... to Rio!...

... de Janeiro! After two days of much-needed rest and some pampering (a special dinner at the Pinnacle Grill, based on recipes and menus from Le Cirque Restaurant, lots of swimming, soaking and napping), we headed for two days in Rio, beginning by getting up at 6 am to experience the sail into the Rio harbor. It was spectacular, although a bit hazy, and we took shots of the Rio landmarks from every imaginable angle: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, the favelas on the hillsides. Our excursion featured an ascent of Corcovado, where the statue of Christ is located, on a crowded-to-the-max 100 year old train. At the top, we were amazed by the number of people lying on their backs to take photos of the statue above them. (No, we didn't...) Also the number of people posing with their arms out in front of the statue...

After the descent from Corcovado, we drove to Rio's famous beaches, first a drive by Ipanema, then a quick photo stop in Cococabana. Some of the most amazing things were the coconut water stands everywhere, free solar-powered showers, water hoses making cool channels in the sand for people to get to the ocean, the black and white patterned sidewalks along each beach, and the beautiful, wide beaches themselves. Apparently cariocas (natives of Rio) don't really get in the water, they go to the beach to sunbathe, stroll and be seen!

Our final stop the first day was at the immense Cathedral of St. Sebastian, patron saint of Rio. Completed in 1976, this modern marvel is huge, and the air temperature inside is always pleasantly cool, even in the heat of Rio's summers. The Cathedral can hold 20,000 people, and 12,000 were expected for St. Sebastian's saint's day celebration the following day.

We walked around Rio near the ship for a few hours, exploring some of the old streets of the city. It was a lovely afternoon.

Our second day was spent on a photographic excursion. We visited the Botanical Gardens, a fort, Ipanema and Cococabana beaches, and St. Theresa, a quaint artist community on one of the hillsides in Rio. Rio's a fantastic city, with a lot to see and do. Next time, two weeks -- not two days!