I was unlucky with the weather while I was in Rio. It was raining pretty much round-the-clock. As a result of that, my visit to the Christ the Redeemer was a miserable one 🙂
I tried my best to get a good feel for the metropolis, overcoming the bad weather.
I think Malayalam has a similarities with Portuguese … “Manga”. I was craving fruit and gobbled up two Mangoes.Hanging sculpture … 🙂Note to India … Make it easy for People to NOT throw trash around … (By the way, Brazilians are as bad as Indians in trashing places 🙂)Yellow taxis are all over the place … They are metered and reasonably priced.Cobble-stoned pedestrian walkways …Police … Decent presence.Theatro Municipal … Could not understand why it was closed … Will need to try again.Aquaducts: Built in 1723, during Brazil’s colonial times. Was used to transport water from Carioca river to Largo de Carioca Fountain. Some huge and scary local looking dudes, in filthy clothes, smoking cigarettes (And what not) were lurking around. I did not break my stride and kept walking ahead as if my Father owned the place. Inside, I was trying to recollect my: Jujitsu, Karate, Taekwondo, Kalari and Kung-Fu moves. Had lost practice. But then, I was confident that my last resort (Which involves rapid movement of my legs) gave me a 50-50 chance. For sure, those heavy guys could not outrun me. But then, after staring at me like how an Anaconda (who just swallowed a Cow) would look at another Cow, they went back to their business … (Smoking “Stuff”)Cathedral Metropolotano: Nice unique Interiors. But bare exteriors. People were gathering for a Mass at noon. Built like a Mayan Temple. A Sister came and told me lot of stuff … In Portuguese. I kept nodding vigorously, as I did not have the heart to tell her that her efforts were being wasted …Inside Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro …An interesting office building … Near Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de JaneiroIt was a rainy and muggy day … Had to quickly shuffle around my plans, to adapt … Look at these enterprising guys selling umbrellas right outside the station …Macarana Stadium. Only one of two to host two WC finals, 1950 and 2014. Opening and Closing ceremonies of Rio Olympics 2016 were conducted here. Can seat 78000 people. No one there. It looked like a Ghost Town. Just me and one other Idiot was there. When there was hardly anyone around, I did not bother investigating where/when the “Conducted Tour” was being held. The last thing I wanted was some local dudes taking me alone into a shady and empty stadium for a “Conducted Tour” 🙂A Metro train rolling in …How does the Metro ride look like during non-peak hours? Like this … By the by, look at that Girl’s hair 🙂Very nice to see good civic sense …Dejected folks who could not get in …Rush-hour traffic!After trying (unsuccessfully) to get into the Metro towards Botafogo (Due to extreme peak-time rush) I went in opposite direction 🙂 To get space …. I saw this sea of people charging in at one of the stations.This humble suitcase (Bought from either Costco or Walmart, I forget) has been a loyal and “healthy” Souvenir carrier for me. Lot of rough use. In its “Golden Years” 🙂The Rio Metro … Pretty useful, though crowded.Rio de Janeiro Galeao Airport (GIG) … Look at how the symbol tips a hat to Corcovado Mountain.What is Latin America without some good old Graffiti …National History Museum, Rio de Janeiro. As you can see, it was it crowded … 🙂 The museum is very well organized, a bargain w.r.t..ticket price, and 1.5hr very well spent. They touch upon Brazil’s History, Slaves, Rulers, Artifacts, Natural Wealth, Politics Etc.Brazilian Flag … Over the years.Brazilian Flag … Over the years.Coat of Arms … Through the ages.Street traffic … In the good ol’ days.Dom Pedro I … A nice statue of him right as we enter the National History Museum.Oh, that is sad … How unfair was the World?Oars used by Indigenous people …Fancy headgear …The bows and arrows Indigenous people used …Slaves … From where all they were sourced … Once the Sugarcane plantations came up, Slaves were brought in droves.Figures depicting how people attended the markets …A nice painting showing Slaves and Aristocrats enjoying a weekend.A collage showing the impact Slaves had on Brazil …Another picture of Emperor Joao … Does he not have a unique face?Their ancestor … Emperor Joao … He left Dom Pedro I in charge and left the colony (Brazil) to return to PortugalAn Ivory boat … Belonged to Dom Pedro II.A younger Dom Pedro II … He had to rule from a very young age.A display of Canons …Signs from the time of Slavery … A black chapter for Brazil.An older Dom Pedro II ….A display in the National History Museum, Rio de Janeiro … Captain America??? What did he do for Brazil (or Portugal)? 🙂As we know, Brazil passport is Green in color …This “Rio Card” should allow me to use all of Rio’s Public Transit. Need to keep recharging it.Brazilian Real …Acai is well marketed here. Juices, Smoothies, Bars (Like this) Etc. It lives up to its reputation as a Super-Food.Oops … What did I get myself into? I was wondering where all the Men were 🙂Bikes for rent …Me at Corcovado Tram Station at 07:10. Because visibility at that time was so bad that one cannot even see the statue, they sent me back. I promised to return in a few hours.
Well, one cannot escape The Redeemer 🙂In Buses, you have to swipe RioCard to get through this barrier … Buses are easy to use and convenient.Priority for Pedestrians … Who else uses footpaths? Cars? Bikes?What is Latin America without Graffiti?Breakfast … Starting off.Yum … Breakfast time. Had a sample of quite a few of them.Petrol Prices … (Based on R$ and INR, more expensive than in India)A huge statue welcome diners in this restaurant …Too many grocery bags? No problem …The “3,60” displayed is the fare. Got in buses and went around the city. Whether I travel 1Km or 1000Km, rate is 3,60 R$ 🙂 Also, with rains, this was a dry way to move around … The drivers started getting suspicious though 😉Liked this photo displayed in Uruguaiana Metro Station …
A deserted Botafogo Metro Station … Early in the morning.Mystery solved … Now I know what happened to Line2 on Saturday. After taking Line#1 for a few stations, asked a security guy, who told me about the “Attention Note” (Estacio station). That is the only place to transfer to Line#2. Lot of crowd. Me and my bags 🙂 I guess it makes sense NOT to have both Line1 and Line2 on weekends and holidays, since they overlap a lot.The Metro Map … Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Soccer Fever!!!Soccer Fever or National Fever? Not sure. Footpath …Pantheon de Caxias … Heavily guarded.Visibility at the top … Right after I came down from Christ the Redeemer 🙂The Corcovado Tram … It is around 25min ride to the top.All of us watching Argentina’s WC2018 match … On top of Corcovado.Of course you cannot watch the match for free … Kept myself busy with Coffee and Orange Cake.Lights used to illuminate Christ the Redeemer at night …Lots of Flags … At the Corcovado Tram Station.Can you spot Christ the Redeemer in this picture? 🙂Chopped Watermelon??? Chopped Honeydew Melon??? Someone has a lot of spare-time 😉
“Kaju” … I am seeing Cashew Fruit being sold in a store for the 1st time. It seemed over-ripe to me and hence did not buy.If you read a board quickly, you might mistake Brazilian Real for Indian Rupee. R$ versus RSBus stops are decently marked …I was not planning to have Bob’s nuts for lunch … 🙂 But this was the nearest food outlet, when I needed some food.Yes, definitely not a good idea to walk along the edges …Well, if the statue poses like that … 🙂The “crowds” and the “views” near Christ the Redeemer …Christ the Redeemer: My 5th of the “7 Wonders of the Modern World”. Order in which I have seen them: No:1 – Petra, Jordan (Worst Snow Storm of the previous 100 years happened when I was there) No:2 – Taj Mahal, India No:3 – Great Wall of China, China (Worst thunderstorm of the previous 10 years happened while I was on top of the Wall) No:4 – Machu Picchu, Peru No:5 – Christ the Redeemer, Brazil (Bad visibility while I was there) Note: Though I have seen Colloseum (Italy), as a Child, I am discounting it as this is meant to be “Trips sponsored by George” list. The question is, who would like to join me when I go to Chichen Itza, Yucatan (Mexico) and Colosseum (Italy)? 🙂 I think I am NOT George Attokaran. I am the reincarnation of the Zephryus, the “Rain God”. Maybe the parched regions of the World should invite me as their Special Guest. I just need to walk into the place … 😉
From near Christ the Redeemer. Construction started in 1922 and finished in 1931. 30 meters (Excluding the 8m pedestal) tall. French and Romanian Sculptors and French/Brazilian Engineers made it happen …The Tram ride to the top. I sat facing the back, on the right side as we went up. That is where the views would have been, if not for the Fog (at 15:08!). Remember, Christ the Redeemer is in a National Park (Within a major City!)The Tram ride to the top. I sat facing the back, on the right side as we went up. That is where the views would have been, if not for the Fog (at 15:08!). Remember, Christ the Redeemer is in a National Park (Within a major City!)I could see that the visibility was very poor at the top … Live feed near the ticket counters.Brasil! Brasil! Brasil! WC2018 fever everywhere …Loud horns … To make a lot of noise, while watching WC2018. It makes quite a racket …Another dude(s) selling the horns …WhatsApp Magazine!?Legislative Assembly, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Are there enough bars for a Gymnast? Inside a Rio City Bus.Are there enough bars for a Gymnast? Inside a Rio City Bus.Copacabana is a happening place …Copacabana …Copacabana Beach … Very famous beach and a very long one … Of course, with the lovely weather we are having here, only I was there 😉McDonalds … Do not recall being in a country (Yet) where McD was not present … Like Coca Cola, another Super-Brand … McBrasil 🙂Walking through a traffic tunnel, to get to Copacabana from Urca …The start of the tunnel … From Urca side …Hmmm … Gender partiality! Where is the Men’s Loo???Houses in Urca region were well protected … Gates/Walls/PeepHoles Etc. “Very safe neighbourhood” 🙂Did not take the Cable Car to Sugar-Loaf Mountain … What is the point? To see Fog?Now, what does this sign represent? Hmmm …
