Last picture taken on the same day, while rushing to the airport... Unfortunately, the picture is a little blurred, however, through blogger's thumbnail picture, it shouldn't look that bad. If you're driving from downtown Rio to the South Zone (Zona Sul), more than likely you'll take this path with breathless views (the opposite direction, of course).

Oh yes... and that day I missed my flight to the US due to the terrible traffic downtown and northbound at 7pm.... As a punishment, 3 more days in Rio... U-hu!! :)

Sugar Loaf - Rushing to the Airport

Another picture taken while going to the airport in the same day... I love the motion effect on the picture.. It's funny how if I didn't know I was leaving maybe I wouldn't be taking so many cool pictures during that day, making the best of every minute...

Sugar Loaf

I took this picture while being driven from my home in the Botafogo neighborhood to the International Airport of Rio... I was quite in a rush, as you can see... This road takes us through Guanabara bay til downtown and to the north of the city. To the left, if you look closer you'll see a yellow cab having a technical malfunction...

Fluminense Soccer Club

This is the training field at Fluminense Soccer Club, founded in the early 20th century, located in the neighborhood of Laranjeiras. Fluminense is one of the major soccer clubs of my city, it has won many championships, and it is very popular among the young of the south side portion of Rio.
The term "Fluminense" can also be used as a term for natives of the state of Rio de Janeiro (as Aline mentioned earlier, "Cariocas" are those born in the city of Rio - both of us, for example :))
On the other pictures, a look at their trophies, from previous days of glory, and two pictures at Fluminense ballroom - a beautiful stainglass wall

Agua de coco

My favorite drink... I love the price too...

Closer and Closer

Same beach, just in a different day... Zooming in at Leme Beach early in the morning, while waiting for the rest of my beach volleyball team to arrive... Why should I oversleep if I would miss all this?

On the background, Gavea Stone (I am a fan) and Two Brothers Mountain

Overcast Leme Beach

Leme Beach, on a cloudy, quiet day...

Leme Beach Flowers

I really like this picture. As I was leaving Leme Beach (Copacabana's sister beach) one day, I spotted those beautiful yellow hibiscus flowers on the ground, as if they were looking at me , wanting me to take their picture... Of course I took several, and everytime i am there again, I still see them... still looking at me in the same position :)

Corcovado Hill - View from the top - Part 5

Downtown Rio skyline... Guanabara Bay and Rio-Niteroi bridge connecting my city to Niteroi. In a previous post, Line showed the view from her desk at work, a beautiful view to the same bay and bridge.

Corcovado Hill - View from the top - Part 4

Right beside Lagoa, the area of Botafogo, where I was born and spent most of my life. It's getting very messy over the years, but I will aways feel home here...
Across the hill, the neighborhood of Copacabana and Copacabana beach.

Corcovado Hill - View from the top - Part 3

The lake is our Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, or simply "Lagoa". The neighborhood in its surroundings, also called "Lagoa", is the perfect place to relax in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Rio. Lagoa is like our "Central Park", and hosts countless activities at any time of the day or night. I hope to post some more Lagoa pics in the near future so you'll see what's going on down there.
The lane around Lagoa is about 7km. Unless it's raining hard, during the day we usually walk, jog, bike, enjoy the free workout facilities, go rowing, or just sit and enjoy some refreshing coconut water. At night, bars, restaurants and dance clubs by the water make it even more special.
Lagoa hosts helicopter sightseeing tours that will show you the city. I have always wanted to try it but considered US$100 for a 10 min ride a rip-off if converted to Brazilian Reais :)). However, after I started posting these pictures and reviewing these beauties I might change my mind :)

Corcovado Hill - View from the top - Part 2

View from the right side of the statue, showing the areas of Leblon and Jardin Botanico, part of the "South Side".

Leblon has a special place in my heart... It's not as busy as Ipanema but still maintains the trendy aspects and the charm of the Rio de Janeiro from the Bossa Nova years. It's where the church I've been to for years is located, and also where I got married... ;)

"Leblon has a romantic history. It was an area of difficult access, and it was once used as a hiding place for runaway slaves. The land originally belonged to Frenchman Charles Le Blond.
Leblon started to grow with Ipanema, when a streetcar line connected them to the rest of the city.
Upper Leblon (Alto Leblon) is almost strictly residential. This hilly area on the West side of Leblon is a favorite spot for Rio's rich and famous. Lower Leblon (Baixo Leblon) is the bohemian side of the neighborhood, and it ruled nightlife in the 70's and 80's. A stop for a pizza or beer was almost mandatory after a night of fun - some restaurants and bars remain open until way past 4 a.m. Stop and sit for a while to watch the pedestrians passing by, and maybe you will understand why Cariocas have a permanent love affair with Leblon."

Thanks, http://www.ipanema.com!

Corcovado hill - View from the top - Part 1

Samba do Avião
Tom Jobim

"Minha alma canta
Vejo o Rio de Janeiro
Estou morrendo de saudades
Rio, seu mar Praia sem fim
Rio, você foi feito prá mim
Cristo Redentor, braços abertos sobre a Guanabara
Este samba é só porque
Rio, eu gosto de você
A morena vai sambar
Seu corpo todo balançar
Rio de sol, de céu, de mar
Dentro de um minuto estaremos no Galeão
Este samba é só porque
Rio, eu gosto de você
A morena vai sambar
Seu corpo todo balançar
Aperte o cinto, vamos chegar
Água brilhando, olha a pista chegando
E vamos nós
Aterrar..."

Yesterday's post inspired me to show you a series of pictures taken during my last visit to Corcovado. I am not sure if I captured the 360 degree view but it was pretty close, starting from the statue's right side. I am still learning how to use this blog, I would really like to have added a link to this great Tom Jobim song...

Corcovado... As seen from my bedroom window :)

The "Cristo Redentor" (Christ the Redemeer) statue stands on top of the Corcovado hill, and it is certainly one of the symbols of my city. It can be seen from most South Side (Zona Sul) neighborhoods, from really far distances. The hill is about 710 meters tall, and the statue 30 meters tall. It can be most easily accessed by the Corcovado Railway. Or you could take a chance and WALK as I did with a group of friends about 10 years ago. It took us about 6 hours to get to the top... :) Well, times were different then, I am not sure if you can (or want to) do this anymore....
It offers an unforgettable 360 degree view of the city of Rio, and you'll definetely take many postcard photos there. We are all tourists when we get there, it does not matter how long we have lived in this city...There are a few restaurants and gift shops at the top, but not enough though.
The statue is about 70 years old now, some say it was a gift from the French; but I hear that there was a French engineer working there at the time, and that it was an entirely Brazilian project. We are just so glad we have it!

Glauce

Rio... Simply...Stunning!

Hello guys!
My name is Glauce, and from now on, I will be posting on this blog as well. Just like Aline, I am a carioca simply madly in love with my hometown... Hope our pictures speak for themselves and help you all understand why once you visit Rio, you simply want to stay for the rest of your life!! :)

Anyway, this is a stunning sunset I captured while at Sugar Loaf. It shows Gavea Stone at the west of Rio's "Zona Sul". Gavea Stone is where, if you're adventurous, you could go for a thrilling hangliding afternoon, but if you're lazy like me, you'll just sit and enjoy the view of one of the most admired cities in the world... For real!!

Enjoy! :))