Day 2 in Rio

We got a bit of an earlier start today and ended up with a new guide ---super nice young man named Ricardo. He lived for a year in The US, splitting time between Aspen and San Diego. He really filled us in on a lot of history as we drove through the streets on our way to Sugar Loaf and the Beaches.

Last night we had a magnificent light show followed by a deluge!! We wondered why there was no line for the Sugar Loaf Tram when we pulled up. Turns out the storm last night did damage which they were working to repair so the Tram was closed. At first we were really bummed. .....But then we got lucky! They opened the tram to the first hill on the way to the top of Sugar Loaf so we got our tickets and got on board! Halfway up is a beautiful view, bit it still wasn't the top of the famed Sugar Loaf! But then we got lucky again! Just as we were about to give up and go down, they opened the next section which would take us to the top of Sugar Loaf! Hurrah!!!

We made it to the top and the views are spectacular. It's like looking down on a giant map where you see the whole (or most of it) of Rio and its beautiful and famous beaches! As a bonus, because of the closures there were very few people at the top. We did have one small hiccup. Our guide had turned in the vouchers for our tickets to the top of Sugar Loaf and didn't realize they only gave him tickets for the first half of the tram, BUT NOT a ticket to the top! When he discovered what had happened he went to get them to give him the other half ticket but they wanted another voucher which he didn't have. It was resolved with my credit card for another round trip to the top ticket. The young man will turn the receipt into his company and they will refund me the money... So it was only a slight delay.

I managed to do a little souvenir shopping for important friends and family and then we were off to drive by the famous beaches of Ipanema and Copocobana! Even on a Monday with school already back in session for the winter season, the beaches were lined with umbrellas and beach goers in the morning... Later in the afternoon, the confetti colored umbrellas were 6 lines deep on the same beaches. We saw a few surfers and several hang gliders. The hang gliders have the perfect mountain to jump from and a beautiful, wide and unoccupied section of beach to land on!

We are safely back aboard our "home" and set to sail at 7:30 pm. We are the only ship left in port! Tomorrows stop is Armacao Dos Buzios! ( I know... I've never heard of it either!). I will fill you in tomorrow night on the sights and sounds of Buzios!!!

PS. There are a few photos of a Carnival show the ship had last night with a local dance company!

PPS. The old yellow cable car photo is the same cable car my parents went to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain about 60 years ago!