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So we have been in Rio for 3 days and unfotrnatley the weather hasnt been what we expected .. so we are heading out of rio to Iguazu falls tomorrow .
first to update you on what we have been doing ..
we visited the favelas which translates in to english as shanty town or slums , this had more of an impact on both barry and i than we expected. it was and organised tour within the comminuty to show travellers what the slums are like and also to generate money for the children living there for a school and local medical area for the children.
when we arrived at the entrance of the favela we were gob smacked the favela was oppoiste a rich area with huge buliding and pent houses worth 5 millon US dollors, this was separted by just one road , the rich on one side and poverty on the other .
220,000 people living in the favela with only 4 schools and the nearest hospital 1 hour and a half away. people living in the side of the mountian in the slums were living in squola (not sure how to spell !) this is the biggest slum in south america and it was unbelieveibly huge. we went to the top of the mountian on the back of a local mo ped taxi and walked through the small lanes filled with sewage and debris. the favelas are run by drug dealers who rome the street with machine guns and walky talkys. the local people are there eyes for the police and will send up fireworks to alert drug gangs. on the tour we met drug dealer and saw for ourselves how things were there. inside this commuity there are shops banks and bars. people seem suprisinly happy and unaware of how other people live. we visted the art gallery inside the favela where the orgisnation have made the children paint sing and put on shows rather than beg or ask for money. we brought a painting produced by a small child of the favelas.
we have also visited the Sugar loaf mountain, this is the picture you can see.we got a cabel car to the top and took some pictures of the view , amazing you could see the whole city and the landscape of the mountains. this is where it came clear how much rio bulit into the mountains.
the next day we went up to the top of christ redentor a HUGE statue of jesus which protects and looks over the city. it wasnt the perfect day to go up but we couldnt leave the city without seeing it . when up close to the statue it was very peaceful and felt very holy.unfortunatly we could not see a view as the clouds were so low.
we have now checked out of the hostel and about to engage on a 24hour coach journey iguazu.
speak soon xx
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