Cops in Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo have killed 11,000+ in the last 6 years

[Sheilbh]

I loved it and would highly recommend it.

Safety... I'd rate it so-so.  I mean, you saw lots of armed guards all over the place and if you hung out in the favelas you'd see armed drug dealers too.  And there are plenty of stories of kidnappings and robberies and whatnot, but then again that was sort of the focus of my research.  I honestly don't think it's that bad.

The people were super friendly and the food was really quite good.  I would love to have reason to go back to Brasil.

Agreed on all points.  I really want to go back and this time go North.

I spent less time in the favelas though I imagine.

[Richard Hakluyt]

I find the idea of them a bit scary to be honest.  But that's a snobbish middle class reaction against the type of people who go on tour groups I think, in the UK it's only the elderly or lower middle class :shudder:

Our tour group broke down as follows, to the best of my recollection:

50% upper middle class to upper class Aussies (one guy was the just-retired CFO of Parmalat Australia) of various ages

I think the term you are searching for is rich Australians 

[Josquius]

Ok maybe I won't take that vacation to Rio...

Or if you do make sure you wear a t-shirt stating you are a foreigner

He should also wear his money clip on a diamond encrusted gold chain around his neck

I didn't say he'd be safe. Just the police won't kill him