IN A BRAZILIAN NUTSHELL

Rachel McBeath has  finished her stint in Brazil but these brief insights give a smell, and glimpse of this economy.
What I take out of it are:
-          Astounding views
-          Sunshine
-          Laughter
-          Bodies very beautiful
-          Resilience
-          A lot to live up to in 2016
Having read her stuff I want to go there….very soon.

IN A BRAZILIAN NUTSHELL

Recycling Brazil can do!
Whilst waiting for a bus, I take my last sips of Guarana Antartica; one of Brazil's best selling soft drinks. Before I even have a chance to pin point a bin my can is whisked from my hands by a Carioca and thrown in a bulging black bag overflowing with other colourful tin cans. It's little wonder that Brazil is the the world's leader in aluminium can recycling with a staggering 98% of all sold cans recycled. Can-collecters are peppered around Rio and do a valuable job cleaning up the city and contributing to an eco-friendly Brazil. 

Gym'll fix it!
The beach boulevards are brimming with joggers, skateboarders and cyclists all flaunting their hard earned muscular physiques. Body fat seems totally unacceptable in Rio. Cariocas work hard all day in the office, but work out even harder before and after work. One government initiative which contributes to this is free outdoor gyms or 'gyms with a view'.

A bird's eye view of favelas
Last week I visited Complexo Do Alemao, a complex of favelas in the north of Rio, and the word's longest cable car system. 

From an aerial perspective the shacks in the favelas resemble blocks of Lego stacked on top of each other and perched on the city's steep hillsides. Below my feet, I gazed in amazement at kites floating in the air, children splashing in rooftop paddling pools and people going about their daily lives. Most of the people that use the 152 cable cars in service are residents and very few tourists. The cars cost a mere R$1 and transport thousands of people. It’s inspiring.