Hello again!!

Yesterday was absolutely brilliant. Me and Vicky went on a favela tour, which is a tour of the slums. Sounds a bit crap when I write it like that but was excellent. We went with a group of twelve, 6 brits, 3 new zealanders and 2 canadians and our tour guide. As we were in the mini bus on the way he gave us some tips on what to do. He said that we were not allowed to take pictures in certain parts as we would get shot! And that we would possibly see a machine gun hanging out the window and the kids would try to steal our stuff. By then, as you can imagine me and Vicky were s***ting ourselves! We got to the bottom of the Favela and we had to go up the hill (which is where the favela was) on mopeds which was well fun, although Vicks took a year to get up there and was actually scared she had been kidnapped or hit by a bus. I dont think I´ve ever been so relieved to see someone alive before! Then we had a chat with the tour guide who said that he would tell us when we could get our cameras out again. We were going to walk down through the streets of the favela through all the little shacks etc. As we went down the first bit we were told that if any fireworks went off that we were to run into this shelter place as it was the police coming up to have a shoot out with the gangs of the favelas. By this point I wanted to cry and was shaking so bad especially as we then walked past one of the ´soldiers´of the favelas and he had a gun!!! I tried not to make eye contact but I accidently did and he just nodded at me.
We then went and saw loads of paintings from local kids, and went to one of the schools. It was so sad to see the conditions that they live in but they were all so happy and friendly. The favela itself is the biggest in latin america and has over 200,000 people living in it. The tour guide man was telling us that their government is corrupt and any money that they pay on taxes they keep. I asked about this and he said, ´this is not britain, this is brazil remember!´was so sad. Some kids played us some music on these steel barrels which was brilliant and we also went into some local shops and got some food. It was amazing and everyone was so friendly. I didnt feel scared after a while as I realised our tour guide knew everyone and was friends with everyone. We even went past a drugs building where they make over 3,000,000 US dollars a year selling cocaine. And one of the boys that works there tried to sell us american dollars, he was only about 16!
The pics from this are all up on facebook now. Sorry mum and dad about going on this. But I didnt tell you before because I knew you would worry but everyone I´ve spoken to had been on it and had said it was safe and really good.

Today we went up sugar loaf mountain which showed all the views of Rio and was brilliant. The views were amazing. The pics from that are also up!

Anyways am off to look at hostels to stay in next week, might move out of Copacabana into the neighbouring part of Ipanema. Temp was 29c this morning! Think my nose is burnt now. And this is their WINTER! jeeeeez!!!

Hope everything is ok at home. Missing everyone loads,

Lots and lots of Love,

Becci xxxxxx