Impressions - major contrast between the rich and the poor.
We went on a Favela tour in Rio De Janeiro. This was intriguing because all the
tourist info says to keep right away.

There were about 8 of us in a mini-bus with a vivacious and excellent guide
called Christiana who was amazing in her ability to switch from English for
John and I to French for the young students who made up the group.

The tours were founded by a man who wanted to give back to the community and he
gives 40% of the profits to help run a special after and before school
Community school for enrichment for 100 kids from a smallish favela.

Because of his involvement there, we were able to walk through the favela.
Think Mediaeval times but even tighter as there are no real streets and you
couldnt even calll them alleys - all the buildings are squashed into each other
going up the mountain and they just wire up electricity from the mains and dont
pay for it of course. People live right on top of each other and have barely
any light in there. The government are trying to help by giving these 3 feet
wide alleys a street name so peole can start to get mail.

And if you have seen the movie City of God, the strata of power is all real and
the drug lords rule the favelas.

We drove through the biggest one but the van didn't stop and we were not
allowed to take photos.

At the top of a fabulous view we met some young men who were learning to paint
with a talented man. Art and soccer may be the only means for these young men
to escape their environment.

A challenge for this world today - the rich and the poor - why so unfair?

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