Rio revelations

We had a few days in Rio before meeting our next small group tour “Atlantic to the Andes”.

Rio de Janiero was discovered and named by the Portuguese explorer Gaspar de Lemos. He thought the bay was a river mouth hence “Rio” in Portuguese. If he managed to make it across the Atlantic I would have though he could tell the difference between a bay and a river. Maybe even just by tasting the water? He discovered it in January – hence Janiero in Portuguese. That bit’s fair enough, just not very inspired. He maybe was just a bit fatigued by the journey?

Our hotel was a couple of blocks back from Copacabana beach.

First Caipirinha cocktail (made from distilled sugar cane)

Following usual form, we took a walking tour in the city centre.

We stopped for a coffee in the famous, well-preserved Café Colombo.

A must-visit is the Selarón steps. This artist decided to spruce up the favela with coloured, painted tiles. They thought he was crazy but after covering 215 steps with 2,000 tiles from over 60 countries, everyone now recognises him as a genius. The tiles are constantly being changed (and walked on!) so it’s a living artwork.

That night we went out in the buzzing Lapa district to soak up some night-life (and wine).

The next day we first took a cable car to the top of Sugarloaf mountain.

Cable car to the middle station

Sugarloaf top station from the middle station

Next we took the train up Corcovado to the Christ the Redeemer statue.

After Copacabana we walked to Ipanema beach which is nicer.