Rio, the Favela of Rocinha

I still have not figured out how to integrate pictures, so it will have to wait until I have access to wireless, probably 2 days from now.

Today I toured the largest slum in Latin America and maybe the world, the favela of Rocinha.  Luiza, my guide from ExoticTours who lives in the Favela, explained that:
- the 600,000 people who live there do not have to pay taxes because the government of Rio does not recognize its existence,
- an apartment that would cost $600/month in Copacabana (where I am staying) will cost $150 - $180 in Rocinha,
- the primary thing that has fed the creation of the favelas (there are 1025 of them in Rio) has been the lack of economy in the country outside the big cities,
- Rocinha is built on the sight of a former Formula-One Race Course,
- there are eight churches - of most denominations (I didn´t hear Jewish) - that provide social services to families,
- the favela is served by re radio stations (three of them), cable TV, cyber cafes.
- private bus services and Moto-Taxis (scooters/motorcycles) provide a transportaion link to outside the favela and ways to get around within it,
- narrow streets with concrete steps provide the banks for the open sewers that "flow as a black river after a rain,"
- politicians make promises to the population - especially illiterate elders (50%) - and of course do not fulfill them after the election,
- Luiza´s (the guide) identity card does not include a street address,
- the gangs pay better than any kind of available legitimate work; members can make more in a week then they can make working at a legitimate job in three months,
- they have ways to store rain water as potable water is not provided by the city,
- like BA they have people who´s job it is to sort the trash for recycling,
- there are 10 Americans from Boston, a chinese family, and probably lots of exotic others living in Rocinha.