Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Today we are day one of two we are spending here in Rio.  We got up early and headed to the pool to do one hour of water exercises.   Bonnie and David were already in the pool.  At 6:20 am, Terry started her talk on our sail into Rio.  It is a very nice entrance to the port.  You see the majestic statue of Christ with the lights on it, Sugar Loaf Mountain, and of course, all of the buildings.  After our swim, we had a quick breakfast in La Veranda and then gathered our things for our tour.

Port of Rio

We got on our bus and went to the back, where the bus is not full so we can spread out.  I took my knitting as I figured it was be mostly bus ride.  Our first and only stop was to Sugar Loaf Mountain.  The Sugar Loaf, or Pao de Acucar, raises as a massive granite cone at the entrance to Guanabara Bay.  We boarded a cable car for a short climb of 650 ft. to the top of Urca Hill.  The second phase of the journey involved a breathtaking ride to the 1200 ft. summit of Sugar Loaf.  From up there you see all around the city.  It really was worth all my fears.

View from first cable stop

Yes, I really did go up

Cable car

We then rode around the city, first to the Copacabana area and beach but we did not stop.  We also drove by Ipanema before heading back to the ship.

Copacabana beach

Copacabana beach

We also drove around the slums of Rio.  Our guide tells us that those people who live in the slums are working people.  Her maid lives there.  And that the police are taking care of the drug issue.

Slum area

Lunch in La Veranda and then reading and nap before we do our afternoon stuff.  I went to needlepoint and tea but only Joan was there.  So we played trivia but I did not do so well.  Joan is from Korea and now lives in Canada, she was not much help.  Oh well.

Dressed for dinner in Compass Rose.  There is a Samba show that lots of the passengers are going to so this ship is pretty empty now.  I started watching "The Ides Of March" but fell asleep so turned it off and will try again tomorrow.  Tomorrow is turn around day and we are going up to the Christ statue.

From Sugar Loaf

Today was misty and we did not get a clear view of the city.  Maybe tomorrow will be better.