One of the frustrations I am having with the Internet cafes here in Rio is that none of the computers in them have USB ports. Thus - I can´t plug in my USB Key drive. I wasn´t able to bring my portable CD-RW/DVD drive either, I had to send it in for repairs before I left. Thus, I have no way to create CDs to use on the CD drives here or transfer large files / any file. I don´t have a floppy drive either. Oh well... I am glad I brought a computer. Working in private in the hotel room, even at a slower connection speed is nice. Thank you Worldcom! On the other hand I am no longer in my executive suite (I´ll miss the bathroom) and my new room doesn´t appear to have a separate phone line I can tap into. But, they both have in-room music via speakers in the ceiling. Go figure. So no pictures until maybe Igasu Falls.

Rio is a study in contrasts. During the favela tour I took yesterday it was strange to see how the lower classes and upper upper classes live so close to each other. Sometimes right across the street from each other. I have some good pictures of the favelas. I keep hearing from different sources that one shouldn´t go there. It´s perfectly safe in the tour. I imagine even if I went alone - in an unassuming manner - it would be ok, although I would see no reason to go alone. I wouldn´t have gotten a good explanation of the place. Yea -- the place is "run" by drug dealers..but hey there´s a McDonalds in there! I wonder if it is on McDonalds website - it would probably only include the number in the RIO count, but the favela is called Rocinha. A favela is like a mini-city within a larger city. The largest one has an official 60,000 people, but perhaps closer to 150k-200k. Tight tight living.

Carnaval started today officially. Party on. I´ll see for myself it what this article (NY Times) says is true.