It's the new year and I am way overdue for an update. Basically i've been hanging around in Rio for a good three weeks now, just so i didn't have to travel during the holidays. It can get pretty hectic, specially if you don't speak the local language. I've done some of the touristy things, and my impression of Rio is that it's a little overrated. The beaches are very crowded, noisy and sometimes so dirty i didn't want to swim. It all depends on where you go though, as there are nicer beaches if you want to spend alot of time getting there (i don't, not being a beach person). It's also quite expensive here, specially during the holidays when they jack up the prices. The city itself isn't that bad, it certainly has it's charms here and there. If you have a lot of money to spend, Rio is a nice place. For those who don't, well...tough...

Here's the mandatory jebus pic of the Corcovado statue (Christ the Redeemer). It's huge and it was very crowded on Christmas day.

Here he is again from the back, a little cooler with the sun for a head me thinks:)

Here's Botafogo where i've spent most of my time. The pointy hill is Sugarloaf Hill which has a nice view if you take the cablecar to the top. Imagine it just like this, only from the other side since i'm too lazy to upload more pictures:)

Here's the Rocinha favela (favela means ghetto) in Rio viewed from the top. It has about 200.000 inhabitants, and it's the largest of Rio's (and also Latin America's) 750 favelas. In contrast, the highrises at the bottom is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in Rio, an apartment there can cost $5m USD. A house in the favela will run you 5.000-50.000USD depending on the standard (yes, they do have standards, even here:)

Life in the favela. I was told this is actually a cousin and his uncle taking a bath. Cousin on the left, apparently uncle gets to bathe first.

While these guys were playing for change, five mean looking guys walked right past us. The first one had an assault rifle, the second was carrying two handguns (in his hands, not holstered). Third came the bling'ed out druglord, fourth another guard with two handguns out, and last another one with an assault rifle. They just nodded at us while they walked by, and i didn't feel threatened at all, but i'm sure that would've changed if i had tried to take their photo. A little further down we came to the "Line of death" which is a wall where the drugrunners usually make their stand against the police. Fun times....