Carnaval - My Old Photos: Wordless Wednesday

Some photos from a Santa Teresa bloco in 2005

Warning: Strong Images

The Bonde accident shook Rio de Janeiro to the core. This morning a friend of mine posted a link to a Youtube video her friend took right after the accident. It is the only video of its kind. Be warned that there are some strong images (to say the least).

Notice all the bystanders helping...

Craigslist: A Different World in Rio

I have known since it was first created that Craigslist Rio de Janeiro just isn't the same practical page as Craigslist San Diego. Of course, I'm a glutton for punishment so I looked at apartments there anyway.

I'm not sure why I wasted my time. I used to go there just to check out the pictures of the HUGE places for sale (obviously being geared towards foreigners). I also find it super annoying to have to sift through all the ads selling places in Florida or Buzios. I'll except Buzios because it is in the state of Rio de Janeiro, but last time I checked Florida is in a different country...

Anyway, so I ended up taking a break from looking for practical places for my family and I and became a real estate voyeur once again. It's nice as I get to mentally live in a large kitchen with a island (fyi I'd change the tacky light):

http://rio.en.craigslist.org/reb/2573107122.html

Or enjoy the view from my pool. Maybe I'll go up to the balcony later to sip stupidly cold beers and stare at all of Rio below. Just saving my energy for when the house gets broken into later. Oh the joys of Santa Teresa (joking). 

http://rio.en.craigslist.org/reb/2573114495.html

I particularly love this one as you have the fireplace to enjoy the 6 weeks it's chilly in Rio. I'm not being sarcastic either! Apartments get breezy down here and there is nothing like heating cold toes in front of a warm fireplace. 

http://rio.en.craigslist.org/reb/2573110741.html

And if I lived here I would only travel the grounds via cartwheel. 

http://rio.en.craigslist.org/reb/2553195965.html

Now compare these to this:

Santa Teresa "occupation" scheduled for Monday

I read on Twitter, via Jornal do Brasil, that the Bope is going to go into Santa Teresa favelas on Monday as part of the plan to take Rio back.  

What's with the warning?  

While people would like to think that drug traffickers aren't sophisticated enough to be following the Jornal do Brasil on Twitter, much less knowing how to use a computer in the first place, it's just not the case. Hell, we all know about the famous trafficker who had a deep respect for the artist known as Justin Bieber.  This only proves that traffickers are crazy people with their fingers in the randomest of pies. 

So why in the hell is the mayor sharing his upcoming plans? Would it not make far more sense for them to keep their mouths shut and, I don't know, sneak in and surprise people?

I think there's one of two options going on here.  First, the Government and traffickers are tired. They just feel it's better to play ball with each other. Government gives them a warning, traffickers run away, government "takes over" the favela, and everyone is happy.  No harm, no shooting. 

The other option is that the Bope is going black ops on our asses and will be sneaking in earlier or later. They will pop in at 1145pm on Sunday night and catch the traffickers unexpectedly. I mean, it would totally work. No one in Brazil shows up early for a party. It would be completely unexpected.  

Honestly though, the real business between the government, police, and traffickers is one we are not privy to. 

Personally, I think they all get together after the fact, drink fresh made Brazilian coffee, do lines of cocaine, and rock out to a little Bieber. 

But what do I know? I'm just one of the little sheep.