Tearing up the city

Rio's rather magnificent Municipal Theatre, seen from the other side of the road works that extend almost the full length of one of the city's main arteries for the installation of LRVs (Light Rail Vehicles - how these differs from good old trams is something I have yet to discover). The whole city is a great big mess, definitely not somewhere to try to drive. All part of the preparations for the Olympics, next year, but our mayor, who flits over our heads in his helicopter, is oblivious to the utter confusion trying to do everything at once causes ordinary mortals, who already have to suffer the appallingly bad public transport and roads.

Downtown this afternoon for yet another medical test - I think it's how Brazilian doctors keep each other in work and compensate for the low rates they're paid by the health plans. On the plus side, it gave me a chance to visit an excellent exhibition of photos, which included a room devoted to a book of portraits of photographers. I had been invited to the opening, as I had revised the English text, but hadn't been able to go. The book launch is tonight, at the photographer's house, but again, I don't think I'll be able to make it. Judging by the address, it's probably a beautiful place with a fantastic view, but it's a long way to go and in the worst of the rush-hour traffic - and I have to prepare for guests. A real shame.

The extra photo was an attempt to capture the wonderful inlaid floors at the Cultural Centre hosting the photo exhibits. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a vantage point from which to fit in the other sides round the stair well, with diagonally laid flooring.