Rio and Home

After a hairy taxi ride to Rio ( they drive way too fast and too close down here in South America) we checked into our hotel and then immediately took a taxi to Pao de Acucar ( Sugar Loaf Mountain). It's two different cable car rides to the top and then, wow, what a fabulous view. We were fortunate to have a clear sunny afternoon and the 360 degree views were just amazing. You are looking down on the sprawling city of Rio, the beaches, the domestic airport ( strange to be looking down on arriving and departing planes), even the circling birds are beneath you. They have done a very nice job at the top, there are path ways and seating areas shaded by trees and many lookout points.

 The following day we did the next obvious tourist visit to Cristo Redentor ( Christ the Redeemer) on the top of Corcovado Mountain. To get to the top we chose to go by tram which was quite an interesting ride up a VERY steep track. At the top, again a spectacular view of Rio, this time looking down on Sugar Loaf. On this day it was somewhat hazy and the crowds were larger then the previous day, so we didn't linger as long.

View from Christ the Redeemer

 We had a very enjoyable two days in Rio. Our hotel was on Ipanema Beach which was an upscale  area, we felt very safe walking the streets at night. We visited the night market of local crafts on Copacabana beach and contributed to the local economy. Certainly the Rio that we saw was clean and we felt safe but then we weren't walking around the favelas drunk at night, with Real notes hanging out our back pockets singing "The Girl from Ipanema"! Seriously though, we drove past the favelas on the way to the airport and it sure does make you think about how fortunate our lives are.

View from Sugar Loaf with Copacabana in distance

 Back home we took a quick detour up to Ottawa to visit our darling daughter ( Hi Sammy) who is still dealing ( magnificently) with complications due to a ruptured achilles which occurred back in March.  Then it was home for my Nephew Greg and Laura's wedding, which despite the rain ( the ceremony was outside) was a lovely affair.   I was fortunate enough to get together with close friends( whom i will now miss greatly) and now here we are at the airport waiting for our flights back to Rio. Tomorrow we will make the 2 plus hour drive back to Frade where Zooropa awaits us. We will provision in town and then wait for a favourable wind to blow us up the Brazilian coast as we continue our trip to Trinidad.