Santa Theresa

This area is supposed to be artsy and funky, so Dav and I trudged up the hill in the hot hot heat. Along the way, we passed by a house with 10+ cats and I couldn't help but say hi to the guy sitting outside. Turns out he's lived in the US and spoke very good English. It was a bit sad though since during his lifetime, he's seen Rio at its best and then its slow decline. He can see the favelas growing and sometimes hears fighting (gunshots).

There were a only few places to visit in Santa Theresa. We hung out lazily on sofas admiring the decor and color of a cool cafe/bar, and ate at one restuarant. But it the area was smaller than expected (another tourist couple even asked us if they missed it). By far, the neatest part was the tram that rides rickety along the steep hills and across a high bridge into the city. Worth the fun even though I questioned the safety.

Dav got lots of cool graffiti pics. Last pic is a view off the road right into a large favela.