RIO

The weather improved my last couple of days in Rio so I went exploring. This little guy was in the centre of town screaming what I assume were passages from the Bible he was carrying, other than me no one seemed to notice him.

Cathedral Metropolitana in Rio is the most unusual and modern Cathedral I have seen on my travels.

Skyscapers and Yellow Cabs - could be New York.

Volkswagon Beetle´s are definetely the most popular car in Brazil.

Catching the tram to Santa Teresa was fun, cost all of 20p.

Santa Teresa is a bairro (suburb) of Rio on the hillside overlooking the city= a maze of cobbled streets and old mansions with high walled gardens. A nice relaxed atmosphere and place to wander for a few hours.

From the views at Santa Teresa you can really see how close the old and new sit together in Rio.

This dog was not as mean as he looked = he just had one of those smiles that looked like a growl (I know a few people like that!!).

A painting of the view over Rio Bay from the 1850´s. Apart from the skyscrapers and oil rig it hasn´t changed much.

The Police Office on Copacabana Beach - wonder if they are recruiting??

Though it was still a little cloudy in the morning as my last day in Rio I had to go see the beaches - didn`t do any sunbathing but kept myself amused with a long walk and lots of people watching...

By the time I walked around to Ipanema Beach the sun was coming out as was the sun seekers, surfers, beach volleyballers and for anyone who came unprepared the guys selling bikini´s!!

Sand Art.

There was all sorts of non-vehicular traffic going along the cycle path.....

And no matter where you are in Rio (or most other places in Brazil) you are never too far away from religoun.

Rio was an interesting city with the mixuture of the old areas and modern commericial areas - like most big cities I suppose. It certainly has a much nicer feel to it when the sun is out. I was warned one day when I was walking down the street that two lads had beene eyeing up my camera - I had it tied to me so they would have had to use force but that is more a likelihood in the big cities in South America than anywhere else I have been. Though I think some people get so paranoid about it they don´t enjoy there stay. Me I took precuations - didn´t wander into areas that were not recommended for tourists, left my camera at home at night (not that I went far at night but if getting back after dark I had my camera tied to my trousers so dropped it down the inside out of site - be a very brave person who tried to go there!!), only carried enough money etc that I needed - as I say it can happen anywhere but best to limit the chances!! In actual fact I have only met one person travelling who has personally been robbed in Brazil - everyone else tells a story about someone who knew someone etc etc......know it happens but think the fear is worse than the reality...