Escape from Sugar Loaf Mountain

The past two days we've spent exploring more of Rio. We headed for one of the highest points in Rio, the Sugar Loaf Mountain to get some views of the city. As it had been raining all morning, Corcovado (which has the Christ the Redeemer on top) was closed so Sugar Loaf was kind of our second choice.



Got the bus out but just like Ireland you've no idea what stop to get off, so we ended up getting kicked off the bus at its last stop and being told that 'Sucre' was way back! So we wandered the streets, looking up at the peak for guidance. Stumbled apon a cute little beach so wasn't all bad. Getting lost is fun.




To get to the top of the Sugar Loaf we got on the cable cars. Half way to the top we stopped off at a smaller mountain, Urca Mountain, and took lots of shots of the city below. And even though it was a crap, overcast day the rain had stopped and we actually had great views. Saw a sign with a drawing of a monkey which said not to feed the animals so I got all excited and started looking up in search of the monkeys :) No luck.

Jumped on the second cable car and made our way to the top. The views were absolutely gorgeous. Rio is impressive to look at. Golden beaches, lots of hills and mountains, jungles and trees, skyscrapers and favelas.

Wandered into a jungly part of the Mountain where, after looking for them for so long, I finally found the little monkeys. They were so cute! Their little faces were like little old men and they had gorgeous black and grey stripey tails. Was so happy after finding the monkeys I wasn't ready for the amount of wildlife that popped up after. We spotted gorgeous green humming birds, pure black beas, grey lizards, brown lizards, butterflies, small spiders, tiny ants, bigs ants and two different large birds that were circling the island. I was very impressed!! Not to mention the hundreds of different types of trees, leaves and flowers.

After our little jungle safari we headed back up to where the cable cars were to find a large crowd staring at one of the cable cars stuck on the tracks. They were stuck for two hours. Better them than me! So we got stranded up the top with nothing to do but admire the view. Can't complain. Could be stuck in worse places. And we got a free can of something fizzy and some crisps to boot :) YUM! All in all a good day, even though Brian did freak out when he thought we were going to have to leave the Mountain by way of a little tub that held about six people and ziped down cables just under the cable cars!

And then today we just wandered around Ipamema Beach. Way nicer than Copacobana by far. No annoying people trying to sell me things. Police with their own gazebos, relaxing on the beach. Felt a lot safer than two days ago. Still stood out with my mik bottle skin!! Rambled trough a Hippy market too. Not much to do on Sundays. Loving the nothingness.hehe. Leaving Rio tomorrow. The only thing I think I missed here was going on a tour of the favelas, would have been very interesting (and maybe Christ the Redeemer but he was covered in scafolding!) but other than that I enjoyed my time here. Very, very relaxing.

I'll leave ye with a gorgeous shot of Corcovado and 'O Cristo Redentor' AKA Christ the Redeemer and his temporary suit of scafolding. Enjoy :) x