Let's talk Latin America

Rio de Janeiro

Accessibility in the Olympic city of Rio

Originally written for Rio newspaper O Globo, Sophie Foggin investigates accessibility in Rio de Janeiro for wheelchair-users and those with disabilities, as the 2016 Olympics approach. She interviews English wheelchair-user, Emily Yates and Paralympic rower, Tom Aggar. The Centre of Rio de Janeiro, often described as the heart of the city, is a far cry from the beautiful […]

Why Latin America is so much more than plantain, rice and beans

It is safe to say that Latin America does not have the best culinary reputation. Two ‘foodies’, Victoria Turner and Pete Oldham, travelled across South and Central America in search of a decent meal to recreate for their amigos back home. Below, they describe their favourite 8 destinations and why they offer so much more than the stereotypical Holy Trinity of […]

Murky waters threaten superhero Olympians

Sports editor Will Sansom on the contaminated waters of Guanabara Bay and what they say about Brazil’s readiness to host the 2016 Olympics. What happens after you fall into a vat of toxic waste? Comic books tell us there is the possibility of developing otherworldly powers. You might be able to leap over tall buildings and run faster […]

From favelas to fame with Seu Jorge

Bristolatino’s Amelia Graham takes us on a journey through the life of Seu Jorge and his music. Born in a favela known as Belford Roxo, just north of Rio de Janeiro, Jorge Mário da Silva experienced a tough upbringing characterised by poverty and crime. The hardships of life in Rio’s favelas heavily influenced many of […]

Rio’s untapped millions

As Brazil’s cultural capital nears its moment in the spotlight, Bristolatino’s ‘Latin America in Bristol’ editor Tom Webb looks at how the ‘pacification’ of the city’s favelas is beginning to transform Rio’s socioeconomic dynamic. There are over 100 favelas in Rio de Janeiro, in which around one third of the city’s population lives: 6 million people. The […]

The forgotten losers of the 2014 World Cup

Bristolatino’s Sport editor Freddy Hare discusses the impact of the 2014 World Cup; is its ability to benefit Brazil’s population being grabbed or simply squandered? The stage was set. It was supposed to be a stroll in the park, a formality. With a brand new 200,000-seater stadium built, an expectant home fan-base and only a draw […]