I have spend 4 nights in Rio de Janeiro at Thiago's place. The pictures are very accurate, but they cannot capture the full reality of the amazing view you get from the house. Also, looking at the Christ on top of the Corcovado by the window while showering reminded me instantly of how lucky I was to be there.

Thiago's family has been very helpful all along. His sister and his father went to welcome me at the bottom of the stairs, his mother provided delicious breakfasts and helped me with the washing machine, and his father spent a lot of time with me talking about the neighborhood, its history, its evolution, and the work being done by the state to ease the integration of the community into the overall city.

Every people I have interacted with, from teens to old people, were very friendly and always tried to help. I have never once felt unsafe or uncomfortable in this lively neighbourhood. I liked passing by the hairdressers working in the street on the way to Thiago's house, or watch the local residents having a fresh drink in the small bars after a hot day.

I don't know exactly when I will return to Rio de Janeiro, but as soon as I have the dates, I know that this place is the one I will look up first!