life in rio

over the past couple of days i have been taking in rio de janeiro. trust me ... there is a lot to take in this city scattered throughout the mountains. i am staying just blocks from the historic copacabana beach. i have made a few trips to the beach to enjoy the afternoon sun (temperatures have been 25-34 so far). i quickly learned that by 5 pm the beach clears out. it is almost as if someone blew an airhorn (just you cant hear it). the beach is pretty much evacuated by sundown. crime in the beach area (as well as every other area of rio) is very high at night. rio is the first place i have visited in south america so far where i have been concerned about my safety. besides the beach, streets, malls, and restaurants all become very quiet by 6 pm. i am taking pre-cautions that i didnt cross my mind in peru or chile. even local people openly talk about the crime and the measures they take to prevent it.

over the past couple of days i have been hiking and exploring the city. never really have a true plan, but seem to find things to keep me busy. unlike peru, i have mastered public transportation in rio. the buses and metro do not have that chaotic feel as they did in lima. i have been hiking at pau de acucar and throughout botafogo (barrio in rio). my plan for sunday is to take a local soccer game at the massive maracana stadium (maximum capacity is 200,000 people) with some backpackers i met in chile.

my apartment buiding overlooks a community centre and there is lots of traffic in and out of the centre (which is great considering the high crime rates). i am now re-thinking how great the community centre is! every night the community centres host an evening activity. on thursday and friday it was bingo. from 7 - 10 pm, i was blessed with listening to a bingo caller and people screaming ´bingo´ all night. i didnt think it could worse until this evening, when after bingo a community dance began. when i left my apartment all i could hear was old-polka like music coming from the centre. as i said, i am starting to re-think being close to the community centre.