RIO DE JANEIRO — Some people are afraid to enter this city’s notorious favelas, the low-income neighborhoods where drug-related violence creates fear. But on Friday night, $1.50 and a little faith could get you a ride on the back of a motorcycle to the top of the favela known as Mangueira — and, more importantly, get you access to some of the most spectacular views during the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.
Hundreds of locals and more than a few visitors watched from the steep, hillside roads as fireworks intermittently exploded atop Maracana Stadium, less than a mile from the favela known as Mangueira where some homeowners charged more than $300 for rooftop access.