The world famous Cristo Redentor, a 38 meters high statue that definitely is one of Rio´s landmarks! Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
We arrived on a Saturday, just in time to join in some of the typical weekend activities. One we learned of by chance, was eating Feijoda on a Saturday, a black bean stew with a variety of meats, like tongue and pork cut-offs. It is served with rice, fried manioc flour, a green vegetable called kale and pieces of oranges. Gilles simply loved it – hey, it was lots of meat! Heidi would prefer a vegetarian version.
Well, the other is going to the beach, especially on weekends. Sunday we took the bus across town to the very end of Leblon Beach and walked our way back, along Leblon, Ipanema and eventually Copacabana. Leblon and Ipanema are the trendy beaches since they border Rio most expensive neighbours of the same name. Ipanema is particularly charming, because five blocks from its beachfront it borders a saltwater lake, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Along its shores are prestigious country clubs and Rio’s hippodrome.
Ipanema Beach on the weekend in the winter … Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Remember: Bikinis were born here in the 80s. Now, they are sometimes really tiny … Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The beaches were full of people and we wondered what it was like on a hot summer day, since we are now experiencing the end of the winter with around 28 degree during the day. Copacabana is a lot narrower than Leblon and Ipanema and there is a lot more waste on the beach. The clientele is also much different.
One thing that we already noticed on Fernando de Noronha and on Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazilians know how to dress for the beach. Ladies always approach a boat or beach area with the proper attire to wear on top of the bikini. The bikinis themselves are tiny, do not forget, the fio dental, dental floss bikini, was born here in the 80s. Also, you will not see very many men wearing Bermuda shorts like in Europe or the US, but tight, hip-hugging pants. While women do not fit the image of THE Brazilian body-culture, men very often do. They seem to spend a lot of time in weight-rooms and when on the beach they play volleyball or other sports. Since we both are no beach lizards, we simply watched and took photos …
The world famous Copacabana Beach is as crowded as the Ipanema Beach, but with a totally different crowd … Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Remember: Bikinis were born here in the 80s. Now, they are sometimes really tiny … Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Of course we took the cable car up to the Pao de Acucar and the train up to Morro do Corcovado, where you can find the world famous 38 meters high statue of the “Cristo Redentor”. The view from the top of the Pao de Acucar is beautiful and the one from the feet of the Cristo Redentor, at 710 meters above the see, is simply breathtaking, with the whole city at your feet …
The cable car going up the Pao de Acucar at sunset … Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
On top of the Pao de Acucar, with the Copacabana Beach in the background … Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Pao de Acucar seen from Morro de Corcovado … Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Gilles & Heidi with the Pao de Acucar in the background … Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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