Sugar loaf mountain this afternoon- 396 meters high with views over Botofogo harbour harbour- brilliant day - 86 degrees and clear skies. How was it named- pretty disinteresting story really! Named after a Portuguese chap , who whilst pondering the name of the hill in 1600's ( and peak time of Brazil's thriving sugar trade) thought it looked like the blocks that they used to transport the sugar. Pleased he wasn't having his flash of inspiration whilst being...

Up 7.30 Sunday morning for a full day trip - First the iconic and now named one of the new 7 wonders of the world- Christ the redeemer statue at the top of Corcovado ( meaning humpback in Portuguese ) mountain. We were taken up the steep mountain by a funicular railway - 710 meters high with stunning views over the whole of the city - the beaches, lagoon, football stadium and mountain ranges.- simply stunning. Then off around the whole city with our guide - van...

Could this be the ugliest cathedral in the world! Rio's St Bartholomew - looks more like an alien landing craft - not quite York Minster me thinks!

Saturday night- walk along copacobana beach and guess what I found- an Irish bar. Asked for a pint of Guiness and they looked at me like I was mad- I was told they don't sell it , but they offered me a tin of old speckled hen, from a fridge, that they had to blow the dust off- it was £8 and out of date- didn't stay long! Off next door to a great Italians with live singers ( allegedly a singer anyway!), good sea bass meal then off to bed, ready for a big day of ...

Saturday morning- up for a great breakfast and then a 4 km walk along the full length of the copacobana beach- simply stunning - weather warm and humid. This afternoon , grabbed towels from the hotel and crossed over 6 lanes of traffic, a cycle path and promenade to reach our own private beach , where we were given rickety old aluminium chairs to sit on. The beach was busier than the m25!, with beach sellers appearing literally ever 2 mins , selling everything ...