The exotic Brazilian metropolis of Rio is famed for its white sand beaches and dramatic mountain peaks. But only a mile from the coast is one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods on the continent. When Christ the Redeemer disappears, Will McGuire determines whether this really is a God-forsaken city. The guide books warned that Rio could be perilous at night. Muggings and violence towards tourists was all too common. Arriving late after a long flight from Amsterdam, our Uber driver approached the neighbourhood of our hostel with trepidation. Before coming to a complete stop he used the translation app on his phone to warn us that the area was not safe. He pulled up to a thin, gated building with no sign or indication that it was a hostel. A homeless man rifled through a bin bag out the front. The driver helped unload our bags onto the pavement, but before we could even thank him, he had sped off. In the eerie quiet, Jen and I stood, overburdened with l