Morro Dos Prazeres - Hill of Pleasures

We got up early as we planned to walk to the viewpoint Mirante Dona Marta, which lies in front of Cristo and is a good hour walk from our accommodation.
Since Santa Teresa is close to several Favelas, we actually look onto one on the other side of the hill, there are a few police stations along the road.
It is not recommended to enter the favelas, especially not on your own.
Our planned walk through the fort above a favela was stopped by the guards at the junction to Corcovado.
They explained us that there were assaults recently and that we could not walk there. It was a bit disappointing but we happily took their advice.

We had a little break beside the security check point and watched the bus driver exchange which was happening in front of us with a wee "office" set up at the bus stop.
We then walked all the way back to our house. 

We both needed a shower when back in the house as it was really hot!
After a wee break we decided to walk towards Santa Teresa again and have lunch at the Cantina do Goucho. We had a table on the terrace with absolute stunning views.
After a filling Brazilian meal we decided to walk the whole way down to Santa Teresa Centro and go to the café we visited yesterday.
We arrived quite shattered and tried to recover and dry over a coffee and a tapioca pastry with chocolate and coconut.
The drying did not work though :). It is so hot and humid here, that you are actually continuously wet. It's good for the skin I suppose!

At 6 pm we took a Taxi back home with plans made for the evening.
We wanted to go to a Samba Club in Lapa. Carioca de Gema!

After another rest we ordered an Uber and got down the hill to Lapa.
We had more food, 2 caipirinhas each, listened and danced to the Samba band. It was a great night! There were some amazing dancers around! I could not stop watching them. No way that I will ever be able to do such wonderful moves!
The band was great too. The singer actually never stopped during the one hour sets!

We left after 1 am and got an Uber home.

Blips:
View from the restaurant terrace with the Favela "Morro Dos Prazeres" in the foreground.
Extras: 
The iconic  "Bonde" in Santa Teresa - running again since 2016
"Toy" Bonde also in Santa Teresa
Morro Dos Prazeres - full view from the restaurant