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So I hooked up with the guys from Plastics again in the afternoon & the new English student (John - who´s actually from Kenya, but studying in Leicester) he´s a good lad. Went to the Feira Nordestina (a huge covered market that specialises in things from the North East - that typically has a greater African influence) which was awesome. Had a few beers & lovely meal, before walking around & spotting some bargains for a later date. Then went to John´s hostel - which is better than mine, so decided to stay there. Also met a group of English girls that were travelling around South America for 6 months, who are a good laugh aswell. After we all had power naps we went for a meal, but were shocked to find everywhere had finished serving (it was one in the monring!) But eventually we found somewhere with Capairinha´s & food. After this we tried to find a club in Ipanema to party the night away - but everything closes at 2 in Ipanema - rubbish - so we went to Lapa where everything was still going full swing, and we decided to stay on the streets soaking up the athmosphere & Capparinha´s for the night. It was eery as the Sun came up, but I got over it!! we finished the Night with a walk across the beach in Botafogo - unfortunately this smelt of P*ss which marred an otherwise awesome night. One problem though - I was due on the other side of town in 30 mins to go trekking in the rainforest - so quick shower & off on the metro to meet with the dude taking me. When he didn´t show at half 8 I rang him, he had decided to cancel - cos of the weather (it had been raining) but because I had no mobile (it was stolen!) he couldn´pt let me know. Rahter than be bitter, I decided to go to the Museum (drink & sleep deprevation will do dtrange things to you!) So off I trot, but unfortunately its closed! But I decide to wait as it opens at 12, & I don´t want to waste a day here. So, I find a comfortable park bench & Start sleeping - unfortunately the local bobby mistakes me for a hobbo & insists I can´t lie down (but can sleep sitting up!?!) After 3 hours of this I´m really ready for the museum - So, I go to ask again & I´m told it opens at 14 by one person and 16 by another - who then start arguing about it. Livid!!! I decide that theres a nice hammock calling for me at the hostel & take advantage. At night (after a couple of hours sleep) I decided to go the the Feira nordestina again & this time purchase some pressies - this I did including the best hammock in the world (for me!) Great time, lovely meal & soaked up the athmosphere (lovely because it was similar to carnaval again!!!!)
Next day & it´s hang-gliding day!!! Or its not due to the bad weather & lack of thermals - Bu**er - So I took the guys to the hippie fair in Ipanema & did more buying... Then the guys went to the footbal & I went home to the hospital.
Monday involved ways of trying to get out of the Hospital - I found a novel one - Going to the hill of the monkeys - Morro Do Macacos - an infmamous flavella - that I mentioned in earier blogs. So, where to start the "welcome committee" THe athmosphere, the people, the scenery? Lots to describe! Are you sitting comfortably, the I´ll begin. The welcome committee, was the usual 5 lads (about 16-20) with the usual guns, looking strangely chilled but menacing. Having looked at them without LOOKING at them I moved onto the woman I knew´s lovely house (Zita) who made me watch an awful film!!! But then we went off looking around. WE met several people walked past the locals - shopkeeper, mechanics, drug dealers, past the local look out post (a man with a very large machine gun sitting on top of a roof), the Dr I was with was getting quite animated about this, but I thought - its unlikely he´d take a random pop-shot at a couple of people for no apparent reason, luckily I was right... As the flavela sits on top of one of the huge hills in Rio - it has a beautiful view of the city - so you get this strange, contrast of being in a flavela with one of the most stunning views you´ve seen. Not that the flavella itself was ugly - just different!! Lots of flavela houses mixed in with the originial rich houses - makes for a querky place!!! After we had walked around for a bit - we popped into one of the more prominent members of the flavelas lovely house & were welcomed warmly & given drinks (more on this later!) and shown books on the history of the place (including pics from newspapers of the Matriach of the house, hosting famous pop stars!! - it turns out she´s a famous cook, unfortunaltey I didn´t test her expertise!)
Then she took us round the flavela - this time introducing us to everyone!!!! And showing us everything! Including some local men - who were engaged in what can only described as homo-erotic wrestling (I didn´t point this out to them, especially when I saw a pile of guns on the side of the mat) - they were also huge, but very friendly!! By now I had also acquired a young kid whowas interested in the gringo & insisted on me throwing her around (35 degrees!!!) but was very sweet. I think I met every bar owner in the flavel (quite a feat), saw the schools & where they play football/have their parties every friday night (I was shown into the VIP area - an area of breeze blocks just up from the dance floor - where all the important poeple go) naturally I was invited that friday - to go along, I thought this was probably a mistake so declined (politely!)
Generally the athmosphere was great with people really happy that I´d felt able to go and visit them, they were naturally proud of their area & really proud to show me the next big community project - the free swimming pool - awesome!!! So on the way back we saw a scene similar to city of god or any other gangster film- Moonlight in the background - lighting up 7 or so guys all with their guns very visible - it would have been a beatiful scene from a tarantino film - But they just smiled & let us pass. After all this I worked up an appetite & was treated with Ice cream & churros at Zitas house. Whilst there the only down side of my trip´occured, in the distance (where I had previously been told people disappear) there were 3 evenly spaced - calm shots, it sounded horribly like an assassination.
Other than that it was an average week
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