I'm in brasília, staying at hotel casablanca, looking out from the breakfast room onto the four lane freeway that passes directly by the building.

there aren't really any pavements in the centre of brasília, or any that feel more than temporary pathways, because the city is built completely around the car with no underpasses or walkways that pedestrians can use to cross the large open spaces that connect the north and south sides of the city.

it's not uncommon to see people running across the wide roads in the face of oncoming traffic, the 30 degree heat burning down directly on their heads.