Time to visit Brazil again, and I couldn't resist taking my camera again to snap some photos - in the times away from work it was a great break from the Milwaukee winter and usual drab/cold weather to take some photos in S�o Paulo and Rio. Sections - Rio Samba & Sugarloaf Mountain | Hotel, Beach & Christ Reedemer Statue | Rio Churches & S�o Paulo IMG_3896 Brazillian TV is so much....like American TV in this case...Idolos...bleagh IMG_3899 What would cellular carriers do without reality TV? IMG_3904 Continuing the theme we went to Applebee's - my food was fine, but a co-worker's chicken was cooked only about 1-2 centimeters down and was raw the rest of the way. In the US the manager would probably come out and apologize for nearly killing you and give your meal for free perhaps with a free desert. In Brazil - the manager eventually came over and decided he'd give a replacement entree (not free of course) and perhaps a desert...I suppose there are worse things than raw chicken - but makes you consider the way different cultures react (of course potential lawsuits for undercooked food probably come into play as well). IMG_3907 So not many photos in S�o Paulo this time, here's one of a building near the hotel that was torn down in the course of a morning...gotta make room for the new! IMG_3909 My co-workers Nisha, Prakash, and Tom were with me on this trip and the Brazillian Real went from like 1.8ish to 2.6 while we were there (amazing what a financial meltdown will do to a mineral/goods based economy when demand forecasts plunge). So, we decided to give a boost to the international economy by heading over to Rio de Janiero, here's the Christmas tree in the SP airport. IMG_3910 I still really love the Brazillian security system of giving a standardized and simple receipt for me to pass through security and gate boarding with barcode scanning - much more effective and efficient (and this time we got them through self service check in even for non-citizens, of course the TAM Documento OK stamp shows one central person near security reviewed identification docs as well) IMG_3911 Leaving one airport in SP IMG_3912 And arriving in RJ Santos-Dumont Airport, named after Alberto Santos-Dumont who was born and died in Brazil and lived a life of study and science in Paris. He designed, built and flew the first effective dirigible balloon and also made the first flight of an airplane in Europe. IMG_3915 The tunnels of Rio make a nice long exposure subject IMG_3917 IMG_3920 A nice fountain in the middle of an exit ramp IMG_3923 The sambadrome, where carnival is held each year IMG_3927 Tom taking photos IMG_3930 Nisha, Tom, Prakash, and Jay IMG_3939 Time to visit cidade do samba, where you can view all the floats/etc from the various samba schools from previous carnival celebrations IMG_3944 IMG_3946 IMG_3949 IMG_3953 IMG_3960 IMG_3961 Tom_IMG_0049 This lion float was frightening - the baby was swaying back and forth quite a bit in the wind IMG_3968 Some of the floats were a bit worse for wear but still impressive (and not built for long term use of course) IMG_3970 I don't know what this is, but it looked funny IMG_3971 Nisha & Tom - don't move, just stand VEEERRY still! IMG_3972 Logos for cidade do samba and LIESA the group that organizes carnival IMG_3978 A nice float IMG_3982 A photo of a photo at cidade do samba showing the carnival in full swing IMG_3985 IMG_3987 IMG_3991 It's amazing during a long day of walking how tasty a nice simple meal can be...this one near the lagoon in RJ IMG_3998 Tom...as cyclops IMG_3999 The Christmas tree in the lagoon doesn't look that nice during the day, but at night it is quite spectacular IMG_4002 Swan paddleboat thingies Tom_IMG_0052 Nisha laughs as I take a photo - hopefully I was telling a joke and not the subject of one IMG_4008 Let us examine the law of supply and demand... IMG_4010 We passed this place where people were lined up literally like 8 blocks and further for MENINA Fantastica - a top model mais famosa do brasil (the most famous top model in Brazil) IMG_4011 Now here is the demand...there was some supply but someone should have told those guys in the park to head over here! IMG_4017 Sugarloaf mountain cable car... IMG_4020 I like biodiesel and all, not sure why a generator is needed here in the parking lot of Sugarloaf but makes it look very green/modern IMG_4027 I didn't have time to see the Sugarloaf Mountain last time I was in Rio, so that was what I was most looking forward to this time - here it is in miniature IMG_4030 On the way up from the cable car near the parking lot IMG_4037 Visitors lined up to come back down as we arrive at the first station IMG_4038 Gotta be careful of those animais silvestres IMG_4039 Helicopters at tourist attractions is theme in Rio, here's a heliport on the first peak IMG_4044 Here's a photo of Porcao, where we'd dine that night IMG_4047 Vegetation clings to the side of the mountain IMG_4048 A visual reminder of the hierarchy (in reverse) of the world IMG_4050_pano A view from Sugarloaf Mountain of Rio IMG_4069 Here comes a helicopter IMG_4074 There's another mound of sugar to visit IMG_4078 On the loading dock of the 2nd cable car IMG_4089 Funny how we look when trying to capture memories IMG_4090 This is either a high school or a prison... IMG_4091 Ok, so here's a crazy guy sitting right above the drop-off of the 2nd mountain - I don't know if people are allowed there - you could take a few leaps to get there/back but I wouldn't want to risk it. Maybe that's why he just sat here for a while, or so his friend could take his photo looking brave? Or so a bunch a tourists could take his photo looking brave/stupid? IMG_4093 Unlike the great Christ Redeemer statue, this landmark is lit by Philips lights (probably not for free) and for some reason wasn't lit that night... IMG_4095 Going down from 2nd to 1st mound IMG_4102 I had no idea what this plaque said but translating it now I should have taken a photo of the mosaic slab nearby that it mentions as a gift from Citibank (and bunch of other people) to commmemorate the 85th anniversary of the aerial tramway, see more info here IMG_4110 On the 1st mountain you can see how everybody walks along (a rather scary) path to the right - the area in the middle looked under remodeling and was also off limits due to preparations there for what looked to be a party IMG_4117 I have no idea who these people are but they were in a good frame IMG_4118 I think it's kind of sad that Sodexho is in such an ideal location...it makes it seem so much less exotic IMG_4120 Who needs those automatic telescope machines when you have telescope attendants? IMG_4128 Pigeons beware... IMG_4130 This guy is important - why I'm not sure, I didn't take a separate photo of the plaque, maybe he built the mountain IMG_4133 Look - it's a 1980s tourist flashback! IMG_4136 Just in case one of the cars fails they have an extra one nearby...I wonder what happens to all the people in the broken car then? IMG_4137 For some reason this is what I imagine a spaceship terminal boarding area to look like IMG_4143 IMG_4144 A hearty hibiscus IMG_4158 The Christ Redeemer statue in the distance IMG_4160 On the first mountain - I thought the railings in the shape of a taller and smaller mound were clever IMG_4164 A view from the car with a reflection of the parking lot/etc below before departure back to the mainland IMG_4166 IMG_4179 IMG_4182 Who is going to wear this thing - will someone be assigned to go with them and count the emeralds every time they emerge from the water? Swimming suit embroidered with 248 emeralds and clasp in diamonds and emerald cabochon. Created in 2004 to celebrate the forthieth anniversary of the discovery of this gemstone in Brazil by Jules Sauer, founder of Amsterdam Sauer. Sections - Rio Samba & Sugarloaf Mountain | Hotel, Beach & Christ Reedemer Statue | Rio Churches & S�o Paulo Return to Features