Day 18 - Rio

Oh what a day we've had. Woke up this morning fully refreshed and ready to start the day after a nice FaceTime with mum followed by breakfast. Cristine our guide was in the lobby to meet us at 9 am and our driver, Giovani, was sat outside waiting for us. I don't know how he's managed to look so cool all day in neat grey trousers, pristine white shirt and black tie whilst we have sweltered in 40c heat. 

Copacabana from our room. Sugar loaf mountain is the big hump at the far right hand side. 

Our day tour started off with two cable cars up Sugar Loaf Mountain, where the views of the city are magnificent. 

First leg

Second leg

Photos from the top, a very hazy Corcovada Hill with Christ the Redeemer on the top. 

A view along Copacabana Beach with our hotel being the very last building on the far right hand end of the bay. Whilst writing this now I'm sat on our balcony, drinking a beer and looking across to Sugar Loaf mountain. 

This next photo shows the 14km bridge across the bay, with Rio on the left. It is the 4 longest bridge in the world. 

After Sugar Loaf cool Giovani was waiting for us and we were given a tour of the city. We stopped at the Metropolitan Cathedral, which reminded us of Paddy's Wigwam in that it is the same shape and was built in the 1950s. Apart from 4 magnificent windows and the fact that it seats 5,000 with room for 20,000 standing, there isn't much to say. 

We then stopped at a staircase which has been made famous by an artist named Seleron. He was a bit wacky and people from all over the world sent home ceramic tiles to incorporate into the staircase. On the sides he has used old baths to make seats and some have been used as planters. 

From here we made our way to Corcovada To take the cog railway up to see Christ the Redeemer. It was as impressive as we expected it to be. Very crowded and busy but wonderful. 

Waiting in the shade for the train

The World Cup football stadium which will be used for the olympics. 

Sugar loaf from Christ the Redeemer. Notice how hazy all the photos are from the heat. 

There were people on our tour who haven't done a stopover in Rio because they considered it too dangerous. Well we are very glad that we stopped over and would have felt cheated if we hadn't. Every city has areas that you shouldn't go into after dark, it's just a question of following the rules and being sensible. 

Now we are showered and clean and off out down Copacabana to meet up with Janice and Keith, our last night of our South American Adventure.