Brazil and this birthday trip was all about Christ the Redeemer statue. I had seen it so many many times in pictures, travel blogs, National Geographic and many television travel shows throughout the years. Nothing can compare to seeing it in person. As you can see in the picture above the statue is detailed right down to the nail holes in Jesus’ hands. If you want some quiet time with Christ the Redeemer you better get there early. My favorite picture is the one with me standing with my hands outstretched. It took a long time to get that shot. It was crowded but I didn’t mind. Christ the Redeemer was spectacular! What is even more spectacular is the view. You get panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro from the base of the statute. Even better, just about everywhere you go in the city Christ the Redeemer is there with his hands spread open and available to anyone who wants to receive him. This was the icing on the top of the cake of a whirlwind travel journey. If I ever go back I want to get up early in the morning before the crowds so I can enjoy the view and see the statue without the throngs of people.

Brazil has so much to offer but I was only there for seven days. If I were to return I would of course return to Christ the Redeemer statue but I would spend most of my time outside of Rio. I’d like to go to Salvador Bahia which was the first slave market in the new world. There are many people there whose roots are in Africa.

I think most of the pictures below are from the base of Christ the Redeemer.

The beaches of Rio are simply beautiful. I was so fortunate to get a hotel on the beach. I loved looking out of the window and could not get enough of the view.

Sugar Loaf Mountain

 

Flat Stanley really enjoyed the trip! Below are pics of tourists trying on costumes from carnival and the stands where the parades pass during carnival. I heard a group of people practicing music from the street and I followed the sound. They let me listen and I took a picture of them! I think the picture of me with the beach in the background is of Ipanema Beach. They sing about the girl from Ipanema but you never hear about the boy from Ipanema. Let me tell you, their should be a song about the boy from Ipanema!!! After the volleyball game I saw, the Ipanema men deserve their own song!

My nights in Rio

From my hotel room I could see this yellow kiosk below. Every evening I would get home, shower, go down to the beach sit in the same seat, listen to the waves from the water  and sip a Caipirinha.  How cool is that?