Today I went with friends to the top of a favela in Rio called Vidigal.

We hopped on the back of motorcycle-taxis and held on for dear life as they sped wildly uphill, swerving around cars and flying over speed bumps. I felt a bit lucky to be alive when we arrived safely at the top, rewarded with spectacular views overlooking Ipanema.

Vidigal is quite safe now, but yet to be “pacified."  There are still cops on post with big guns hanging around evoking an eerie sort of feeling. Other than that, children play in the streets, juice bars are open for business and the views are some of the best in Rio.

We got permission to paint at a bar/hostal called Alta Vidigal.  We painted two hearts, one black and one white representing the duality of human nature.  Everyone painted their darkness inside the black heart and their light inside the white one. 

Under the hearts we painted a banner with the words: ”decidir o que você alimenta,“ which means "Choose which one you feed."  Lots of people collaborated including some locals artists living in the slum.  Afterward we all kicked back and drank caipirinhas at the bar and watched the sunset over Ipanema beach. 

Next up: Boat painting in the Urca harbor.