Welcome...

My cab driver set the tone after picking me up from the airport. It was 6AM, I had just landed in Rio and we were driving down the motorway leading to Rio: 'on the right here you can see favelas; Can you see? I would not drive down here at night, I have seen so many shootings and armed roberies on this part of the motorway...' Welcome to Rio!!


3h after landing I was already up the Corcovado where the view over Rio is flabergasting: on one side you can see Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana; on the other side Sugar Loaf mountain, Flamengo, Centro and Niteroi bridge can be admired. Behing you, the huge 36m statue of Christ watches over the city. I will need to get back up there at sunset to see the city lights appearing. A girl I was up there with and who was finishing her world tour told me nothing see had seen could quiet beat the view (the view of Cape town from Table mountain in South Africa was coming in 2nd position only).


Ended up the day walking Santa Theresa, a set of hills where rich Cariocas (as Rio's inhabitants are called) used to build houses back in the 19th century. Walking around this area is pretty safe and well protected by the police. An exotic ride on the 'Bonde' full of school kids holding on to the outside of the tram took us back to the city centre.

Don't worry mum, I only travel around the city by taxi, so I am safe from muggings!