Rio De Janeiro, January 22, 2007

The rain & ice storm in the Northern Hemisphere, USA, & Europe

jolted Rio. The temperature dropped & the heavens unloaded as we steamed into the bay.

The city was named in January, 1502 (de Janeiro) as Portuguese navigators thought they had found the mouth of a river (Rio). However,in the rest of Brazil, the city is known as Cidade Maravilosa or
Marvelous City. Sugar Loaf, resembling a cube of sugar dominates the entrance to the famous beaches of Ipanema and Cocacobana. Hovering in the background is Corcovado, a mountain shaped like a hunchback & so named.On it rises the Christ Sculpture 120 feet high with 11o feet from finger tip to finger tip. This is a wonderful gift from France even tho the Portuguese claiming the land had to remove French settlers in the bay! The Photo above is a sand sculpture on the beach.
The beautiful Christ blessing us all!

Barb & Jim on Ipanema--notice the side walk!
The train to Corcovadeo which takes you up to the Christ. Below-Sugar Loaf.