Rio ~ and home

Five days to discover the delights of Brazil as seen from Rio de Janeiro; a tall order, and one we didn't really attempt to achieve.
Travellers and guides frighten you beforehand with the dangers of the street, violence and poverty, but maybe we are less aware of it, or stupid, but Rio for us felt quite safe when we ventured out.
Gloria was our area, walking distance from the centre, but Rio is spread out over miles, I think one of the most beautiful city landscapes we have seen anywhere, a city rolling through hills and bays, dominated by Christ the Redeemer and the Sugarloaf. Best in the sunshine, it was often drizzly or grey when we were there, and so close up, slightly disappointing: the romance of Copacabana or Ipanema was for me no more than I find in an average concrete shopping centre; mmmmm....
Highlights tho' was to find myself in the creative heartland of Roberto Burle Marx, landscape architect, artist, ceramicist, sculptor etc. A joy for Jackie to discover also. To wander over the lawn at the Museum of Modern Art was as exciting as one can imagine, and I blagged my way to the roof of the Marriott Hotel to picture the sidewalks of Copacabana Beach. For four hours we bussed through the very dodgy northern suburbs to visit his farm and home - a perfect culmination to this year of inspiration searching! By the time I was visiting the Botanical Gardens in the city, two days before we left, I was starting to feel so full of new ideas, plants and thoughts, there was nowhere to put it all!

A great night out was had courtesy of Raul and Natalie, friends of friends, in true Brazilian style: drinks, food, and a head pounding reggae gig. A last weekend staying in luxury at the Hotel Gloria, but, by now, we wanted to go home. Yes, back to Blighty, family and friends!