Scenes from Rio--beaches, mountains and more

It's Saturday afternoon, and my friend Diane and I gather with our tour mates on the rooftop terrace of our hotel. We arrived in Rio de Janeiro a few hours ago to spend a week visiting Rio, Iguassu Falls, and Buenos Aires. At home, autumn is only two weeks away, but here in the Southern Hemisphere, it's early spring, and the weather is sunny and around 75 degrees F. We relax as we sip a caipirinhas, the national drink of Brazil made with cachaca, sugar and lime The drink is supposed to be highly alcoholic, and Diane notes she is feeling the drink. I'm merely mellow. It's good to be in this place at this moment in time. It's good to be alive.

The rooftop gives spectacular views of Rio's famous Copacabana Beach. Copacabana and the neighboring Ipanema Beach front the Atlantic Ocean. Ipanema became known from the sixties bossa nova song, The Girl from Ipanema.

Southwest side of Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach. Ipanema Beach lies around the bend from the buildings. Photo taken from the rooftop terrace of the Copacabana Excelsior Hotel


Rio has a reputation for being a party city. Whether or not Rio parties more than other cities, the famous white sand beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema radiate a sense of playfulness and leisure.

Northeast end of Copacabana and Leme Beach. Copacabana and the contiguous Leme Beach stretch for two-and-a-half miles along the Atlantic Ocean coast


My friendship with Diane dates back to 1983 when we met while attending a weekend master's degree program. Both of us were in our forties and working full time. It was a time when like teenagers, we were expanding our horizons. We went through a kind of giddy second childhood. During this trip, we laugh a lot as we remind each other of the silly things we did and said all those years ago.

At breakfast each morning while we're in Rio, Diane and I sit at a window overlooking Copacabana Beach and observe the activity. Even this early in the day, the beach is busy as people stroll or jog along the promenade while others walk their dogs.

Diane and I enjoy extensive breakfast buffets like this one at the Copacabana Excelsior Hotel throughout our trip. The other side of the table holds a large selection of hot dishes. Juices are on a separate table

Later that afternoon, our group leaves for Sugar Loaf Mountain. We ascend the 1,300-foot summit via a two-stage cable car. The first cable car takes us to an area with souvenir shops and other tourist attractions, and the second takes us the rest of the way to the top with its spectacular views of the city.

From the top of Sugar Loaf, we can see Corcovado Mountain in the distance with the famous Christ the Redeemer statue atop it.

View of statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain from Sugar Loaf Mountain. Cell phone towers have joined the skyline


Christ the Redeemer is visible everywhere you go in Rio.

Christ the Redeemer statue (left) amid Rio's mountainous seascape as seen from the Chinese Pavilion in Tijuca National Park

Every year in the days before Lent, Rio celebrates Carnaval (carnival) with balls, music, dancing, and a parade that features elaborate floats and music by Rio's samba schools. We get a flavor of what Carnaval is like when we stop at a Carnaval costume shop and watch a video clip of a Carnaval parade. The parade is fascinating. I wish it were televised in the states, and I could watch it sometime.

We also can try on costumes at the shop and have a photo taken. The costumes are fussy with lots of ornamentation. They look heavy, hot and itchy to me, and I forego the option, but Diane tries on a hat loaded with fruit.

Diane dons a Carmen Miranda style tutti-frutti hat at a Carnaval costume shop

The last evening we're in Rio we go to a folklore show at the Plataforma. Good lighting and sound systems highlight the male and female performers in lavish costumes as they energetically portray the Native, Portuguese and African strains of Brazil's history through music and dance.

Viewers are allowed to photograph the show, but since I'm sitting in the last row, I have difficulty taking a photo. Every time I stand up to snap a picture, a man in a row in front of me and directly in line with my view of the stage stands up and takes multiple photos of each scene. This, coupled with the movement of the dancers doesn't give me much chance to get many clear photos of this fabulous show.

Dancers take a bow at the Plataforma folklore show

The sun is setting when we leave Sugarloaf Mountain. At the landing between cable cars, I snap one more photo to help me remember this wondrous place.

The sun sets in the mountains behind Rio's Botafogo Bay

NEXT Scenes from Rio--a garden, orchids and lipstick