Rio was HOT. On Saturday, the temperature reached 35C, on Sunday it got to 40C (104F)!! Ouch.
Add to that the very high humidity, and one can realise that it was uncomfortable!
Nevertheless, we ventured forth.
Saturday saw us taking the cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain, or should one say two cable cars. The journey is split, and one needs to change at the halfway point. The first section is relatively gentle, rising up over the woods and si in woods. The second car rises very steeply up to the top. Once there, the views are spaectacular, with all of Rio laid out in front of you. Below is the domestic airport,. the planes take off towards Sugar Loaf, and then break away sharply as they climb, so as to miss the mountain. It is possible to buy a nd drink, and do limited shopping, but very expensive. The sights are the thing. Coming back down, the halfway stage makes a bette4r stop, and to have a drink. it is shaded whereas the top is not.
After leaving Sugar Loaf, the coach went to the Cocacabana beach, and there was time for a brief walk on these famous sands, before we had to return to the ship. After lunch, we went out on our own, but the heat got to us, and we gave in and returned tothe sanctuary of the airconditioning. During our tour of Rio, we visited the route of its famous carnival. Contrary to popular opinion, it does not parade through the streets, but through a purpose built road lined by permanent grandstands
In the evening, the floor show was from a Rio carnival group; noisy and exciting.
The following day dawned hot and the heat just kept on going. Fortunately, we were out early for our trip tp the top of the Cococavado, and the statue of Christ the Redeemer. The access is by funicular railway. It takes about hal;f an hour to make the trip. As one can imagine, it is very popular. To illustrate this, we were joined in the queue for the train by two locals, who were thaen refused access to the train. From what I understood, they had bought tickets at 9am, but had not realised they were for a train at 11.40. They were a little upset, but it got them nowhere. The statue stands at 710m above seas level, on a base 8m high. Itself is 34m high. Inside the base is a chapel, and on our train was priest who was going to conduct a service in it. The project began in 1922, and was finished in 1931. Once again, there were amazing views, but to get a decent photo, one has to be patient with the crowds of other people trying top do the same thing in a relatively small space. After our descent (we were on top for about 30 mins), were had a tour of the rest of Rio. It was fortunate that we had seen Cococabana on Saturday, because on Sundays, the promenade road is closed top traffic, and used just for that. So we visited Ipanima, and the rest of the beaches. We did not go out after getting back to the ship, as it really was unpleasant by then.
As can be imagined, Rio is a popular destination for European and locally based cruise ships. On Saturady, there were four in including us and P&Os Aurora. On Sunday, the other three had gone and were replaced by five different ones. All bar one of these had sailed by the time we got ready to leave
We sailed out of Rio at 5pm, reversing past the only reamining cruise ship. We were having a deck party (with rum punch) around the stern swimming pool, with the band. As we went past the other boat, all her side nearest to us became lined with passengers, many of whom could be clearly seen dancing to our band. She followed us out, as we sailed past Sugar Loaf and the Cococabana beach.
Unless, dear readers, you think we are enjoying ourselves to much, we should state hear that we are doing our bit to keep healthy. Sue does a mile round the deck every morning that we are at sea, though until it gets a little cooler Ian is excused 'cos he is ancient! We always walk up and down the stairways, and it is a long way from deck 3 to deck 9 when coming back on board. We now go for a swim every evening after 6pm, as the pool is virtually empty by then, though the water recently has been a little on the warm side. Yesterday, the jacuzzi was cooler then the main pool!
Tonight is the last black tie diner of this first leg. After the cabaret, which is the Crew Show, is the Gala Buffet, when the chefs do a cold buffet which is for photographing rather than eating ( that comes after the photocall).
It has been a little cooler today, and is much pleasanter. This afternoon we have an hour and a quarter of dancing, trying to remember all the dances and steps we have been taught, should be quite funny. Stll, after BA we can start again, and relearn them.
Montevideo tomorrow, and new adventures.
One samll point for all our readers. For some reason, the system does not sem to like AOL or YAHOO, and though we can read emails on occasions, it is proving very difficult top send them