUb1suVw4lwWu_TPEfczHtIDyVLlmB7qJCdfqadK_N-85-LWgrfu4C3ykfqNIM6xO2Z65GjXW7otP2IrCliNYpnep8ozz0Y/s400/Carole+2.jpg" /></a>Carole said she liked this one because it was like the colours of the rainbow. I don't remember sickly white being one of them though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYT8SKFXRurPYbLyPuw3tJ3GD9ZN5OMhx7UlOkziq4wSr5k3rlF8U998YmeLLykV3fI1gs-SmAacytN7PFCX3Zbb43PLQsIZ6jThgpfFCiIh672HKnDq_MR2Z5hVsW0Sj5fOqZ132WYeo/s1600-h/Carole+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267288612458817442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYT8SKFXRurPYbLyPuw3tJ3GD9ZN5OMhx7UlOkziq4wSr5k3rlF8U998YmeLLykV3fI1gs-SmAacytN7PFCX3Zbb43PLQsIZ6jThgpfFCiIh672HKnDq_MR2Z5hVsW0Sj5fOqZ132WYeo/s400/Carole+3.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetMp_hCFJSRd_gZMr0VozrkXvikAvMvq3qek1iu_PyKSH5UfJcBAdnHJ7CpXzMVxSOKSJJaO01cpIBRT2JVstKpndu_3zzVrah4KtlZva8zSzaF2rsXsA6qsqEJ_IunU0CFmHiFJbutM/s1600-h/Carole+6.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SAJZfe01iiwRhD5c3dh5oc2aC9MEM_LiE-BsA0Oe2mMgDQ3BB8oqyiZirZxPVsEIzyCvRS6pkH1brGDvnBB5_-yxij44FU1xrOF_Nidyw8sLMEXm1NthZBP4ukE_XbfPPBDAuPY1sZM/s1600-h/Carole+7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267288622550889618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SAJZfe01iiwRhD5c3dh5oc2aC9MEM_LiE-BsA0Oe2mMgDQ3BB8oqyiZirZxPVsEIzyCvRS6pkH1brGDvnBB5_-yxij44FU1xrOF_Nidyw8sLMEXm1NthZBP4ukE_XbfPPBDAuPY1sZM/s400/Carole+7.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy-FP1OescRckwXA92ldxmSg6XfXQ27PzzHj9-g2VWRQaBe2GkO-_MGjPn4k6-SbpTboJ5aql_CqQ5vniXkJuX5zR1VBngBHnM5aBAALMQnkI4hZmqIWMVx0096_qmX2sFc43CIMMZqM/s1600-h/Nightlife.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269917906848887986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy-FP1OescRckwXA92ldxmSg6XfXQ27PzzHj9-g2VWRQaBe2GkO-_MGjPn4k6-SbpTboJ5aql_CqQ5vniXkJuX5zR1VBngBHnM5aBAALMQnkI4hZmqIWMVx0096_qmX2sFc43CIMMZqM/s400/Nightlife.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFNXlmm-9eHjiQ2dOMpJXNtsUMiPA22FXsnDQxXnYXf3H0oZiI9gDvyxJ7hN6CK2AbGEWHS1NzAw2y4w7frxZ7nGJb1qBaFki3WT_poNmQ4ciaLdj6oViuodmkRe7yQVRXWUXdJkwI9Y/s1600-h/Nightlife+4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269917917769526658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFNXlmm-9eHjiQ2dOMpJXNtsUMiPA22FXsnDQxXnYXf3H0oZiI9gDvyxJ7hN6CK2AbGEWHS1NzAw2y4w7frxZ7nGJb1qBaFki3WT_poNmQ4ciaLdj6oViuodmkRe7yQVRXWUXdJkwI9Y/s400/Nightlife+4.jpg" /></a>Silly boys.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmi2WvgeEqassMxp1ecQ_MP_jLtoZEOEKKKIvPJKPBSxEQroMPtoGplhSKL2UOgVLASUXBVbx6WS6MeiYX2UucrPwdDcev6dTH4bCKHE58XsAw1p4RRVeK5q9O_AXmOXoatFtCHHa-gs/s1600-h/Nightlife+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269917912077493938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmi2WvgeEqassMxp1ecQ_MP_jLtoZEOEKKKIvPJKPBSxEQroMPtoGplhSKL2UOgVLASUXBVbx6WS6MeiYX2UucrPwdDcev6dTH4bCKHE58XsAw1p4RRVeK5q9O_AXmOXoatFtCHHa-gs/s400/Nightlife+2.jpg" /></a>Party on. I added the accessory (the hairclip).Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-29308508185387819942009-01-10T17:07:00.000+11:002009-01-03T20:05:18.686+11:00Visuals from a Visit to a FavelaAfter partying at the 'night markets', my friends decided they weren't quite done so we went to a neighbouring favela to visit a bar + cafe. The bar was kind of at the gateway to the actual favela. It was about 2 in the morning and it was raining (again).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidx7WZm6Cjm5uwPadHRKFHglpAp2UQdby90NDp0TgPr_i5zXaZd2IDLiQLGP9zyAvmTJIUMj8gEFXya6a2aXT6yoJceZ4r6RJBsnDQ9muAbmvIfVhvXjG5TvCpvZJj0fGTriK-o5AsDA0/s1600-h/Favela+%28not+ours%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidx7WZm6Cjm5uwPadHRKFHglpAp2UQdby90NDp0TgPr_i5zXaZd2IDLiQLGP9zyAvmTJIUMj8gEFXya6a2aXT6yoJceZ4r6RJBsnDQ9muAbmvIfVhvXjG5TvCpvZJj0fGTriK-o5AsDA0/s400/Favela+%28not+ours%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262886641439412914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmPnAn-GNu-aHmAuO66ppMCbM2F6Ye5-9ZA_U96uN-Ihi0NEx71FnIgGgoJUQ8vODkprkFOlW8DghWIyGc-_NSDdgSxVVgCdmClML4SwzhgVkVJVyDhdOgtiBo_twJlehMV-K9tbOOY0/s1600-h/Favela+%28not+ours%29+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmPnAn-GNu-aHmAuO66ppMCbM2F6Ye5-9ZA_U96uN-Ihi0NEx71FnIgGgoJUQ8vODkprkFOlW8DghWIyGc-_NSDdgSxVVgCdmClML4SwzhgVkVJVyDhdOgtiBo_twJlehMV-K9tbOOY0/s400/Favela+%28not+ours%29+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264344228159376562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguI5kJUR6TieuK_G4brvA22XAfvSdingcQpI22jk8jCaKSTZi5ztykvoUQ8u0eki-uK7dZigW0bTbkOPkO-f7xqcjaaXHDAUFQzE_D7bku88cmJtN0dF8MMvLac_djnAQGCBUeeCwP10/s1600-h/Favela+%28not+ours%29+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguI5kJUR6TieuK_G4brvA22XAfvSdingcQpI22jk8jCaKSTZi5ztykvoUQ8u0eki-uK7dZigW0bTbkOPkO-f7xqcjaaXHDAUFQzE_D7bku88cmJtN0dF8MMvLac_djnAQGCBUeeCwP10/s400/Favela+%28not+ours%29+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264344229373621058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uWoQ5njbkiQyiGXjefQV7HDmBCMHjdNKfTdONkW1LZhrhIG6xC-FA8Ee9HyixxsyB-Uw2sEk99bOfF3k8mnhTSviibef_M1IS2caMLD-cUxreJRV4TywI7Y6Hjd_My10bhDtWS-gqhM/s1600-h/Favela+%28not+ours%29+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uWoQ5njbkiQyiGXjefQV7HDmBCMHjdNKfTdONkW1LZhrhIG6xC-FA8Ee9HyixxsyB-Uw2sEk99bOfF3k8mnhTSviibef_M1IS2caMLD-cUxreJRV4TywI7Y6Hjd_My10bhDtWS-gqhM/s400/Favela+%28not+ours%29+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264344228029228546" border="0" /></a>Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-78492116503966864682009-01-09T18:04:00.000+11:002009-01-03T20:05:39.830+11:00Christ AlmightyIt only took us about 40mins to reach the Christ the Redeemer statue and some of the grandness of the experience was probably lost in the anticipation of the weeks-long lead up.<br />We took a taxi up and I enjoyed the drive through the forest as much as the actual destination. It also felt odd to be amid so many tourists after being secluded in the <span style="font-style: italic;">favela</span>.<br /><br />The usual method of transport to reach the Christ is the cog train which takes two hours and travels through the Tijuca Rainforest. The Tijuca National Park would have been an awesome experience, but alas by the time we were done it was night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BWdD6aLveDEBUvg6tn0b0icmICqEFxLNbn1Ca1SUM01dYrjxZ4UncErk-nqISQx9R3skNG8K787I-dTOUvadTFuUwrTlGk0IF2dd3YX3lMw_Wl8sS7nLT-UJUMeiRnsskBfFJ8mt1X4/s1600-h/Xrist.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BWdD6aLveDEBUvg6tn0b0icmICqEFxLNbn1Ca1SUM01dYrjxZ4UncErk-nqISQx9R3skNG8K787I-dTOUvadTFuUwrTlGk0IF2dd3YX3lMw_Wl8sS7nLT-UJUMeiRnsskBfFJ8mt1X4/s400/Xrist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270286235823957058" border="0" /></a>The Christ as I saw it from a rooftop of a neighbouring house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Erw5pyEv1T3MzgrZmVXJQ88gTj8BEdxb8BXL72GW_58muLYs7HVU71y6yf_3N4nkyrD8IBPZq8uaUZjcjhfCOrkv4WE-Nxrfkr37GHC20iXMZII_Vp1TDqIxnQOOtu_zJULPDKjUdyk/s1600-h/Xrist+16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Erw5pyEv1T3MzgrZmVXJQ88gTj8BEdxb8BXL72GW_58muLYs7HVU71y6yf_3N4nkyrD8IBPZq8uaUZjcjhfCOrkv4WE-Nxrfkr37GHC20iXMZII_Vp1TDqIxnQOOtu_zJULPDKjUdyk/s400/Xrist+16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270293872587474370" border="0" /></a>On the way up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJ8o3CPSsIzNa3GNP9xQGEEk9z_ALPKiwtx8YhwycVsXesyCD4oAx1rughaxlbTVwxXh3VpMUVyqfyle5ShM2e3vlL6fksjIJL3YfQgXpLAvNWqt9IRaF44yFejkcw7Y_Ab_MpdxAplk/s1600-h/Xrist+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJ8o3CPSsIzNa3GNP9xQGEEk9z_ALPKiwtx8YhwycVsXesyCD4oAx1rughaxlbTVwxXh3VpMUVyqfyle5ShM2e3vlL6fksjIJL3YfQgXpLAvNWqt9IRaF44yFejkcw7Y_Ab_MpdxAplk/s400/Xrist+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270286236889371314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLwJZJ4Nn3W_T9_pFJn03ZggGBk6oAupuGXI8DCNEn76JYTbYS-ubSwt-WKgb3pOHwhWPbaStX1nzrnnAXSlaxugNYVg-591GpBWs8r1-llOeZMKBoRtyQMSJM2MU61XOFx3UdNDuP9I/s1600-h/Xrist+14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLwJZJ4Nn3W_T9_pFJn03ZggGBk6oAupuGXI8DCNEn76JYTbYS-ubSwt-WKgb3pOHwhWPbaStX1nzrnnAXSlaxugNYVg-591GpBWs8r1-llOeZMKBoRtyQMSJM2MU61XOFx3UdNDuP9I/s400/Xrist+14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270293864523834002" border="0" /></a>Melissa, looking very sincere. Careful, she can be a real bitch if she so pleases hahaha<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8JyNu72DgdRffgBbH9-XbTvruver5DXviDHjFXpqC0YjvICQB_GNmPc8J2D4SnwXHQcKWbG80xF9HH3YsAGFCZ8QkKsoF0DtvFo4y5WKt5s4N799QgGTxTnOgR_gFSa5rcXHT58paXM/s1600-h/Xrist+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8JyNu72DgdRffgBbH9-XbTvruver5DXviDHjFXpqC0YjvICQB_GNmPc8J2D4SnwXHQcKWbG80xF9HH3YsAGFCZ8QkKsoF0DtvFo4y5WKt5s4N799QgGTxTnOgR_gFSa5rcXHT58paXM/s400/Xrist+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270289601331741314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7vhqlFeD6-Q1Z7BJz4ikv-I9HFcmGNAMDsPSWrU7RJIO_GVVdXC5F9zAK4a090aoPZUqFW1HB71S_5k9T9xcbXvgL3UwIWWTv5Ii1pXhHkNh9Q8U5CrehKY-pw1HxLQWa-tBdCFjW2Q/s1600-h/Xrist+7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7vhqlFeD6-Q1Z7BJz4ikv-I9HFcmGNAMDsPSWrU7RJIO_GVVdXC5F9zAK4a090aoPZUqFW1HB71S_5k9T9xcbXvgL3UwIWWTv5Ii1pXhHkNh9Q8U5CrehKY-pw1HxLQWa-tBdCFjW2Q/s400/Xrist+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270289608192251330" border="0" /></a>If you look closely at the top (in the centre) you will spy a large yellow building, to the right is the <span style="font-style: italic;">favela</span> we lived in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwsioCQKhozJLj8AOxK6uOfZC2Wqr8tZ2Uy8TLptIaLAS-3x_4ED7yGbKGQSRbeKg4HVgmHOpGDrZahS-7d72weNAMXnfcsyiwM8o3eTULcyOSn3-uV2WwTxWya-TsqGgKeL5qgAE3Xw/s1600-h/Xrist+8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwsioCQKhozJLj8AOxK6uOfZC2Wqr8tZ2Uy8TLptIaLAS-3x_4ED7yGbKGQSRbeKg4HVgmHOpGDrZahS-7d72weNAMXnfcsyiwM8o3eTULcyOSn3-uV2WwTxWya-TsqGgKeL5qgAE3Xw/s400/Xrist+8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270289610333531202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmkS6eqnTIpx9JqoSNHNyNlfBiTLgu-U2m9y9NmQDIzSEPKOOnycXHRBvng7s6G7MlZy7lPqeIOedvoN_X5mhyphenhyphen2o2yR6aV6NWUanhWhszbLAhUneonyikuE6X96kbyZqBiTSnq_4tplo/s1600-h/Xrist+10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmkS6eqnTIpx9JqoSNHNyNlfBiTLgu-U2m9y9NmQDIzSEPKOOnycXHRBvng7s6G7MlZy7lPqeIOedvoN_X5mhyphenhyphen2o2yR6aV6NWUanhWhszbLAhUneonyikuE6X96kbyZqBiTSnq_4tplo/s400/Xrist+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270291663555178274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-NcA1Q3P2qsACd5ofc3ooO3ABbs92SN-9Bi7E8XJsnTTk5kJuCOephYu-R9sSIfR2Ro7Yu7SFbZ2b35B30lfhWpcda73sDFapZ6yXKI8-oKw9fKBXFnoItp0-lZ8qf-4ccIUxE83kf4/s1600-h/Xrist+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-NcA1Q3P2qsACd5ofc3ooO3ABbs92SN-9Bi7E8XJsnTTk5kJuCOephYu-R9sSIfR2Ro7Yu7SFbZ2b35B30lfhWpcda73sDFapZ6yXKI8-oKw9fKBXFnoItp0-lZ8qf-4ccIUxE83kf4/s400/Xrist+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270289607602530914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_TpDy4Mcx_jKypul04cQqjqqrgAcC43Nap90U-JJ6hd-1esNn6kQuc55YFrMvhqOTTvnIjb9vnc-dRmLvCMegUjv7h6sLtIvEFu6j-P4QPqx8iTBQotL2ew_LuGSLnF17OHYHsW9Rp0/s1600-h/Xrist+13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_TpDy4Mcx_jKypul04cQqjqqrgAcC43Nap90U-JJ6hd-1esNn6kQuc55YFrMvhqOTTvnIjb9vnc-dRmLvCMegUjv7h6sLtIvEFu6j-P4QPqx8iTBQotL2ew_LuGSLnF17OHYHsW9Rp0/s400/Xrist+13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270293860242494642" border="0" /></a>At last we reached the top!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRx79OwhX-bJNk80C1hD8SdwtC_anEVB4mVt8XQft1B3VGbStOnj7_jA97ev5gfoIttSiukIwfZCg912JIZ8H6WyszhVeYJUDdjhlDyPr2xeZzKTvjc2Iqzp2aWJnpppWeyI0n6KEjro/s1600-h/Xrist+11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRx79OwhX-bJNk80C1hD8SdwtC_anEVB4mVt8XQft1B3VGbStOnj7_jA97ev5gfoIttSiukIwfZCg912JIZ8H6WyszhVeYJUDdjhlDyPr2xeZzKTvjc2Iqzp2aWJnpppWeyI0n6KEjro/s400/Xrist+11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270291669432077826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eUCRFIxu_jFFzInB10JAlrRCwMGMXxhgx2wHHtzNSBXg1y24UvU74pdVXX7zNsc8ZtNJ152bQfD9JRKCzHfuPhpgloDzbioq3tC3ksug0s_V7ciDaEjGfM0O7VDsmDA0J0EV3ZDz7G4/s1600-h/Xrist+26.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eUCRFIxu_jFFzInB10JAlrRCwMGMXxhgx2wHHtzNSBXg1y24UvU74pdVXX7zNsc8ZtNJ152bQfD9JRKCzHfuPhpgloDzbioq3tC3ksug0s_V7ciDaEjGfM0O7VDsmDA0J0EV3ZDz7G4/s400/Xrist+26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270300258423034274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9amSfFyqqEIVYxd9QyNsRRmR2nF63VK5k0mAcHd0osLk5a7TVdhTSdVNSslWHqnBM94yqOIuiNEgnqhn0jhaL9AK7ThbVAA6IBPmSnCEkkstd4F_3XdkfX4M0KwOD7uWNGgyOXUAhX1Q/s1600-h/Xrist+25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9amSfFyqqEIVYxd9QyNsRRmR2nF63VK5k0mAcHd0osLk5a7TVdhTSdVNSslWHqnBM94yqOIuiNEgnqhn0jhaL9AK7ThbVAA6IBPmSnCEkkstd4F_3XdkfX4M0KwOD7uWNGgyOXUAhX1Q/s400/Xrist+25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270300256676263906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36UMbDAt1zUG-EKxackR0xEHz2-z8jsQxGUUBMTOsmHNGqpKOuSJI3LPPDE7CoOWJznHvXhQ5-Pa8NNiWQLmoWNOPc2NHkVX3PkZ3d_9WMZPcRJTKbOLWtFAltd7BEcNWQypcxC3Gp2E/s1600-h/Xrist+24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36UMbDAt1zUG-EKxackR0xEHz2-z8jsQxGUUBMTOsmHNGqpKOuSJI3LPPDE7CoOWJznHvXhQ5-Pa8NNiWQLmoWNOPc2NHkVX3PkZ3d_9WMZPcRJTKbOLWtFAltd7BEcNWQypcxC3Gp2E/s400/Xrist+24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270300254241584690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO00QVKI8g4VRlV-LVYMItP96PNIfVk18N5tXxnxAXYDEYJHlOrd4OcdWSKlI4U9KEbWe4zCTpww_RKvpSN58DlufWgkRrtnRCieURuUE7yWDBAKqy1evIvrXsYyz0W0FQob6cuyNJcOY/s1600-h/Xrist+23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO00QVKI8g4VRlV-LVYMItP96PNIfVk18N5tXxnxAXYDEYJHlOrd4OcdWSKlI4U9KEbWe4zCTpww_RKvpSN58DlufWgkRrtnRCieURuUE7yWDBAKqy1evIvrXsYyz0W0FQob6cuyNJcOY/s400/Xrist+23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270298732167540354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fWaISqo0te8ZpJ-IIerrbHeOaxxIiGegzb7ftfxExXPTV9Oc2C1srI25BPd5jMZ2ZDua9fq3pOkMoiixgH07cWhNqkI0iTnniL415ARez-jd0CJGBG-SMRYvpvAU5VZ0KheVXPmo-0I/s1600-h/Xrist+22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fWaISqo0te8ZpJ-IIerrbHeOaxxIiGegzb7ftfxExXPTV9Oc2C1srI25BPd5jMZ2ZDua9fq3pOkMoiixgH07cWhNqkI0iTnniL415ARez-jd0CJGBG-SMRYvpvAU5VZ0KheVXPmo-0I/s400/Xrist+22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270298729894737266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsI1MT7B-945Z0r3Qy8wix_ZFAcg-HTXJOKd40Va_894hAqdUI55k5VAERZ5P5Ggn_7CbAfHsOB7hHrEPr2z5S4ZgbSIu8V4kfUAcyfwy3WETnxX5hcjAih0xu3P7anrJ_tMMfhbXO-0/s1600-h/Xrist+21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsI1MT7B-945Z0r3Qy8wix_ZFAcg-HTXJOKd40Va_894hAqdUI55k5VAERZ5P5Ggn_7CbAfHsOB7hHrEPr2z5S4ZgbSIu8V4kfUAcyfwy3WETnxX5hcjAih0xu3P7anrJ_tMMfhbXO-0/s400/Xrist+21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270298727192637394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeFVPCikbaQRhe_XqFDt_xVrBIFub5rJRIvO0j07trPYs7l8xHPyfUDLEBvNRueeqFG6EWlmqegIqnuYw46z6HgRaF_4CflX99OLu3hVWnaPvTfbpCEfBm55qLWl5G1Cphuhf6tUvAic/s1600-h/Xrist+20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeFVPCikbaQRhe_XqFDt_xVrBIFub5rJRIvO0j07trPYs7l8xHPyfUDLEBvNRueeqFG6EWlmqegIqnuYw46z6HgRaF_4CflX99OLu3hVWnaPvTfbpCEfBm55qLWl5G1Cphuhf6tUvAic/s400/Xrist+20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270298721614593682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8i8sDknmJ1eUtVqUmZdh8pnRtwbEvWSuc8jmEJJloGLVEieuiBz_vo135sZ3DdUu-srtmypubqzV_ffuoIVAM42g-A5NMdE_RRkBqhkM2iSwYcftFee2yBhjjCHfD2g7dEbvHJDPEyw/s1600-h/Xrist+19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8i8sDknmJ1eUtVqUmZdh8pnRtwbEvWSuc8jmEJJloGLVEieuiBz_vo135sZ3DdUu-srtmypubqzV_ffuoIVAM42g-A5NMdE_RRkBqhkM2iSwYcftFee2yBhjjCHfD2g7dEbvHJDPEyw/s400/Xrist+19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270296580172769682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7n7FPqo9dAZ3dxPvDCj9AmHdWVIVpsTaStLYFsKPh29AnGlnNqK5_UibSU7a-Q7bFr-6FleU8o39QoWSAmTl4d6A6F9IeiDH-esV8Gpkn5lZmWxYS0CTJQjZLSJDjWYb3MZmRx1KPH0/s1600-h/Xrist+18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7n7FPqo9dAZ3dxPvDCj9AmHdWVIVpsTaStLYFsKPh29AnGlnNqK5_UibSU7a-Q7bFr-6FleU8o39QoWSAmTl4d6A6F9IeiDH-esV8Gpkn5lZmWxYS0CTJQjZLSJDjWYb3MZmRx1KPH0/s400/Xrist+18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270296583934538514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp5tENJYjhWXk4lNXam1s0_X8-A8HMp04h2si4NCeshCc_LiBFB6zDMs9S-fVOz8At-1IgEabk8wPdaMYjOGy6IKR8aRx4ACwNgwujsPF3n7tSsjHtLo0jXFdhusXTNJug5mJ98Og02k/s1600-h/Xrist+17x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp5tENJYjhWXk4lNXam1s0_X8-A8HMp04h2si4NCeshCc_LiBFB6zDMs9S-fVOz8At-1IgEabk8wPdaMYjOGy6IKR8aRx4ACwNgwujsPF3n7tSsjHtLo0jXFdhusXTNJug5mJ98Og02k/s400/Xrist+17x.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270296580070080402" border="0" /></a> At the bottom is a silhouette, it's a miracle! Actually, it's my friend's son posing. Sorry all you believers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggut0VStUd4sjo12wesmLqbOM70pls0aI31lTX_jL7OjkOBwoG-VLpj7rTbsXVeQWtlTSlTOPfBtQqyCe6g_GCldewi4skQmcgNB8p63nYzFTB4MIp_HXr5GiLXbj46dIrifOBHmgoi20/s1600-h/Xrist+17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggut0VStUd4sjo12wesmLqbOM70pls0aI31lTX_jL7OjkOBwoG-VLpj7rTbsXVeQWtlTSlTOPfBtQqyCe6g_GCldewi4skQmcgNB8p63nYzFTB4MIp_HXr5GiLXbj46dIrifOBHmgoi20/s400/Xrist+17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270296577233782850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkyExPEjFtL_1-yAE0TpxHl_4fARpshrMq_-AyhYZw5FsdttL6T3qLkZzyeBUYSF65BXdTKL2K55DTOvT7h-ghb2VpNaTV65DGFz4whIdrOPtO7GPn2Zzz8CH_Cli39wOLBnPE1wGfQE/s1600-h/Xrist+12.jpg"><br /></a> A miracle! Shame on you if I fooled you twice hahahaSelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-79753192108784580232009-01-06T18:51:00.000+11:002009-01-03T20:12:47.600+11:00Food: Just a TasteVegans will not starve in Rio; soy milk is abundant and doesn't have that 'nutty' or rather cardboard-like taste most of the soy milk in Sydney has. Other vegan products such as veggie patties, nuggets and even soy cream are readily available at supermarkets. Soy is also added to certain fruit and vegetable juices, giving them an interesting creamy flavor.<br />There is a vegan-friendly chain store that has opened up across Rio called Green World which is both a café and grocer; there I even found the soy version of condensed milk.<br /><br />Predominantly though, I rejoiced in all the fresh, unadulterated food that is bountiful in Rio.<br />The foundation for Brazilian food is rice and beans, which incidentally is vegan (of course mainly it’s due to it being economical). Black beans are the most widely consumed but my favourites were fradinho: black-eyed beans.<br /><br />I also ate copious amounts of the best vegetable I have ever tasted called cenoura baroa, (white carrot is one of its many names in English) and all it requires is to be boiled; to my palate it has a light curry-like trace.<br /><br />Instead of chips or wedges commonly a vegetable called aipim is served, which even when deep fried has a wholesome flavour, and when boiled requires no seasoning to taste fantastic.<br />Farofa (a grainy flour) is made from aipim and has various uses, it can be a condiment or a thickener; I certainly enjoyed its crunch.<br /><br />Palmito was another vegetable I couldn't get enough of, this one having a naturally creamy flavour. It is known by many names, including heart of palm and is obtained from the core and buds of certain palm trees.<br /><br />The most popular drink is derived from the fruit Guarana and it is made into both a soft drink and fruit juice. While the wine has a rich grape flavour and is very sweet, so it was my beverage of choice.<br />But of course the most widely guzzled alcoholic drink is Caipirinha, which consists of cachaça (a spirit), pureed fruit and sugar. It seems the people of Brazil like things sweet, an ideal place for me.<br /><br />When I returned to Sydney I hungered for all the fresh produce and home cooking I had feasted on in Rio. It took me a while to get back to eating plain old raw cucumbers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV85V3sSNxJUhexD1SgIMXmbKAqZ4kR_8NEzJTjLvfkbM5kWAXpOvcJb3X6HIzOSuf3VSb_94Fctk2xCAt1FDF5pb6mwkxGT9xieTgkMo1uxZ880cIWD0BUKlSaFAKUotPDPyFov5xlA/s1600-h/Food.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV85V3sSNxJUhexD1SgIMXmbKAqZ4kR_8NEzJTjLvfkbM5kWAXpOvcJb3X6HIzOSuf3VSb_94Fctk2xCAt1FDF5pb6mwkxGT9xieTgkMo1uxZ880cIWD0BUKlSaFAKUotPDPyFov5xlA/s400/Food.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275112675127582386" border="0" /></a>This was at a place in the city centre. It boasted the best lentils I have ever had in my entire life.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19yz6jnFNkLcvUR5I0IN-PWak6KngTAHG_488eyQ6eRwlX6Kjds7W8mE1WFWWDFGLzkRjMJnDjgIcDCG8xzTqLfZ6iDIlZ2WsVZqjgB70QQDh16bOwNZ7Dm_wWhC_Ywd57E4x_g697X0/s1600-h/Paulo+and+me.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19yz6jnFNkLcvUR5I0IN-PWak6KngTAHG_488eyQ6eRwlX6Kjds7W8mE1WFWWDFGLzkRjMJnDjgIcDCG8xzTqLfZ6iDIlZ2WsVZqjgB70QQDh16bOwNZ7Dm_wWhC_Ywd57E4x_g697X0/s400/Paulo+and+me.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275112678669681106" border="0" /></a>Paulo (Melissa's dad) and I enjoying a feed.Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-74944002260686771802009-01-04T16:21:00.001+11:002009-01-03T20:13:31.605+11:00Sweet RockThis is of course the Sugar Loaf, which I liked to refer to as Sweet Rock.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxmUmKEaOpDI97aEahP0Gt-QSLtHut2-D66rcHXJ19vM9hT7ALVjMkaUTaNIDGnef3QZXXkgAeRFxA-kszy75OAeik8TObRFt0YmAyXrat8tmhL0VpZpjopC2JJzg3jqmAjnVmKvtR4o/s1600-h/Sweet+rock+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 352px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxmUmKEaOpDI97aEahP0Gt-QSLtHut2-D66rcHXJ19vM9hT7ALVjMkaUTaNIDGnef3QZXXkgAeRFxA-kszy75OAeik8TObRFt0YmAyXrat8tmhL0VpZpjopC2JJzg3jqmAjnVmKvtR4o/s400/Sweet+rock+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272463134003488770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i0zx0bqDGx70PZy5IQUPeNu9E4XT_nw2wYqbrDc2DF8iQP6MHpNLWBTtVuPLM5IOf9_mQlIvvJjrGEBXlfu7SCasDddGGcMz3v5d1sUqK84zgQ5Lsb7LryCEG0J5N_mCHr3LZ1G_-JQ/s1600-h/Sweet+rock+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i0zx0bqDGx70PZy5IQUPeNu9E4XT_nw2wYqbrDc2DF8iQP6MHpNLWBTtVuPLM5IOf9_mQlIvvJjrGEBXlfu7SCasDddGGcMz3v5d1sUqK84zgQ5Lsb7LryCEG0J5N_mCHr3LZ1G_-JQ/s400/Sweet+rock+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272461938992510034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_LSLedsIz5FmtmCYC7XNJnE7aHoc6sMNVSYYHPwTgrEOdgSjS2z-ofIKpgwpF0dWPgQEHZpDpx_z7nHKZq5Jjao_Xvy3QMogEzJe9ZFjFoNpgevlUV_ENBHHXxzJnxMdyKGDfjSd6Iw/s1600-h/Sweet+rock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_LSLedsIz5FmtmCYC7XNJnE7aHoc6sMNVSYYHPwTgrEOdgSjS2z-ofIKpgwpF0dWPgQEHZpDpx_z7nHKZq5Jjao_Xvy3QMogEzJe9ZFjFoNpgevlUV_ENBHHXxzJnxMdyKGDfjSd6Iw/s400/Sweet+rock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272461919595665634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZvh0x-WkZr4fXZjLCYKuvzOy6YO0qoX63AkC4aGHCAaEoVzucYqdrbQa3BotTYtEfGVVRhp8U1UhOIyQULo-X_NPPoVgQV3sk8lkP4CtlZE4SAdtQPWqOaVRVm6sFuEEZhZ_9FXGw7U/s1600-h/Sweet+rock+9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZvh0x-WkZr4fXZjLCYKuvzOy6YO0qoX63AkC4aGHCAaEoVzucYqdrbQa3BotTYtEfGVVRhp8U1UhOIyQULo-X_NPPoVgQV3sk8lkP4CtlZE4SAdtQPWqOaVRVm6sFuEEZhZ_9FXGw7U/s400/Sweet+rock+9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272463142815118834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfWhDRkfbXa3KsGWv6pWsu4KwWtMhbCo0hn517ptV8HLFDTDEGletDsolMikQ0vlc3rTZnYWMWJ5KRKuEFm8pA_V-rV6bmIPjFFlPwskSEU6PEjsms7A5FstJMnnq759aX2Md_v9zNTI/s1600-h/Sweet+rock+7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfWhDRkfbXa3KsGWv6pWsu4KwWtMhbCo0hn517ptV8HLFDTDEGletDsolMikQ0vlc3rTZnYWMWJ5KRKuEFm8pA_V-rV6bmIPjFFlPwskSEU6PEjsms7A5FstJMnnq759aX2Md_v9zNTI/s400/Sweet+rock+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272463143088916290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7TRy8oiYyFiyWRi8bzcXzXibv7PVwnD_WFA2PPZxJaS_nuUzqJ1QupM4pAJB7qKSNgmvfBCYzdptslyVgFnrrZketTScQyofD4XvumIcuteKst7egM9pii0pY92FPQUHfCCHSw7tw1g/s1600-h/Sweet+rock+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7TRy8oiYyFiyWRi8bzcXzXibv7PVwnD_WFA2PPZxJaS_nuUzqJ1QupM4pAJB7qKSNgmvfBCYzdptslyVgFnrrZketTScQyofD4XvumIcuteKst7egM9pii0pY92FPQUHfCCHSw7tw1g/s400/Sweet+rock+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272461933574249106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjW5iZtb_n_p37HKll_2V9axXU4dZS2D2Ztm72cdVVBpJ-FtAvCUTIBLXhyphenhyphenlQX6jEPZqQ-GR0YMZeDOghyphenhyphenUxz6cRgWVTeBPXDEKo2urTuCwzadR2jasI_yBdFvEdkc4wpo8mtRa5vwJGE/s1600-h/Sweet+rock+8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjW5iZtb_n_p37HKll_2V9axXU4dZS2D2Ztm72cdVVBpJ-FtAvCUTIBLXhyphenhyphenlQX6jEPZqQ-GR0YMZeDOghyphenhyphenUxz6cRgWVTeBPXDEKo2urTuCwzadR2jasI_yBdFvEdkc4wpo8mtRa5vwJGE/s400/Sweet+rock+8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272463146162551330" border="0" /></a>Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8490383316187434479.post-33734929362183073732009-01-02T19:43:00.001+11:002009-01-03T20:16:29.757+11:00Rio ReflectionsI wanted to experience the reality of life in a third world country and I did not want to leave with romanticized notions. I believe I was successful in remaining uninfected by ‘touristitis’, whereby one sees the country through a sugary filter of resorts, westernized tourist spots and beaches.<br />Instead, I glimpsed the hardship of life in the ghetto and the struggle to make those tattered ends meet.<br /><br />There is greater pressure on women; they are still brought up with the implicit idea that they should be mothers first. Furthermore, as my bestfriend put it, it’s not a big issue for underprivileged people to have many kids and for kids to have kids: because it is common it is accepted.<br /><br />Additionally, despite the country containing mainly dark skinned people, it is still the fairer skinned people who dominate the media. Regrettably, the diversity of people living in Brazil does not guarantee the parity you might expect.<br /><br />Though there are animal shelters and the government is providing free sterilization and working on re-homing abandoned animals, there are no actual laws to protect animals.<br /><br />Nevertheless, though there is conflict and the need for escapism the people are happier, grateful for their blessings and able to acknowledge them on a daily basis.<br />As you walk down the streets of Rio, it is uplifting to be among such a miscellaneous mix of people who send out positive energy.<br /><br />Sanguinity prevails among the people and if it is indeed indigence that teaches people this then keep me safe from wealth.Selhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751282446866234368noreply@blogger.com