Its the mountain that was just three blocks behind the Regente. Then it's definitely bracing to keep the mountain from crumbling/sliding down into the city. There were multiple slides and erosion problems in that area when I was there. The favelas were very unstable and because the cariocans are literally squatters with no land responsibility...I'm conjecturing that there was nothing the government could do but fortify the area to protect the city itself from serious damage. I never visited Brazilia...but one of the major reasons the state spent billions to build it was they hoped they could convince the cariocans to move inland and away from the mountain sides. Of course...their reasoning was seriously flawed. The natives will never leave their beaches...and the favelas have continued to grow in size and population. With the Olympics coming...my curiosity continues to grow...wondering if this event will be the impetus to finally put an end to most of the favelas. Rio is certainly doing their utmost to rid them of their inhabitants and raze them. They've never been as "romantic" as some movie makers have attempted to make them and they really do need to go. When I was there, the cariocan work ethic was rather lop sided. The women are the ones who work and support their families. For the most part...the men/husbands and male children contribute nothing. Now they're heavily involved in the drug market....because, I'm sure, it represents easy money...and lots of it. Remember the song The Girl From Ipanema ? :-) Every time I hear that I mentally return to that little bar on the side street in Ipanema where it was written.

Because we winter in Florida, we don't return early enough in spring to see our daffodils bloom. They need divided and don't bloom much any more. The weigela shrubs are starting to bloom in my garden. Marcia

Nicole, I bought this feeder for our pair of cardinals and thought it would deter the squirrels--uh, no. I guess she shinnies up the skinny pole because all other objects in the photo are too far away for her to climb on and jump. (I'm guessing it's a female, because she is a big squirrel.) This rose is usually the first to bloom in my garden in the spring, 'Thérèse Bugnet'.

Looking up from inside the Austin Capitol building. Nearly everything had a star..... chairs, doors, even the hinges! It was really a cool place to visit.