Many of our residents work at these hotels and homes in Ipanema, so it's a bit strange to see the rich people and outsiders come through here --looking at our homes and streets. Normally, people stay far away from Rocinha, unless they're here to buy drugs, like many of the rich people do. |
Some people thought, 'Well, it's next door to all the fancy Ipanema hotels -- so instead of scaring tourists away, why not bring them here and show them it's not such a bad place at all', |
That's how many people here see their life. More of the world may start coming to see us in Rocinha -- and we welcome all of you. But if you give us a choice, most of us would probably rather be out there. |