We didn't have a lot planned for our last day as we saw most all of the sites that were open on the past 2 days. We had wanted to visit the Saint Benedict monastery and church. The Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, more commonly known as the Mosteiro de São Bento, which is a Benedictine abbey located on the Morro de São Bento in downtown Rio, but it was closed (as most churches are during Carnival).
We also wanted to visit Santa Teresa to ride the Tram from 1894 and visit the park of ruins, but the tram was not operating during Carnival. It’s known as the artistic heart of Rio, the cobbled streets are lined with rambling mansions that were once home to the city’s wealthy elite, and today function as artists’ studios, restaurants and guest houses.
So, we drove along the longest bridge in Brasil (13 km) to visit Niteroi and MAC (contemporary Art Museum) designed by the famous Brasilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. The museum was also closed, but it was an interesting design on the outside and offered great views of the city from the quiet neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle of Rio.
floats for that evenings parades
going across the bridge
views from Niteroi
and MAC (contemporary Art Museum)
guy dressed like a guy in the shower.....
Our main goal today was to visit to a Favela. (their word for slum) We visited the Dharavi slums in India and wanted to see the ones here. They are normally built up into the side of the mountains and the government put in a tram to help them get up and down. We visited the Favela Santa Marta which is where Michael Jackson filmed the video for "They Don't Care About Us". Our guide contacted a local to guide us through his Favela. His name was Fumaca and he was working selling drinks at Street Parties and he stopped long enough to do our visit and then we drove him back to where he was working. (he has a website called Santa Marta Favela Scene) Unlike in India where the slum was very productive in terms of most everyone working there turning trash into usable items like luggage, electronics and just about everything to sell to make money, the only business in Santa Marta were a few gift shops and of course there is a statue of Michael Jackson for photo ops and a place where they show the video and the lady in there is a local that was in the video. We also visited a lady that owns over 200 clocks. Most given to her by tourists that send them to here after seeing her home and all of her clocks. Their home was spotless, had electricity, microwave, nice TV and dish TV. She accepts donations "to buy batteries" to keep all the clocks running.
favela on the hillside
we started our walk up in the scorching heat....
our guide for the Favela
our local guide Fumaca
Gus & Fumaca
The biggest "industry" unfortunately is drugs. We were walked past police with "big guns" that guard the Favela and then walked past the Favela Gang Head that also is armed. They work together to keep the peace. As long as there is no violence the police let them operate. We never felt unsafe, but of course we had our guide and the Favela guide who lives there. He introduced us to some of his children.
You could take all of the photos you wanted (unlike in India where none were allowed unless they ask you to take their picture) as long as there were no people in the photos. If you wanted someone's photo you could ask if it was OK. Some did not mind, others did.
One lady said we could take her photo and a photo of her cat. She asked if we could send them to the guide and he would print them and give them to her. We will after we get home.
We literally walked up the mountain in the oppressive heat since the tram was not operating from the bottom. We did get to use it for the second half, but had to walk all the way back down as it was not working. They are hardy people to walk those steep steps at that elevation in the heat.
It is always very interesting to see all sides of a culture. Very eye opening and the warmth of the people was heart warming. It was a wonderful way to end our visit to Rio.
more floats for the parades later
Greg ordering a Caipirinha
Caipirinha
Over the various days we could see the floats that would be used in that evening's parades lined up along one street.
What a great 3 days in Rio. While Carnaval wasn't the best time to see the sights in a timely manner, it was superb people watching.
The Captain waited over an hour and a half for about 6 people that were late returning to the ship. They were at Copacabana beach and had trouble with their cab in all the traffic. He said he waited as we didn't have far to go to the next port and we wouldn't lose any time.
on the ship
The entertainment tonight was David Mendelsohn "Rock & Soul Review". He was OK.
Oh boy, a sea day tomorrow!
Santa Marta Favela Rio Brazil day 3 https://photos.app.goo.gl/AFRFyRNRywCUmvBf2
What a diverse experience you had in Rio.
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