lets samba!!

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hey guys.. sorry for the lack of updates. so to sum up my experience of rio...
in my opinion, it the BEST city. there is so much to do, in the day or night, that i do not see how the locals can get any work done. I stayed in rio for about 8 days. The weather was great 4 days and the other 4 days it was cloudy and rainy.

On the plane ride to brazil, I sat next to a girl who gradutated from UCSB and spending one month volunteering in favellas. The company ripped her off. (she spent $1600US for board and volunteering while only $400 went towards the favella). during one of the bad weather days, I met up with her and spent a day volunteering the favella. It was such an eye opener to experience poverty firsthand. There is such a gap between the uppper middle class and poor. THe favella was nice, it had electricity and running water. I spent a day teaching english and playing with children.

The worst part of my rio vacation was when brazil and england lost. There were so many english people in my hostel that were so mad and then when brazil lost as well, they all were pissed off drunks. There was actually a fight between the rowdy hooligans.

Rio is great. The entire coast and beaches are beautiful. the people are beautiful. the weather is great. and many hikes and outdoor activities one can do.

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Photos

me on ipanema
finally made it!!

leblon/ipanema
views from jesus

decorated for the cup
so much national pride... too bad they lost so early

trees!
this is rio.. and if you take a long distance bus... most of the part is trees and plants and green mountains

me and sugar
the view from the christ with the sugar loaf mountains behind me

favella
the favella i volunteered at

Comments

[Dr. RJB]

Girl from Ipanema
Antonio Carlos Jobim wrote the "Girl from Ipanema". It is quite a famous and catchy tune. You should try to locate it to know how famous this beach is--Frank Sinatra even has a version...It is one place I would like to go. About songs: We (Chief, Kendra, Janet, Jill and Kevin) saw the Beach Boys tonight at Humphry's. We were actually listening to 46 year old music and everyone was enjoying it. Kali, Kendra and Janet rushed to stage near the end. Beach Boys have quite an amazing body of work. For me it was a time warp to reflect on l963, -67 through their lyrics. I have seen this group more than any other and still think they are special--Brian Wilson ranks with those Beatles for song writing... Reflective and overwhelming to realize how popular their hits have been throughout the generations...and people are still listening... Keep up your writing, you might earn a "free pass" for travel...