| Rio is known for it's lush mountain peaks jutting upward dramatically from a sand-wrapped coastline. Nearly as famous is the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue perched atop Corcovado Mountain. That was our first destination today. As luck would have it, fog rolled in obscuring the stunning views of Sugarloaf and the city below and creating a mystical atmosphere around the statue. Completed in 1931, the 625-ton statue rises 124 feet with outstretched arms spanning 92 feet. After decades of exposure to the elements and erosion of the soapstone exterior, the statue was restored to its full luster in 2010, and continues to serve as a world-famous symbol of Christianity. |  |
Randy, Kathy, Bill, Jeannie, Wally, Ed, and more aboard the tram up the mountain
 Ed Masters the stairs | After our visit to Christ the Redeemer, we explored downtown Rio, visiting the Selarón Stairs, an outdoor staircase of 250 colorfully decorated steps created by artist Jorge Selarón. Next, lunch at a local restaurant where we enjoyed feijoada, the Brazilian national dish, made of black beans, pork and a few other ingredients - delicious! |
Our transportation to lunch
 Jeannie is on her way to lunch |  Would someone please tell Ed he has his helmet on backwards? |  Bill had a birthday. We didn't ask him which one! |
 Its Bill's birthday so Sylvia gave him a little extra attention. Rio is also known for it's music, dance and beautiful people. Even if you haven't been here, you know this through the internationally-acclaimed songs “Copacabana” and “The Girl from Ipanema.” Of course it's also famous for it's stunning white-sand beaches where youth with beautiful bodies cavort in scanty bathing suits. Ah... Those were the days. In recent years, Rio has also ascended to the world stage as a major cultural capital, having hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics and as part of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) Brazil became an international economic power. Unfortunately, political corruption and economic downturn has devastated the local economy. We'll learn more about this as we travel with Danna, our Brazilian guide. | The favelas (slums) of Rio are where the poorer people live. People move here, build a shack and in 5 years they gain legal title to the land. When Randall and I were here 15 years ago, though controlled by the drug lords, the favelas were stable and we were able to visit these fascinating communities. With today's difficulties, it is not safe to visit, so OAT arranged for Sylvia, who lived in a favela, to talk with us. She left an abusive home at the age of 11 and at 13 she was selected to lead the drum section of a samba school. She held that celebrity position for 30 years. Today at 56 years this grandmother of many still performs at the annual samba parade during carnaval.  Jeannie, Danna and Karen are bright in the morning. |
