After a day dedicated to administrative formalities, laundry, and errands, we take advantage of being moored at Marina da Gloria to visit the business district of Centro, which blends historical monuments and skyscrapers. The 36 degrees Celsius in the shade are a good excuse to stop for an ice cream. Nina seems to handle the heat quite well, but it's a bit tougher for Diane, who struggles to sleep despite the two fans installed near her bunk. We’ll only stay one night at the dock, as the prices are exorbitant.
On Friday, January 6, we anchor in front of Urca Beach at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain, a free and safe anchorage.
The next day, we take the cable car to the top of the famous 396-meter Pao de Açucar to enjoy the spectacular panorama of Rio and Guanabara Bay. We descend part of the way on foot via a steep trail, which gives us the chance to spot some small Micos monkeys, much to the girls' delight! Like many Cariocas, it seems, we spend part of the afternoon in a brand-new, air-conditioned shopping mall, the only way to find some relief from the heat.
On Sunday morning, we meet Marcelo and his daughter Anita at the Urca market, where they offer us a tasting of fresh sugarcane juice and a Nutella crepe for the girls. He has been living in Rio for two years and is a member of the exclusive Iate Club of Rio de Janeiro, and he invites us to stay there during our visit. So, we take a mooring in the reserved area and enjoy the club's many luxurious services for free!!! (pool, showers, playgrounds, boat taxi services, wifi...) We couldn’t have asked for more!
After a nap, Guilherme, whom we met at the marina, and his friend Andrea take us on a little tour of the city by car. We explore Tijuca Forest up to the Chinese View, a beautiful vantage point overlooking the city. It’s the largest urban forest in the world, offering a striking contrast between the city and the giant trees, waterfalls, and hiking trails in just a few minutes. We return to the boat along the legendary Copacabana Beach.
In the evening, Martin and Priscila, a Franco-Brazilian couple, come aboard for a drink. Martin, the brother of a childhood friend of Perrine, has lived in Rio for 3 years and is developing his business (Meucopo Eco) for reusable plastic cups, since in Brazil, 700 million disposable plastic cups are used daily, many of which end up in nature...
On Monday, we take the little train that climbs to the top of Corcovado (710 meters above sea level) to admire the statue of Christ the Redeemer, sculpted by Frenchman Paul Landowski in 1923. In the evening, Guilherme and Andrea come aboard for dinner, and it’s the perfect opportunity to learn how to make Brazilian caipirinhas!
Today, the heat forces us to limit our activities, and we’re very happy to dive into the Iate Club pool. The 30-degree water is refreshing compared to the 40-degree air... Tomorrow we’ll leave Rio in hopes of finding more pleasant temperatures and, above all, clean swimming waters. Heading to Ilha Grande, 50 miles south, where we’ll meet Marc and Isabelle, Perrine’s parents.
We initially hesitated to stop in Rio, as big cities are more challenging with young children, but we weren’t disappointed and were warmly welcomed by very generous Cariocas. Obrigado Rio!
From Corcovado...
Swimming in the dinghy in front of Sugarloaf Mountain
At the top of Corcovado
With Guilherme and Andrea
In the streets of Centro
Theater
In the Sugarloaf Mountain cable car
At the top of Corcovado
In the Iate Club pool
At the beach
The most popular selfie in Rio...
Little Mico monkey
