Brasillia, Porto Alegre and back to RIO

I've finished off the week in three different cities in as many days. I did manage to snatch the time for a few pics in Brasilia between meetings but they're not very inspiring, (neither is the city).
The place is, as I said earlier pretty strange. When you meet Brazillians and tell them you're going or have just returned, they just smile and shake their head in commiseration. If there is one city in Brazil at odds with the rest of the country, its the capital. Built from scratch about 50 years ago, its featured in countless highschool text books as an experiment in urban planning.
Well planned, devoid of traffic jams and sterile its everything cities like Rio are not.
Buildings are seemingly plopped down in a planned grid.
A friend described the architecture as cutting edge in its time and dated in 2007. That's maybe a bit unfair. The buildings are interesting looking, though the space race theme is a bit odd. I was struck by how few people seemed to be around but no doubt there's a "residential zone" somewhere. Just not anywhere near where people are working.

The Presidential Palace

No one around at noon on a Thursday.

I was in Porto Alegre for less than 18 hours and couldn't wait to leave. It was 43 degrees and the most humid heat I've ever endured.

I was melting the whole time there.

Last night I was on the promenade at Cocacabana where I'm staying for my last day/night in Rio.

It was surreal.

I have never seen so many hookers in my life.

Every shape, size and colour- something for everyone it seems. I'll post some thoughts on the little dramas I saw later.

Sorry for the banal post but I'm hungover and not full of words at present.
I got up early and went to Sugar loaf this morning and will post the pics later.

I fly home tonight via Madrid and should be in my own bed this time tomorrow.

Ciao

T