Aurora 2010 Recife to Rio de Janeiro

  Our 2 days steaming south from Recife was idyllic! Hot sunshine and smooth seas-just what the doctor ordered. We were so looking forward to our next port of call, Rio as we had read so much about it but never been there before. We were not to be disappointed!

  Rio de Janeiro was named by Portuguese navigators who found it in January 1502 and assumed it was a river estuary (River of January). 60 years later the area was settled by the Portuguese and sugarcane plantations were set up. Slaves were imported from the Caribbean to work on the land and this explains the presence of many black people there today.. In the early 1700´s settlers from Europe arrived to exploit the newly discovered gold and diamonds and in 1763 Rio became the capital of Brazil. By the end of the 18^th century the sugar industry faced much competition and Rio lost much of its prosperity. Luckily they started growing coffee and the rest is history!

  In 1889 the Portuguese monarchy was overthrown and Brazil became a republic. In 1960 the capital city became Brasilia specially built in the centre of this vast country which is 35 times larger than the UK and which covers nearly half of South America. Rio is on the same latitude as Rockhampton in Queensland Australia and has a population of 7m people (Sao Paulo has 17m!).

  With only one day in the city (0800-2300) we realized that we would not be able to see everything so we opted for a full day tour which visited the top of  Sugarloaf  Mountain and also the Statue of Christ the Redeemer which was erected in 1931 to celebrate 100years of independence from Portugal (1822).

  The approach to Rio in the morning (0600!) was spectacular as the sun rose to light up the Sugarloaf and the Statue as we passed by to reach our berth in the centre of this wonderful city of beaches.

  Our tour left the ship at roughly 0900 and there were some delays as we had to be minibused from the ship to our tour coaches. This was because there were 3 other cruise ships in and we were the furthest away from the terminal and we weren´t allowed to walk on the quay. However we got away and made it to the first cable car for Sugarloaf Mountain very quickly. It was already over 30C so we were glad that the queue was not too long. The cars take 60 people at a time and the first one goes to the top of Morro do Urca (715ft). There you have to change to another cablecar which takes you to the top of Pao de Acucar (1293ft). Well the views are really spectacular. The harbour is so beautiful maybe even better than Sydney! Mountains surround Rio and those coupled with the fantastic views down to Copacobana beach are breathtaking. Of course you look straight across at the Statue of Christ too.

  Having retraced our steps to the ground and managed to grab the compulsory fridge magnet we were driven to a restaurant for lunch where we had a wonderful buffet and many meats sliced off the skewered joints at the table South American style. This place served 25 coaches from the ship during the extended lunch time and the organization was amazing!

  Back on the coach before 2pm we were whisked off to get the train up to the Statue of Christ on the top of Corcovado mountain (2310ft). It is a cog train which travels up a very steep 2.5mile track to the top of the mountain. Then there are elevators to get to the base of the 125ft high statue (or 200 steps!). Again the views were absolutely amazing and of course it was very busy! The statue faces Sugarloaf and is very impressive.

  After the 30min train ride back to the base of the mountain we were taken on a scenic drive along the beaches of  Leblon, Ipanema and of course Copacabana. Being Saturday afternoon they were packed with people and colourful umbrellas-a fantastic sight. Lots of very fit bodies and wonderful tans but the ladies never go topless we were told!

By this time it was after 5pm so we were taken back to the port and back on board by 6 after a great day. Many thanks to our super guide and coach driver. We were in need of a shower and a drink or two!

  Later that evening we sailed about 11pm and we watched Rio and the Sugarloaf and the illuminated Statue of Christ disappear into the distance.

  Already out of the tropics we have another 2 days at sea heading further south before our next port, Montevideo the capital of Uruguay.