We had to wait about ten minutes to get the stairs clear for this photo, its packed up there!23-May-2009 18:44, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 14.0, 28.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 800
The Christ the Redeemer statue is the largest Art Deco sculpture in the world, and one of the famous landmarks in Rio de Janeiro overlooking the city from the top of Corcovado mountain. When we heard it was possible to climb from Parque Lage, we thought we’d give it a go. Budget friendly exercise, plus it turned out to be a beautiful hike that meant we definitely deserved some large Caipirinhas in Lapa afterwards!
Slightly different view, same house, same damn big mountain.
Slightly different view, same house, same damn big mountain.23-May-2009 14:58, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 11.0, 28.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 800
Parque Lage is a beautiful park (see pictures) a short bus ride from Botafogo, where El Misti (our hostel) is. Christ the Redeemer is surely one of the top five things to do when visiting Rio, and finding that we could hike it from Parque Lage meant we could combine everything into one! Apparently only a 90 minute hike, it sounded a walk in the park – no pun intended. It certainly wasn’t! We took a walk around the park, looking for signs that indicated the “Cristo Cristo” walk. We’d nearly given up, but eventually found a small path on the right (as you face the entrance) of the park at the back where it gradually gets higher.
Lynette makes it look easy!23-May-2009 17:11, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 3.5, 28.0mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800
Not sure whether it was the right path or not, conveniently a very sweaty dutch guy burst out of the jungle and told us that yes, it is the right way, and its a great walk we’d enjoy it. We’d need water. Apparently he was training (Probably for a round the world sprint once we’d tried it!). Which was great, much more positive than the elderly couple who seconds earlier had told us in Portuguese it was a terrible idea, far too dangerous, and we should only go in a group. So, off we went! The trail was pretty easy to follow once we’d got going, but it was definitely tough. You think a 90 minute walk couldn’t possible hurt that much, but this definitely did – having been office bound for the last five years we’re not exactly marathon fit…
Golly gosh! We’re nearly there! Note the obligatory travel bandana (a Buff) and Camelbak.
Golly gosh! We’re nearly there! Note the obligatory travel bandana (a Buff) and Camelbak.23-May-2009 16:58, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 5.6, 5.8mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
The walk is pretty steep, just like Corcovado itself, and we had to get to the top (710m) where the 38m Christ the Redeemer statue is sited. We hit the railway, which is about 80% of the way there, and it was a great sigh of relief. We finally reach the actual entrance to the statue, only to be told that we needed a ticket. Which you can’t buy at the top, you have to buy at the bottom. Not happy bunnies! However, they would happily drive you to the bottom, allow you to buy a ticket, and then drive you back up. What a con! After all that walking! However, we had no choice, and we’re only in Rio once! So, off I trotted…
Tickets purchased, we arrived back at the entrance and made our way to the statue. Which, to be fair, is very impressive. It is in great condition, and the views are absolutely amazing – we were lucky with beautiful sunny weather so it was all good. The foundations of the statue itself were laid April 4th, 1922, hence the Art Deco styling. Designed by Carlos Oswald, sculpted by Paul Landowski, it hsa been visited by Pope Jean Paul II and was completely restored in 2000 – hence why it looks so good now! We took the obligatory posed photos (see below – Ben they’re just for you!) and enjoyed the view, pointing out where our hostel was and just how bl%&^$dy far we’d climbed, and then went to hike back to the hostel.
Definitely an amazing view, and so much the sweeter after the climb!
Definitely an amazing view, and so much the sweeter after the climb!23-May-2009 18:55, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 18.0, 28.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 800
We thought we deserved a rest, so instead of hiking back down the way we came, we decided to take the bus back to the bottom and make our way from their. After the slightly unhelpful entry methods (is it that hard to have a ticket booth at the top?), we passed on the waiting taxis, there is no regular bus, and decided to walk. However, bearing in mind its location, Christ the Redeemer is still a very long way from Rio when you’re walking on the road! After an hour we grabbed a bus, we were wandering worryingly close to a Favela and didn’t want our great day to have a less than positive ending, and still had miles to go! Lynette’s moral of the story: If you know how you got up, take the same way back down!
On to the night! Lapa here we come! These guys made awesome Caipirinha, which is a brazilian cocktail similar to a Mai Tai. R$4, about £1.30, and definitely hits the spot!
On to the night! Lapa here we come! These guys made awesome Caipirinha, which is a brazilian cocktail similar to a Mai Tai. R$4, about £1.30, and definitely hits the spot!24-May-2009 03:54, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
After a long and hard day, an evening in Lapa was called for, during the day this is a place of beauty and rich architecture, at night the clubs open and the streets are lined with bands, rigs, portable bars and its basically a cracking street party! A few Caipirinhas later, we were definitely feeling much better. However the more dangerous side of Rio is definitely never far away – I went down a side street to relieve myself and within minutes an attempted mugging was underway. Three guys – but there was no attempt to pin me down or hold me up, one of them just literally shoved his hand in my pocket while I was “otherwise engaged” and tried to take whatever I had. It was my money pocket so his luck was in! Managed to swat the guy off, and the three of them just carried on walking away! No point chasing, that’s when things could have turned a bit nasty, so moral of that story is: Always watch your back. I’m just glad I learned that lesson and still had a happy ending! The cheek of it…
Anyway, great day, brilliant ending, looking forward to what’s next!
Parque Lage is a beautiful park, free entry, and great fun walking around.23-May-2009 14:35, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 4.0, 28.0mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800
A beautiful colonial house in the middle of the park, with Crocovado (The famous Christ the Redeemer statue is on top of this mountain) in the background.23-May-2009 14:57, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 13.0, 28.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 800
One insect you never expect to block your path is a butterfly, but this one just loved hopping around right in front of us!23-May-2009 15:38, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 4.5, 105.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
We’ve now started the main walk up Corcovado, at this point it didn’t seem too difficult!23-May-2009 16:18, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 3.5, 28.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800
It gets pretty steep, they have ropes along certain rocky bits to help people get up and down…23-May-2009 17:02, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 3.5, 28.0mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800
Near the top you hit the railway, which is how all the sane people get up there!23-May-2009 17:22, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 10.0, 28.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 800
View from the top, Corcovado is set in Tijuna Park, the largest national park in the world completely contained within a city (in this case Rio!).23-May-2009 18:07, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 16.0, 28.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 800
Did you know… Christ the Redeemer is the largest Art Deco sculpture in the world? In front of him right now is possibly the biggest occasional poser…23-May-2009 18:43, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 13.0, 35.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 800
We had to wait about ten minutes to get the stairs clear for this photo, its packed up there!23-May-2009 18:44, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 14.0, 28.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 800
The big rocky stump in the background is The Sugar Loaf, in Guarana Bay.23-May-2009 18:53, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 16.0, 28.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 800
There’s even a mini chuch in the statue, the surprised Chinese lady is not always there.23-May-2009 19:06, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 8.0, 30.0mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 800
On to the night! Lapa here we come! These guys made awesome Caipirinha, which is a brazilian cocktail similar to a Mai Tai. R$4, about £1.30, and definitely hits the spot!24-May-2009 03:54, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
Lapa is an area of amazing architecture in the centre of Rio, at night the clubs come alive and the streets even more so. Bands, rigs, bars on the streets (small can of beer is 3 for R$5, or £1.60!) and a load of up for it Brazilians…24-May-2009 04:16, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 400
I asked the guy if I could take a picture of his speaker setup, he willingly agreed and so did his girlfriend!24-May-2009 06:10, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 400
Dangerous spot… one of the other hosteleers had tried the same pose the night before and nearly got robbed, unsurprisingly. Cindy managed to defend him!24-May-2009 04:47, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 400
Andy on the left (guy who fell asleep on the street the night before), and Cindy on the right (girl who defended him!).24-May-2009 04:53, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
Lynette striking an interesting pose, and Stuart – who took losing at Chess surprsingly well… )24-May-2009 04:53, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
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Slightly different view, same house, same damn big mountain.
Lynette makes it look easy!
Golly gosh! We’re nearly there! Note the obligatory travel bandana (a Buff) and Camelbak.
Definitely an amazing view, and so much the sweeter after the climb!
On to the night! Lapa here we come! These guys made awesome Caipirinha, which is a brazilian cocktail similar to a Mai Tai. R$4, about £1.30, and definitely hits the spot!
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