Brazil so far

The raining is horrible, although as a tourist you try to make the best of things. Rio de Janeiro is a big city, just like Sao Paulo, although the tube is not near as efficient in Rio as it is in Sao Paulo. A traveler doesn't have to wait a whole minute before another train is peeking out of the black hole again. The well ordered system makes Sao Paulo smaller than it is. You can go from one part of the area to the complete other side within minutes. Try that in Rio, where not only they don't have as many lines, they also have less trains. Which practically means you have to wait longer.

After we went to the local market and got ourself a good 5 minutes view from one of the highest building in Sao Paulo, we started thinking about going to Rio. Because beside the high buildings and good public transport, there isn't much to see. The bus is a lot more luxurious than a crammed local bus in Guatemala. You step on someone's feet, they trod on yours. Air conditioning, full size chairs, food. A comparison with flying is made easily. As soon as you get out of the bus, 6 hours later, the warm weather hits you in the face.

Rio de Janeiro pops Christ and the Sugarloaf into your head. Both things are still unvisited and Sugarloaf will probably stay that way. Not only are they both cramping expensive (15 euro each), who needs sugar when you have Christ? The Copacabana beach is beautiful (when it doesn't rain) and Ipenema, Leblon are also worth a visit.

Wednesday we visited a favela, one of the more famous ones in Rio de Janeiro. Also, according to Bob the London man running a hotel there, "the safest place in all of Rio". Next to the slowly dissolving car, fighting street dogs and masses electric cables, you have a nice overview of the harbor of the rich and famous. What a view, who doesn't want to own a house here? A favela tour is worth taking, you see another side of Rio.

Last pic in the Brazil gallery is brilliant.