Under the bridge...

....downtown is where I drew some blood, under the bridge downtown I could not get enough, under the bridge downtown forgot about my love, under the bridge downtown I gave my life away.

When we first drove into Rio, under the bridge downtown there were some kids sleeping, the pots of glue besides them...

We read in a book that the druglords of the favelas practise a strict leadership. People who beg on the streets have to pay rent for that place, and lots of it too. They will have to get a lot of money from people to actually keep something for themselves. Giving money will keep the system intact...Women rent babies and apply sleepingpills so that they will get more money. One night we went for a drink on Copacabana beach. We thought we found a nice place. We were surrounded by favela kids, prostitutes and european male tourists. One day we were walking and found ourselves in the middle of a streetfight between the police and youngsters. We wanted to buy an icecream and I looked behind me and saw a policeman running towards us after somebody with a big stick. I said, this is bad we have to go and I started running. Miriam however was pushed into to shop to keep her save. The guy asked where I was but I was already a bit further down the street. I found myself almost in the middle of this fight with policeman and the troublemakers running towards where I was and back and forth. I ran into different directions but nothing helped. They were everywhere. And so were flying coconuts. They were smashing into the policecar with big wooden sticks. Policeman were beating people. All pretty scarry. Then it was over and we could breath again. Favelas are built almost on every hill. These are just a few examples of the poignant sorrow that is also a part of Rio.

Rio is also absolutely amaying. Its location is truely beyond believe and as far as I am concerned it is in first place now, location wise, followed by Vancouver and Sydney in third place. The beaches are beautiful, the hills surrounding and occupying the city is a magical sight, Cristo Redentor is hugh and impressive, Santa Theresa is sweet, Ipanema is posh, the city centre is a nice mix of old and new. Copacabana is busy, the inside lake is between Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon is a great sight. Rio has the biggest natural forrest within a city, need I go on??