As World Cup travelers in Brazil flock to Rio de Janeiro for the tournament's final, many are staying in newly pacified favelas, or low-income neighborhoods.
Among the most popular is Vidigal, which rises up a steep hillside over some of Rio's most scenic beaches and offers some of the city's most beautiful views. A government program to drive crime from the historically violent slum has attracted entrepreneurs, investors, and also nurtured a step toward democracy.
It's a Tuesday night at the entrance to Vidigal, and a forum of more than a hundred people has gathered to debate the recent changes in their community.
Maria Souza, who is retired, takes the microphone.
"The electricity bill for my neighbor, Vera, is 762 reais and 80 cents (about $345)," he says. "Here it is! Electricity, in Vidigal."
Paying for public services is new to many favelas. But even so, the electricity bill is 10 times what it should be.
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