Okay, so I must admit that our perception of Rio wasn't even close to reality. We learned this firsthand during a quick road trip this past weekend.
In actuality, the city's flare, charm, and ambiance compare like no other city; well, except for maybe New Orleans (of course I am partial to my Louisiana roots). But there isn't much Rio doesn't have to offer to its visitors--emerald waters, exquisite cuisine, lush forest-mountains, and a colorful history to name a few attractions. Not to mention, most Rio-goers are drawn to the pomp and circumstance of Carnival and the mystique of a certain larger-than-life statue. For us, it was the latter. While the spectacle of Carnival will have to await us for another year, we discovered that Rio is much more than the two weeks of masquerading and dancing set to take place later this month.
Well, either my brain isn't functioning or I am a suffering from a severe case of writer's block, so I will let the photos speak for themselves... These pictures tell a better story anyway!
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| Scenes before getting into Rio. The bottom photo of the favelas or shanty towns are common-place throughout Brazil. |
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| Famous Copacabana Beach in photo on left. |
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| Saturday morning, we browsed the monthly antique fair held in Lapa, downtown Rio. The European influence is ever present in the architecture throughout the cobblestone-lined streets. |
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| The views were stunning!! |
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| This speaks for itself!! The statue, which was built in 1931, towers 130 feet atop the Corcovado Mountain. |
It is no wonder why the cariocas or locals have so appropriately dubbed their native town as the "Magnificent City".
