Rio Sugar Loaf and Central

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- We went up Sugar loaf today, what a stunning view. The tour number is seven now as the junior Rowes have arrived. It was a rapid bus ride to the end of the line - the buse we took gets to the sugar loaf and then returns - tip for travellers - do not try and cross the road with a bus in the distance - they are going very fast, break hard, accelerate harder, duck and dive, hit other cars as we found on the way back. Hitting cars is obviously common, as soon as it occurred the bus driver pulled over and every one got off, flagged the next bus down and off we went again - it was not major but obviously there is insurance details etc to swap.

Anyway we got to Sugar Loaf and took the cable car up to the first peak, the cars take 70 which is just not quite enough to fit in Pete on the second cable car ride. We got onto the second cable car and then left the station but Pete was still on the dock - they closed the doors just in front of Pete, never mind he got a front row on the next one.

Up the top of Sugar loaf it is amazing, the views are spectacular and got better as the day progressed - the smog/ haze / fog lifted. Some people appear to be cheap, and refuse to pay the cable car ride - as we went up to the top out the window you cauld see a guy (assuming it was male) climbing to the top!

After that we took the bus to Central Rio and had a look at the Central Cathedral, nice from the outside and looked good inside but we were not allowed in as they were preparing for a wedding or funeral - could have been either.

Then a last adventorous bus ride home - hold on tight as it is rapid and quick!!!

Enjoy the photos, hope they come out OK as I had problems loading them.

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Photos

Sugar Loaf
The mist did clear

Here we are
Copocabana beach in the back ground

Pete Arrives
Have a close look and you can see Pete in the front

More family Shots
Again the beach sprawls away behind us, gives you an idea of how high up we are

Rowes
One badly behaved - who could it be?

JC
We could see it but this is with the help of the big lens, tomorrow should be a bit closer

Beach people
Every dot is people on the beach

Bird Shots
I am not a twitcher but it was there for the taking, these birds were using the thermals off sugar loaf

Bird Shots
One of the few places I have been where you are above the planes, they were coming into land at a domestic airport

Bird Shots
Species - TAM

Smog is shifting
The layer of smog seemed to move behind the hills

What we came to see
Sugar Loaf

Optional Extra
Abseiling down the side - she was braver than all of us . Some people pay to do this!!!!

Down we go
The view to the bottom of the cable car

Central Cathedral Door
Very ornate but it was the most we saw as it was closed