Classic Sights of Rio

We spent almost two weeks in Brazil recently, starting in Rio.


Rio's most famous landmark is Christ the Redeemer. Recently voted one of the seven new wonders of the world, it's perched above Rio. Sometimes he plays hide and seek in the clouds.

And sometimes it's crystal clear up on the mountain side.

Less famous, but equally photogenic is Sugar Loaf, so named because of it's alleged resemblance to a sugar loaf.

That's Copacabana beach in the far background. Beyond it lies Ipanema Beach, where we stayed.

Most impressive thing at each beach? The folks playing volleyball with their feet. "Foot volley" is quite the athletic endeavor.

Downtown, Rio has an unorthodox cathedral. Inspired in part by Mayan pyramids, the cathedral is essentially a cone. Inside, there are four beautiful stained glass windows and a wonderful statue of our favorite saint (Francis).

From the entrance, you can look across the street to the central bank and the headquarters of Petrobras. (Esther's joke: You might refer to the three buildings as the trinity.)

Across the bay (Rio turned out not to be a river), lies Niteroi. It's home to a modern art museum designed by Brazil's most famous architect, Oscar Niemeyer. On our visit, at least, the building was much better than the art inside.