Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Iconic & Alluring With World-Renowned Landmarks & Place Names

”There’s no doubt Rio is alluring, boasting as it does one of the most spectacular enviable natural settings of any world metropolis… Rio is cool. Rio is beautiful… but it’s not the utopia it seems from elevated vantage points.”

Image || Rio de Janeiro from atop Sugarloaf Mountain. December 12, 2015.

It has been a manic last few days here in Rio de Janeiro, an iconic worldwide destination that has been near the top of my bucket list for a long time. I’ve kept busy. I’ve scooted here and there, pointing my camera at this & that. Conclusion – beguiling Rio is best viewed from on high.

Rio de Janeiro as seen from atop Sugarloaf Mountan. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 12, 2015.

Rio de Janeiro as seen from atop Sugarloaf Mountain. December 12, 2015.

There’s no doubt Rio is alluring, boasting as it does one of the most spectacular enviable natural settings of any world metropolis, easily its biggest plus. On this it is in a league of its own running Sydney‘s Port Jackson into a distant second. World-renowned place names like Copacabana and Ipanema & a few iconic landmarks, both natural (Sugarloaf Mountain) & man-made (Christ the Redeemer, the Maracana), add to the aura. Beautiful weather & an equally beautiful people with a lust & verve for life, one that reaches its zenith during Carnival, combine for quite the package. Yes there’s no doubt, Rio is cool. Rio is beautiful.

Avenida Atlantica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 13, 2015.

Cool & beautiful Rio may be but it’s not the utopia it seems from elevated vantage points. Now is not the time or place to elaborate on the obvious Rio negatives – the dishevelled look to the place, the heat, the noise, the repugnant smell of feces & urine, the homelessness, the need to be alert, be on your guard at all times. Nope, now is not the time.

Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain in Tijuca Forest National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 12, 2015.

Copacabana Beach

Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 13, 2015.

Frescobol practise on Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 11, 2015.

A vendor on Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 13, 2015.

More from Copacabana Beach, Rio’s most famous stretch of sand.

: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 13, 2015.

: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 13, 2015.

: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 11, 2015.

Escadaria Selarón

Escadaria Selarón, Rio de Janeiro Brazil. December 11, 2015.

Christ the Redeemer

Mist envelops Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro. December 12, 2015.

The face. Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro. December 12, 2015.

Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro. December 12, 2015.

Maracana

Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro Brazil. December 11, 2015.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian

Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 11, 2015

Reflections. Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 11, 2015

Ipanema Beach

Ipanema. Rio’s other beach.

Sunset off Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro Brazil. December 11, 2015.

Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro Brazil. December 11, 2015.

A few randoms from Rio.

In the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 12, 2015.

Maracana Station, Rio de Janeiro Brazil. December 11, 2015.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 11, 2015.

Heading Home
I’m readying to leave Rio. I’ll do so in the morning when I’ll retrace my steps of a few days ago as I head back to Sao Paulo, the biggest & probably the most daunting city on the whole South American continent. I only passed through a few days ago en route to Rio but I’ll spend the night there tomorrow ahead of my flight home the day after. Yep, the end of this epic year of travel is nigh. Which is fine. I’m about ready for home at this stage. More to come from Rio, eventually.