Sugarloaf Mountain has stunning views of Rio. It is located at the entrance to Guanabara Bay and is made up of 2 view points with breathtaking views. Access to the Urca Hill is by 2 cable-cars, traveling some 575 meters from Praia (Beach) Vermelha to a height of 220 meters above sea level, with a beautiful view over Botafogo (neighbourhood in Rio) and Guanabara Bay. The second stage of the cable-car covers 750 meters to the top of Sugar Loaf, at a height of 396 meters. The first cable car on Sugarloaf was constructed in 1912 and its cables supported 180 tons in traction. It's maximum speed was 7.2 km/ hr and it held 22 passengers. Today a car holds 65 passengers and go much faster (10 metres per second - you do the math, I'm on vacation). 
 
This is one of the must see sights in Rio and we decided today was the day to see it. It was a clear day and we could see Copocabana and Ipanema Beaches, Guanabara Bay, the Parque Nacional da Tijuca and Corcovado. The sun was shining and it was HOT! We felt like we were cooking in the glass enclosed cable car. The views were great but it was kinda "been there, done that" as they were similar to the views from Corcovado. They were still spectacular though and were from a different perspective. I'm glad we went. 

We decided to go back to the hotel to freshen up and unload some gear. We took a cab to the Botanical Gardens. The traffic in Rio is unbelievable as I said before. The scooters weave in and out and go between cars and busses with inches to spare. I don't know how they aren't crushed between vehicles. You would not get me on the back of one of those!  

The Botanical Gardens were created on June 13th, 1808 by Dom João VI, Prince Regent at the time, and are considered to be one of the most important in the world. Recognized as a Live Museum, they contain over eight thousand plant species. It covers 137 hectares but only 55 are open to the public. Dom João VI expropriated the area, reserved for the gunpowder factory that was to defend his crown, in order to acclimate species from the West Indies. From Acclimatization Garden to Royal Garden, so called after the coronation of Dom João VI, King of the United Kingdom of Portugal and Brazil, the garden was then called the Royal Botanical Garden. It was during the reign of Pedro I (1822 - 1831) that it was opened to the public as the Botanical Garden. In 1937, the National Institute for Historical and Artistic Heritage designated the area as a landmark and, in 1992, UNESCO classified it as a biosphere reserve. 
The visitors centre was built in 1576 and is one of the oldest buildings in the south zone of Rio. It's lines and precise measurements - note the distance between the windows - are typical of Brazilian colonial architecture of the period. There are many species of plants from all over the world including a cinnamon tree from Ceylon, imperial palms from the Caribbean, and a vanilla plant from Mexico. The orchid garden greenhouse was built in 1890 and rebuilt in 1930. The portal and ruins of the old gunpowder factory marks the beginning of the Botanical Garden. It displays the coat of arms of colonial Brazil's Portuguese Crown. It dates back to 1808. In 1831, there was a huge explosion and only the ruins off the walls made from whale oil remain. Truly a gardeners paradise. 

Vic just had to see Ipanema Beach so we made an hour long trek to the beach alongside the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (lagoon). We passed the jockey club (a symbol of the aristocracy in Rio and in Brazil) and the site for the 2016 Olympic City along the way. Ipanema beach is located in an upscale neighbourhood just west of Copacabana Beach. We read that it was cleaner and nicer. Well, we walked the entire length of it and we prefer Copacabana Beach. It's just as clean and there is more activity. If you want quiet then Ipanema is the beach to park your towel at. And Vic was very disappointed that he did not see "the girl from Ipanema" or anyone resembling her. 

Then it was back to the hotel after a cerveja (beer) on the beach while watching a no hands volleyball game which we discovered was called Futevolei. 

Thanks to everyone who has left comments. It's great to hear from you and it gives me motivation.