The mountain of Corcovado, topped by a 32-metre statue of Christ the
Redeemer facing out over Guanabara Bay, has to be the great enduring
image of Rio de Janeiro. From up here, on a clear day, you can see
almost the whole city, from the downtown business district to the
Internationally famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana. It also has
one of the best views of Sugar Loaf Mountain, another of the city's
great landmarks.
Rio de Janeiro is arguably the most stunning harbour city in the
world, pipping both Sydney and Hong Kong. While the last two are amazing
in their own way, Rio has the advantage of being built on a series of
hills, some of which are still covered by virgin forest, and looks out
over the most beautiful natural scenery of the granite islands in
Guanabara Bay. Corcovado, set within a park that opens at 8 am, can be
reached either by taxi or by a creaking old tram that winds its way up
to the summit. You should really make the effort to reach the top early
in the morning when misty clouds, backlit by the rising sun, sometimes
fill the bay, with just the tops of the islands peeking above them. Ifs
also well worth visiting at sunset, when the sun sinks into the hills
behind Rio and the city lights up.
Similarly, the view of both Rio and Corcovado from Sugar Loaf
Mountain is worth seeing at both ends of the day, when the city assumes
quite different appearances. If you want to see the actual sunrise you
will have to take a taxi to San Cristobel Point, which lies outside the
park. Although not as high as Corcovado. it still enjoys a commanding
view over the bay. From the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain it is possible to
take a very short helicopter ride that flies you up and around the
statue of Christthe Redeemer.
Rio, however, is about so much more than sights or even natural ·
beauty. No other city in the world epitomizes the 'Life's a Beach'
philosophy more than Rio. And where better to see this than at
Copacabana and Ipanema? Both immortalized in song, these beaches mirror
the character of the cariocas, as the citizens of Rio cal themselves. As
the clubbers who congregate there to wind down after an all-night party
give way to the first of the morning's joggers, the next 24 hours will
see everything from holidaymakers to beach boys, from volleyball players
to bodybuilders - all set to a background of bossanova music and
perhaps accompanied by a cocktail.
Rio has endured a bad reputation for street crime over the years, but
has gone a long way to clean up this problem. As with most major
cities, drugs and poverty make certain parts of the city riskier than
others, but if you stick to the main areas (which include all the
principal tourist sites) and don't carry valuables conspicuously, you
will probably find Rio far less threatening than many European capitals.
In fact, the biggest annoyance I suffered - though totally well meaning
- was that the locals constantty warned me to be careful with my
possessions.
INFO
Many airlines fly to Rio from all over the world. Most of the hotels
are out along the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. The most famous
hotel is the Copacabana Palace, run by the Orient Express Group. Even if
you do not stay there you should visit the terrace bar for a sundowner.
When on the beach, leave · all your valuables in your hotel or with the
guards posted on the beach by most of the top hotels. The downtown area
is quite a way from the beaches, but táxis are cheap and plentiful. The
stunning views from Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado are not to be
missed.
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