Greetings everyone! I’m back again with a special, though brief, edition of my blog. Later this month, I’m headed to Brazil on a business trip; however, I should be able to sight-see a bit along the way.
Rather than my usual day-to-day and play-by-play posts, I’ll write a few condensed posts about some of the scenery, culture, and food I encounter.
Travel Plans // Background
Our original plan was to visit Rio de Janeiro, and possibly Recife and Manaus; however, it’s looking like we’ll be spending most of our time in Rio. It should be moderately warm and [hopefully] sunny, since it’s in the Southern Hemisphere and thus spring is in full swing.
Brazil is approximately the size of the contiguous United States, making it the fifth-largest country in the world. As you can see from the map below, this poses some travel complications when planning to visit multiple cities in a week. Things complicate even more when you consider Manaus is about as remote as eastern Montana.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, our base for the week, is home to a wide variety of attractions:
- Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue, which sits atop Corcovado mountain, and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
- Famous beaches, such as Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon (no, I will NOT be listening to
Barry Manilowon this trip, but maybe Sinatra or Getz) - Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) – the iconic peak in the middle of Rio’s Guanabara Bay
The city also hosts the massive Rio Carnival (the world’s largest festival), and hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics. The name “Rio de Janeiro” is Portuguese for “River of January” – given at its founding in 1565.
Rio Facts
Rio has a population of~6.2/12.3 million [city/metro area], roughly the size of Los Angeles (3.9/13.3 million). São Paulo (about a 5.5 hour drive south) is the largest city and metro area in the Americas, with a population of 11.9/21.1 million.
Flag
Coat of Arms
Conclusion
There’s a bundle of things to do in Rio de Janeiro, and there’s no way I’ll be able to see even half the main attractions in my limited free time. I expect to have a pretty full schedule, but our hosts have planned a few activities, so I hope to have plenty to share.
Stay tuned; I’ll post more closer to the end of October.
So exciting!!! Looking forward to your coming posts…and I love that you posted the Sinatra link.☺️
Interesting facts and I can’t wait to hear about your adventures and travels. Since I only knew a few words in Spanish (and Rio was even one of them), I was surprised with the translation of Rio de Janeiro. Now, I can add a month to my Spanish! Unfortunately, I hardly ever use my many years of French. I should have taken Spanish . . .
I feel sure you know this fun fact, but when Brazilia became the capital of Brazil, Broyhill was commissioned to make a suite of furniture (named it Brazilia) and shipped it to Brazilia (bedroom, dining room, bedroom & occasional tables). It was the first dining room suite I bought from Broyhill and I kept it for years. Long gone now, but when I sold it, I got more $ out of it than I paid for it. Joyce Beane
How exciting!
Looks like a beautiful country!
What an adventure!
STAY SAFE!
PRAYERS…
I was fortunate to go to Rio many years ago. I did get to see the Christ statue and it is something I will never forget. Also went up to the top of Sugar Loaf. They will probably tell you that a James Bond movie was shot on the lift that takes you up! It’s a beautiful place, and also a dirty place. You May be in a luxurious hotel, and from your window you can look up the hills and see the shanties people live in. There is no middle class, only wealthy and very poor. There were armed guards on the beaches. I also saw the beaches you mentioned! There will be venders all on the streets begging you to buy from them. It’s amazing! Enjoy!
I look forward to the photos & commentary.
Thanks for providing good background info.
Be safe & enjoy every minute.
Love you.
“P”
Although I already replied to this once when you wrote the initial part of it, I’m glad I read it again just to refresh in my mind of where you’ll be and what you’ll be doing as I read the following blogs.