David and Linda Escaping the Norm: Rio de Janeiro

We flew from Santiago, Chile to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 2nd and stayed on the 17th floor of our Porto Bay Hotel in Copacabana Beach. We booked an all day tour for the following day to help us get more familar with the city and to see some of Rio's highlights. It was a semi-walking tour and included entrance to Christ the Redeemer statue and walking through the Favela of Santa Marta where Michael Jackson recorded his video of "They Don't Care About Us", released in 1995.

Rio's Theater in the Financial District

The Arches of Lapa - Carioca Aqueduct built in 1723.

Street Art in St. Teresa

The Selaron Steps in St. Teresa. These steps were tiled and painted by an artist who lived in the area and considered the project "His tribute to the people of Brazil."

Our guide took us to a view point where we could overlook the city.

Our tour guide Daniel on the left with some friends of his from the Santa Marta Favela.

We got to walk through the favela where Michael Jackson made his music video, "They Don't Care About Us." A favela is basically a community of squatters who build houses on land that doesn't belong to them but the city doesn't make them move. Most favelas are restricted and dangerous to walk through because of drug lords unless you live there, but since Michael Jackson visited this favela, the police monitor it and they have opened it up to tourist.

One of the boys living in the favela. Several boys followed us around.

This mural was painted after Michael Jackson's death to honor him.

View of the walkways through the community.

City area from the bottom of the favela.

We took a bus to the top of the Corcovado Mountain where Christ the Redeemer Statue is. Great views of the city and the bay.

The following day, we were on our own and decided to check out an area that was built up for the Olympics. This spaceship looking building is called the "Museum of Tomorrow."