The Loaf

Pão de Açúcar is a massive iconic rock at the entrance to Rio harbour, shaped like a 16th Century Portuguese favourite – a loaf of sugar. A 396m high one. There is a cable car that takes you all the way up with a middle stop on the Urca hill, and the views are astounding! I’ve been told that I should go here instead of Cristo Redentor which was my initial plan, because the views are better – not least because you can see Cristo.  Apart from the views, there is also a little museum of the cable car and a short but cute forest walk on the top. It was perfect for a chill day after the excesses of last night – forest, beautiful views… In fact, it is quite chill today, pleasantly cool, cloudy and only 31°C. And this was such a perfect thing to do at the end, as I could look down at the city to recognise places I’ve been to in the last days.

I have to say Rio looks great from above, largely because you’re far enough to not see how ugly each particular building is. The museum had some pictures of how the city looked in the 19th Century, and wow, what a difference! The terrain is just so amazing, but currently completely spoilt with the ugliest concrete towers covering every place flat enough to build on. If anyone who cares for the beauty of the natural environment ever creates a time machine, please go to the late 19th century and give those people contraceptives and sex ed, because this place is a prime example of how too many people makes everything worse.

I got back from the Loaf, went to a couple beeches I’ve seen from above, and back home to get my stuff and head to the airport. The bus got stuck in carnival traffic, but I had plenty time, so no big deal. Now I’m getting mentally ready for spending next night on Salvador airport.

So that’s bye bye, Rio and carnival. My liver is probably looking forward to not drinking from before noon every day for a change. I am left wanting more carnivals, wanting to do this in good company, not alone. I think I’ll be back here yet.