Monet.

Cantagalo, shanty town with some of the best views in the world. From up there you can see both Ipanema and Copacabana.

Rio is probably the most beautiful city in the world. Geographically. The city squeezes itself between rainforest covered mountains and gorgeous beaches. From a distance, it's breathtaking.

But, like a Monet painting, when you look closer things start to change. The poverty is overwhelming. The slums (favelas) perched on the mountains, are only picturesque from the safety provided by distance. There is a haven self-contained between the beach and about 3 blocks in: beautiful buildings and people. It's the sanitized, postal-card Rio.

In the meantime, life keeps hanging from the hills.