The clouds were quite low this morning so we decided doing Corcovado (the Christ) early in the morning wasn't worth it. So after a nice breakfast - scrambled eggs - yummy - we headed off to the Hippie Market. Laura had been taken on her last visit and it runs every Sunday close to the hotel, within walking distance. The market was full of stalls selling jewelery, clothes, sandals, Brazil trinkets etc. It was nice to walk around but I never managed to commit myself to buy anything - poor decision making!By the time we had walked around the market the clouds were lifting and we decided if we didn't go for Christ we wouldn't manage it. We flagged down a taxi and got my colleague, Rosalba, who speaks Spanish (so partially there to Spanish) to negotiate with the driver. He put us on the meter rather than giving us a set price. When we got in he said he did'nt speak Spanish but could speak English!! It s a rare thing for taxi drivers to speak English so this was great and quite amazing considering we thought at least speaking Spanish would get us somewhere near a better rate! It was the best fare we have paid the whole trip so Laura asked for his number - he is like gold dust! We took a train up to the top of Corcovado Hill. The train went straight up stopping occasionally as there are houses up the edge of the hill. 
You can drive all the way to the top but we decided the train was more fun. At the top the clouds had lifted enough for us to get some good photos and enjoy the scenery. I have to say I think Sugar Loaf has better view personally.
You can drive all the way to the top but we decided the train was more fun. At the top the clouds had lifted enough for us to get some good photos and enjoy the scenery. I have to say I think Sugar Loaf has better view personally.Christ is enormous as you stand underneath him. He is made of tiny mosaic tiles that must have been pain stakingly put on. As with all monuments the bottom was covered in skafelding, so we couldn't read the sign about his construction but Laura said he was made from soapstone. It is never peaceful up there with the crowds and the continual coming and going of helicopters with tourists. Chris had noticed at Sugar Loaf it was 150 Reais for just 8 minutes in the air (that is in the order of $110).
We got back the hotel to send Laura and Chris off to their next hotel, for the conference, and went for a walk along Ipanema Beach. Rosalba wanted to check out 
the 'Rainbow' area of the beach! The gay portion. Well, we were lucky, Scott, another colleague joined us, as Rosalba said 'they would think we are lesbians!' Only two snogging men nothing too exciting! The beach was packed with all ages and the waves were quite big occasionally drowning all the swimmers. Apparently, the sand has been shipped in and what it means is there is quite a considerably shelf edge. I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't quite some rip current. We never managed to swim, unfortunately.
the 'Rainbow' area of the beach! The gay portion. Well, we were lucky, Scott, another colleague joined us, as Rosalba said 'they would think we are lesbians!' Only two snogging men nothing too exciting! The beach was packed with all ages and the waves were quite big occasionally drowning all the swimmers. Apparently, the sand has been shipped in and what it means is there is quite a considerably shelf edge. I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't quite some rip current. We never managed to swim, unfortunately.
This evening three of us went to the conference ice breaker, essentially a chance to get free drinks and eats and see the stands and talk to people. They are good, 
however the conference venue is really far from the hotel and it took us nearly an hour in the taxi to get there so we only had about an hour to walk around before having to get the taxi back to go to dinner with some of the others here from Copenhagen and folks from our Rio Office. At the ice breaker I saw one of my aeroplane neighbours, not the oil barren, the other one. Unfortunately we missed the opening ceremony that had scantly dressed Samba dancers, but there were a couple still going on one of the stands in the exhibition hall!
however the conference venue is really far from the hotel and it took us nearly an hour in the taxi to get there so we only had about an hour to walk around before having to get the taxi back to go to dinner with some of the others here from Copenhagen and folks from our Rio Office. At the ice breaker I saw one of my aeroplane neighbours, not the oil barren, the other one. Unfortunately we missed the opening ceremony that had scantly dressed Samba dancers, but there were a couple still going on one of the stands in the exhibition hall! 
Dinner this evening was in a lovely restaurant not too far from the hotel. I have now eaten far too much and looking forward to sleep. It was nice to finally put names to faces for all the guys in Rio. The rain has now started and the streets are flooded, but we still have power - for now! Tomorrow the conference begins.
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