Initially in our planning for Brazil we had thought that seeing as we were in the area at the same time that the famous Carnival was happening that we would attend. Then we came to our senses. Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival is considered the biggest party on earth. I like people, but not that much.
In the end we ended up spending 4 days in Rio and saw everything we wished to experience. Certainly Christ the Redeemer is everything it is hyped up to be. Most impressive, and offers a great view of the city.The view of the bay from the Redeemer lookout helps explain why Rio was such an important port in it’s prime.And being able to share the view with several hundred of our closest friends makes the experience all the more memorable.
We did our standard walking tour of the historic centre of Rio and loved it. The guide was passionate about her home and made the best of the shade to keep us from melting in the heat. As several of the younger members of the group were in town to experience Carnival, our guide shared a number of tips on enjoying and getting the most out of the party. Some of these included how to time your naps and anti hangover medication so as to be able to party continuously over several days. Also to wear shoes that you can throw out at the end as apparently they will be too disgusting to keep, and my favourite was for men and ladies to wear something that will allow them to urinate easily in public as access to toilets will be very limited.
We checked the Escadaria Selarón which are a set of stairs decorated with colourful tiles. Honestly it was everything I hate about being a tourist. Gaudy, crowded and underwhelming.
Now don’t get me wrong, I really liked Rio. Just not the super tacky tourist stuff.
Our strolls along Copacabana Beach were wonderful. You quickly realize why Brazil dominates the world of beach volleyball when you walk by the countless volleyball courts set up on the beach.The history of the city is interesting and colourful. Back in the 1800’s the wealthy kept their horses in the ground floor of their homes, thus the high doors along the roadway.The European influence on architecture is everywhere. The Municipal Theatre is a prime example.The Carioca Aqueduct, built in the 18th century was designed to carry water into the city. Nowadays it provides a unique route for one of the cities trams.The beautifully refurbished Church of Our Lady of the Hill was a welcome cool stop on our walk.This sculpture allegedly is the result of a miracle in this church in 1893. It crashed 25 metres from the tower when an artillery shell hit the church. Supposedly the only damage was to her hand, thus the miracle.The unexploded guilty object. It was fired from a Navy ship during the Navies Revolt in that year.The head office of the oil company Petrobras was named by Reuters as one of the 10 ugliest buildings in the world in 2009. (I found it interesting). What I found humorous about that designation is that it is right across the street from what I would list as the ugliest cathedral I have ever seen. I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder.Honestly the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro is far uglier and quite boring.The stained glass on the inside is quite pretty though. Still quite boring though.I do love the South American love of beautiful coffee and pastry shops. The Confeitaria Colombo was simply beautiful.
OK, enough of the historic centre. Let’s get back to some iconic sights.
Other than the beaches, my favourite place in Rio was Sugarloaf Mountain. The Gondola that is used to access it is busy, but well organized. We were fortunate enough to have an excellent guide who helped us avoid the really long lines.The views from the top are incredible, that and arriving at sunset made it perfect.Absolutely iconic. Couldn’t have ended the day better.Ipanema Beach and Copacabana Beach are everything they are hyped to be. Beautiful people, great sand, beverages aplenty, and an incredible vibe.
Our time in Rio was relatively short, however it was most satisfying. We got out the day before Carnival started and managed to see all our desired sights. The beaches are epic and I can’t get the song “The Girl from Ipanema” out of my head.
Well now I can’t either (get that song out of my head). Totally understand your change of heart re Carnival, especially after reading about the tips offered by your guide. Sheesh.
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