Jazz night - Tavares Bastos favela

Matt wasn't too keen on going to a jazz night and I nearly changed my mind too but both of us are glad we did it because we had a great time. Our hearts were in our mouths as we wound our way up a steep cobbled street, not knowing where we were going. When the taxi stopped, I almost asked him to take us back - we'd arrived in the favela and what I'd been told and read about came flooding into my mind: although the residents are honest hardworking people, some favelas are known to be run by criminals and stray bullets regularly kill innocent bystanders.

A friendly local saw our concerned faces and pointed us in the direction of The Maze, a pousada owned by Bob, and the home of monthly Friday night jazz. We followed the signs through the narrow walkways, the sounds of a strong community all around us. We almost walked past but again were directed to the place we were looking for.

The Maze was like a small night club with a huge open air window looking over Rio. Drinks were paid for in fischas, which we purchased on the way in. The crowd was young, considering it was a jazz night, and there were quite a few tourists like us. I got right into the jazz - eek ;) - especially when an amazing vocalist did a superb rendition of 'fly me to the moon'. Brilliant.... and it helped to rid my head of the repetitive Sambadrome tune, which had been stuck there since Sunday.

It was pissing down when we left at 2, perfect for a freewheel ride on the back of a light-free moped, down a steep cobbled street/ river. A bargain at the price of 3 dollars - £1.

Drenched but home safe after the final evening of our excellent Brazilian adventure.