http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/brazil/the-good-and-the-ugly/ From Polar Bears to Penguins - Driving North to South across the Americas Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:16:12 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/brazil/the-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-1292 Neena Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:16:41 +0000 http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/the-good-and-the-ugly/#comment-1292 Hi Fred, At this moment we are traveling by bus and our car is safely parked at our friend's mother's residence in Panambi. It contains Argentinian gas. By the way, some people staying in this B&B were renting a car; theirs was stolen off the street in front of the hotel. Hi Fred,
At this moment we are traveling by bus and our car is safely parked at our friend’s mother’s residence in Panambi. It contains Argentinian gas.
By the way, some people staying in this B&B were renting a car; theirs was stolen off the street in front of the hotel.

]]> http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/brazil/the-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-1291 Neena Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:15:35 +0000 http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/the-good-and-the-ugly/#comment-1291 Hi Jerzy, Shreesh said Rio reminded him of New York as it used to be! Of course, the beaches, beauty and energy are still there...that lends to the city's paradox! (I do not think life is easy however; food, transport and rent here are very expensive compared to the average salary). There's definitely a tension here, the expectation of violence. A lot of Rio residents caution tourists about wandering about Rio alone or even in twos at night. Our B&B owner, an artist who lives in Santa Teresa, talks wishfully about being in a safer atmosphere, leaving Rio. But we loved this city. We may not be able to live here permanently because of the safety issue, but it is definitely THE most interesting city we have visited on this trip. Hi Jerzy,
Shreesh said Rio reminded him of New York as it used to be! Of course, the beaches, beauty and energy are still there…that lends to the city’s paradox! (I do not think life is easy however; food, transport and rent here are very expensive compared to the average salary).
There’s definitely a tension here, the expectation of violence. A lot of Rio residents caution tourists about wandering about Rio alone or even in twos at night. Our B&B owner, an artist who lives in Santa Teresa, talks wishfully about being in a safer atmosphere, leaving Rio.
But we loved this city. We may not be able to live here permanently because of the safety issue, but it is definitely THE most interesting city we have visited on this trip.

]]> http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/brazil/the-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-1290 Neena Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:08:11 +0000 http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/the-good-and-the-ugly/#comment-1290 Hi Jaimie, I think the foot tours are totally safe. Our guide actually told us that favelas were safe, the only issue happens if you get caught in cross fire between gangs and the police. There are actually hotels and "B&B"s run in favelas too, and of course, samba schools. The residents have a reason for keeping them safe! Not knowing Rio well enough, I would tend to avoid going alone, or rely on a the advice of a Rio resident. Hi Jaimie,
I think the foot tours are totally safe. Our guide actually told us that favelas were safe, the only issue happens if you get caught in cross fire between gangs and the police.
There are actually hotels and “B&B”s run in favelas too, and of course, samba schools. The residents have a reason for keeping them safe! Not knowing Rio well enough, I would tend to avoid going alone, or rely on a the advice of a Rio resident.

]]> http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/brazil/the-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-1288 fred Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:08:32 +0000 http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/the-good-and-the-ugly/#comment-1288 How did you get to Rio given the Ethanol gas problem? How did you get to Rio given the Ethanol gas problem?

]]> http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/brazil/the-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-1287 Jerzy Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:09:21 +0000 http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/the-good-and-the-ugly/#comment-1287 How changeable a city image can be! The first words you are using to describe Rio are "gun - totting hoodlums and terrorized population". Yet I remember vividly that when I was growing up, the name Rio was equivalent with a vision of exotic, sensual beauty, an easy life style, somehow unaffected by turmoil of the world. At the same time, New York City and Chicago were to be avoided, as one could be robbed or shot at any time. Some of that is an urban legend, undoubtedly propagated by Hollywood productions. Yet, there are deeper roots to those popular beliefs. The ever-changing world. How changeable a city image can be! The first words you are using to describe Rio are “gun – totting hoodlums and terrorized population”. Yet I remember vividly that when I was growing up, the name Rio was equivalent with a vision of exotic, sensual beauty, an easy life style, somehow unaffected by turmoil of the world. At the same time, New York City and Chicago were to be avoided, as one could be robbed or shot at any time. Some of that is an urban legend, undoubtedly propagated by Hollywood productions. Yet, there are deeper roots to those popular beliefs. The ever-changing world.

]]> http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/brazil/the-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-1284 Greg Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:30:31 +0000 http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/the-good-and-the-ugly/#comment-1284 I visited Brasil in 2001 and visited a few favelas. The one behind Copacobana had a bar up the hill with spectacular views over the beach and ocean. In another, I was walking with a friend, and it was a festival day - the men were standing in groups drinking beer, the women also in groups gossiping, the girls were singing and dancing to a radio and the boys were playing scissors, paper, rock. It was the most normal and pleasant place, just like 99% of places throughout the world. At no time did I ever feel nervous or threatened by anyone. The cariocas were the most amazing and friendly people and their love of live is fantastic. OK, there are bad people everywhere - I just didnt come across any in Rio. I visited Brasil in 2001 and visited a few favelas. The one behind Copacobana had a bar up the hill with spectacular views over the beach and ocean. In another, I was walking with a friend, and it was a festival day – the men were standing in groups drinking beer, the women also in groups gossiping, the girls were singing and dancing to a radio and the boys were playing scissors, paper, rock.
It was the most normal and pleasant place, just like 99% of places throughout the world. At no time did I ever feel nervous or threatened by anyone. The cariocas were the most amazing and friendly people and their love of live is fantastic. OK, there are bad people everywhere – I just didnt come across any in Rio.

]]> http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/brazil/the-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-1283 Jaime Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:51:47 +0000 http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/the-good-and-the-ugly/#comment-1283 I appreciate your post. I know exactly what you are talking about and am still struck by the living situation among the rich and poor in the city. I lived in Rio for about 2 months part of the time in Barra de Tijuca which was right near Rocinha and then part of the time in Botafogo. I had wanted to go into the favela but still wasn't sure about the whole thing. I've been reading more and doing research since I've returned and it seems that a lot of people say that the foot tours are actually safer and most respected among the community. I appreciate your post. I know exactly what you are talking about and am still struck by the living situation among the rich and poor in the city. I lived in Rio for about 2 months part of the time in Barra de Tijuca which was right near Rocinha and then part of the time in Botafogo. I had wanted to go into the favela but still wasn’t sure about the whole thing. I’ve been reading more and doing research since I’ve returned and it seems that a lot of people say that the foot tours are actually safer and most respected among the community.

]]> http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/brazil/the-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-1281 Neena Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:25:55 +0000 http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/the-good-and-the-ugly/#comment-1281 Hi Fred, Yes they do! I think Favela Tours was the first company to do so, now there's Jeep tours and various others. Its quite interesting, they monitor the situation to make sure that there's no current gang wars going on, and that there's no police action going on either. Favela da Rocinha is not the most dangerous, and Villa Canoas is almost like the Nob Hill of the Favelas. Apparently Favela da Rocinha had a gang war between "Comando Vermelho" and the "ADA", when tours were shut down for 45 days. The favela itself was "shut off" for 30 days! ADA won that time and now another war is said to be brewing. So cheap real estate comes at a price! Hi Fred,
Yes they do! I think Favela Tours was the first company to do so, now there’s Jeep tours and various others. Its quite interesting, they monitor the situation to make sure that there’s no current gang wars going on, and that there’s no police action going on either. Favela da Rocinha is not the most dangerous, and Villa Canoas is almost like the Nob Hill of the Favelas.
Apparently Favela da Rocinha had a gang war between “Comando Vermelho” and the “ADA”, when tours were shut down for 45 days. The favela itself was “shut off” for 30 days! ADA won that time and now another war is said to be brewing. So cheap real estate comes at a price!

]]> http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/brazil/the-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-1280 fred Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:48:01 +0000 http://www.alongdrive.com/a-long-drive/a-long-drive-sa/the-good-and-the-ugly/#comment-1280 They actually give tours of the favelas? They actually give tours of the favelas?

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