Out early to go to Christ the Redeemer statue, 38 metre high statue. Had views over the city but was overcast and quite hazy. Bit boring, get on a bus then a train then look around for 30 minutes then back on the train then the bus. Let's go to the lagoon, so we drive around the lagoon. Tour finished and done 2.5 hours later.

Went into a favela (slum area) to see the Morrinho Project. Walked past a dealer issuing a group of kids bags of cocaine to sell, they did not even try to hide it, that was on the way in. When we coming out there was a crack sound and suddenly not a single person to be seen, this was the warning signal that police had entered the favela, we passed the 2 cops in plain clothes with massive gun each, they friendly though and said hello as we passed them as though nothing out of the norm here. Even though favela is the slums, majority of these people work, some have 2 or 3 jobs but minimum wage is not enough for them to live elsewhere due to cost if living. Favela's account for 25% of Rio's population.

The Morrinho project was started about 16 years ago by a couple if kids, they started collecting up tiles and bruvks laying around and recreated the favela and this was just play for them. They painted them and created the whole community with cars etc. was all because they could not afford Lego. It come to the attention of a film director who did a documentary and it became world renowned, the boys travelled to all parts of the world to recreate exhibits. This project continues today, to provide an alternative to kids falling into drugs and crime. Absolutely amazing. One if the the original boys who started it was our guide. This project is a continual process.