A humble homage to Obama in Brazil's 'City of God'
| Rio de Janeiro
鈥� A local, slice-of-life story from a Monitor correspondent.
It seems that bakery owner Jo茫o Carlos de Sousa somehow knew what would be on the travel agenda for President Obama鈥檚 recent trip to Brazil.
In the weeks leading up to Obama鈥檚 March 19-20 visit, rumors ran through the local press that the president would visit a favela (shantytown) with a new model of policing unit, but no one knew which one.
Last June, Mr. de Sousa renamed his living-room-sized baked goods shop, located in the heart of the world-famous favela City of God, 鈥淧adaria e Confeitaria Barack Obama Ltda.鈥�
He simply says he changed the name because he kept hearing 鈥淏arack Obama鈥� on the news and from friends. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an homage,鈥� he explains.
And nearly a year after doing so, Obama chose City of God as the favela to visit and waved to de Sousa鈥檚 neighbors a stone鈥檚 throw from the shop.
