Rio de Janeiro
January 5th - 8th, 2017
January 5th - 8th, 2017
Day 5 — Friday, January 6th, 2017
We had a bright and early start to our day! Around 5:30am we arrived by bus at the Alto da Boa Vista and visited the very beautiful Christ the Redeemer. The experience was truly breathtaking. The area was not packed at all, which made the experience that much better. It, however, did not take long before the crowd started coming in. Good thing we took as many pictures as we could before hand! Georgie and I were bending down, practically breaking our backs tying to get the ‘perfect’ angle for the pictures near Christ the Redeemer, come to realize there were mates on the floor that were there so people were able to get the ‘perfect’ angle. What a good idea! |
Tyler was of course being crazy as ever, taking risking but the best looking pictures on the mountain. After many funny photos and playful activities, we headed back down the mountain or at least we tired. The mountain had pit stops before both the Morro da Urca and Sugarloaf Mountain. At these pit stops, you were required to show your ticket in order to get onto the next cable car. Andy Cross was held back for not having his ticket with him. Andy scared out of his mind “TYLER, TYLER, THEY WONT LET ME THROUGH” Never a dull moment with Andy! Turns out they didn’t keep Andy on the mountain for not having his ticket. He was able to get through no problem with the help of Professor Tait. On the grounds of the mountains was the statue of Praça General Tibúrcio. We walked to Urca beach, also near both mountains.
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Day 6 — Saturday, January 7th, 2017
Another early rise and shine! The day started breakfast provided by the hotel followed by a three hour hike in the Tijuca Forest. The bus ride to Tijuca Forest was around an hour from our hotel. We arrived around 7am. We first explored the visiting center located at the beginning our the trails. In there we were able to learn a little more about Tijuca Forest, they provided information about hydrology of he forest (they spelled it with an I’’ instead of a ‘y’), the history of the forest as well as many other aspects of the forest. This was my first real hike; I was excited yet nervous at the same time. I do have asthma and am not as fit as I once was. The hike was a great workout with amazing views of the Forest. I did not fall behind, which was also a plus! Our tour guide did not know the way back to the starting point, leaving us to figure it out. Which was no problem, we all put our thinking caps on! After our hike, our group parted ways. Some of us went to Copacabana Beach while the rest went to Impanema to have dinner with Professor Tait. Erika, Andy Cross, Anna T, Ana Rick, Georgie and I got lunch at a corner Asian restaurant and went to Copacabana beach after where we enjoyed a relaxing two hours sunning by the ocean. After returning back to the hotel, we get a shocking massage from Professor Tait telling us Heather had gotten beaten by a shark! I was suspicious at first because I previously asked our tour guide if there were any sharks located in the water of Rio de Janeiro and he responded no. I was also suspicious because Tait was very calm in his massage. I questioned the incident up until I talked to heather and the other classmates that went to Impanema. I was convinced a shark had beaten her! However, Heathers “bite” marks looked more like that of a fall. But I mean it had to be true, Professor Tait even posted it on his Facebook page for everyone to see, even the school! We completed our night with a presentation from Andy T and Anne concerning energy issues. After the presentation, some of us still had energy and hung out on the roof of our hotel before going to bed. |