Rendez-vous in Rio

Apart from the obvious reference to the song by Swedish new wave band Lustans Lakejer, I found a lot of interesting things in Rio de Janeiro. Maybe the most striking was meeting Jesus on the top of Corcovado. The tall statue of Christ the Redeemer is towering above the city from the top of Corcovado mountain.

The view from Corcovado.

With a height of 30 meters and situated on top of a mountain, the statue can be seen from most places in the city. At night it can be seen as a tiny star of light in the darkness.

Reach out and touch faith.

The city is unfortunately very segregated and the favelas are climbing up the slopes, spreading violence and crime across the urban area. Even the SWAT teams are hesitant to enter the favelas, and I can understand why. For a fictionalized view of the favelas, have a look at the film “City of God” from last year, shot on location (no pun intended) in the poorest neighborhoods of Rio.

On top of Pão de Açúcar.

While traveling on the yellow tram through the bohemian hills of Santa Teresa, I also had a rendez-vous with the young locals who were trying to grab my backpack. A bit tense, but encounters like these always remind me of the privilege many of us take for granted, and how grateful I am to be able to make these kinds of travel.

The view from Pão de Açúcar.

There is said to be about a thousand favelas in Rio, which is a harsh contrast to the happy beach people down at the popular beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, playing in the waves and walking around with plastic cups of too strong caipirinhas.

Copacabana is a beautiful two-mile stretch of sand shaped as a crescent, where the eastern part ends with Pão de Açúcar, the Sugarloaf Mountain. Beaches are likely the only place in the city where rich and poor can meet as equals, but the sandy shores are divided into other parts instead.

I enter the waves at a random location on Copacabana, likely breaking a dozen informal rules. The undertow is murderous and I feel paler than Marilyn Manson as everyone is looking at the tall gringo entering their turf. Welcome to Rio.