I was so excited for everything we had planned for the day and it was extremely hot and sunny making it a pleasant early start. We successfully managed to get the public bus to Cosme Velho to make our way up to the Christ the Redeemer Statue situated at the very top of Corcovado Mountain, overlooking Rio.

It all seemed too easy as we got off the bus and a van pulled up straight away asking us if we wanted to go up - so we hopped in and oh my goodness the views on the steep drive up were unbelievable. I couldn't wait to see what it was going to be like from the very top. It didn't disappoint one bit. The statue was so high up so you could literally see the entire coastline with all the skyscrapers, mountains, beaches and harbour from the viewpoint. "Cristo" is not only a symbol of religion but a symbol of peace here in Rio with outstretched arms embracing the city. It's so high up that it keeps getting hit by lightning and needing to be restored! The view so great and impossible to describe so really must be seen in person.

Back on the public buses we next went to Botofogo to get some lunch before heading up Sugarloaf Mountain in Urca. We ended up in this delicious sushi restaurant which wasn't even that expensive and ohhh it was so good. I had been craving sushi for so long. Feeling very satisfied we got the cable cars up to sugarloaf to watch the sunset; I'd thought the views were going to be a little underwhelming after Cristo but they were again outstanding - Rio is such a beautiful city. The sky looked magical with the sun piercing through the very white clouds against a blue sky, with haze preventing the distinction between the sky and the sea; Cristo could be seen to be almost touching the clouds there in the distance! However, unfortunately the fluffy white clouds were rapidly replaced by thick dark rain clouds just as we reached the peak and the heavens opening with heavy rain and wind! After deciphering that there was probably not going to be a sunset with the even cloud coverage we headed back down, happy with the views we had seen already in any case. What a day.

We got completely caught in the torrential rain which made for an interesting and slippery return journey on the bus; we had to take off our shoes to walk onto the bus as the road was so flooded you were ankle deep in water. Relieved to be back at the hostel we cleaned up and once the rain had stopped we went out for a final meal in Brazil. We decided we had to experience the Brazilian dining experience of the Kilo buffet while we were here so we did just that. Like any ordinary buffet you fill up your plate with all the foods you want butttt when you get to the end your plate is weighed and you pay by the kilo. So put it this way - you could eat a ton of salad for extremely cheap! We got a whole lot of everything and I was so surprised to find it cost less than £5 including dessert.

I really do like Rio de Janeiro as a city, with its beaches and mountains, huge building blocks, churches and cathedrals every few blocks, interesting takes on religious monuments, fantastic street art and colourful people. I'm sure I will be back.