Rio - Day 1

Oh my goodness - RIO - I keep having to remind myself that this is the City/Country I didn't want to visit!!!

The city is built on the entrance to Guanabara Bay and is littered with volcanic islands; in fact the airport is on an island which makes take off and landing interesting.

Our local guide is very jolly and rather large.  She seemed to think getting the group - albeit only 6 of us - to sing The Girl From Ipanema was a good idea - personally I'd never heard of it, but Ian knew it and joined in.

The drive from the airport took us through parts of the city.  Rio is well known for the contrast between rich and poor - this is one of the favelas on the hillside.

Of course being a firmly Catholic country there are churches everywhere (sorry about the lens flare through the coach window).

Even at the docks.

We caught the small train that runs to the top of Corcovado Mountain; the journey through the forested mountain takes about 20 minutes.

Apparently there had been heavy rain earlier this morning so we were very, very lucky that the weather cleared for us although it was still quite hazy.   

The views were amazing, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches and the City all laid out below us.

This is the vast São João Batista Cemetery

In the distance is the Rio-Niterói Bridge, the 8.26 mile box girder bridge linking the two cities on either side of the bay.  When it was completed in 1974 it was the second longest bridge in the world.

Now to the statue itself; Christ the Redeemer built between 1922-31, this art deco masterpiece made of reinforced concrete and soapstone stands 98ft tall (plus 28ft pedestal) and the arms span 92ft.  Nothing prepares you for the first close up sighting - it is fabulous - I feel quite humbled to see it with my own eyes.

I know I'm probably very stupid but I'd somehow thought Brazil was still rather "third world" so I was amazed to realise just how developed it is and also that it is now the 5th largest nation and the 9th largest economy in the world (note to self: watch BBC news more often !!!!).  

Our hotel is actually on Copacabana Beach but once again we've been warned not venture too many blocks in from the beach area as the streets are not safe for tourists.  Rio is officially the most expensive place I have ever been and makes Bueños Aires quite cheap.

The beaches around the city dominate life for everyone; volley ball, foot-volley ball, sunbathing, swimming - although the tides are very very strong so you really do need to be careful, and every other sand activity you can imagine

After dropping our cases we went for a short walk before sunset.