Rio -2011- — Trusted

In the shadow of the Christ the Redeemer statue (which was named one of the New7Wonders of the World in 2007 but was in full tourist swing by 2011), the government was aggressively pushing the Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora (Pacifying Police Unit). The goal was to reclaim favelas like Santa Marta and Cantagalo from drug traffickers. By 2011, the strategy was at its peak in terms of public optimism. Tourists started to venture into these hillside communities for "favela tours"—a controversial, yet booming, industry.

Driven by the upcoming 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, cranes dotted the skyline. The Porto Maravilha urban revival project kicked off, gutting the historic (and decrepit) port area to make way for the Museum of Tomorrow (which wouldn't open until 2015). Property prices in Zona Sul (Leblon, Ipanema) skyrocketed. The "Carioca dream" of 2011 was a construction dream. The Weather & The Vibe Let’s talk about the weather. In January 2011, Rio suffered a massive tragedy with mudslides in the mountainous region north of the city (Nova Friburgo and Teresópolis), which cast a dark shadow over the early part of the year. Rio -2011-

If you had walked the streets of Rio de Janeiro in 2011, you would have felt a unique vibration in the air. It wasn't just the relentless samba drums from the favelas or the crash of the Atlantic waves against Ipanema. It was a city buzzing with a potent mix of nostalgia, hedonism, and anxious preparation for the spotlight. In the shadow of the Christ the Redeemer

If you have a time machine, set it for September 30, 2011. Go see Coldplay at Rock in Rio, then take a cab to Rio Scenarium in Lapa to dance until 4 AM. That was the Rio sweet spot. Tourists started to venture into these hillside communities