Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro and Sugar Loaf mountain.
I know flying over Rio in a helicopter might come across as a little gauche but it really was a lot of fun. It’s the only time I’ve been in a helicopter, just so you don’t think it’s the sort of thing we get to do all the time, working in travel.
I had always pictured myself confidently striding across the tarmac to get on board. In the event I was basically on my hands and knees, very nervous indeed about those rapidly spinning rotary blades. I’m 6’4″ so whilst I’m sure there was plenty of clearance above my head, those blades didn’t feel far enough away so I bent over, a lot.
The thing about Rio is that it’s an outdoor city – you don’t come here to visit museums, you come here to see what is arguably the most beautifully situated city in the world. It is genuinely spectacular, spread out over often thickly forested hillsides around a series of bays and beaches (the Olympics and World Cup film crews will lap this place up).
What better way to get a sense of the landscape than by helicopter? I should say that the ride itself isn’t or at least wasn’t silly money, about $45 dollars I think. While it lasts about 5 minutes, that’s time enough for a lap or two of Ipanema, Copacabana, Sugar Loaf and Corcovado mountain and its statue.
Pretty much wherever you are in the city, the statue of Christ is there looking down on you. Now this is an icon we have seen all our lives, in any number of adverts, photos, postcards, programmes and films. I know I was fully expecting the experience of seeing it in the flesh to be along the lines of “Oh yeh, there’s that thing” i.e. underwhelmed. The truth is that I found it to be incredibly powerful and moving. Not when circling around his head in a helicopter but actually standing on the top of Corcovado mountain at the feet of the statue.
What nobody ever really tells you is that it’s a beautiful piece of art-deco sculpture on a vast scale (38m tall). I’m going to give you a second photo today so you can see what I mean. Hopefully.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro
I appreciate that this is a piece of religious art so it might turn many of you off. I personally like to think that the gesture of those open arms is pretty much universal. The hands are wonderful.
So if you are wondering why all the hype, don’t. Rio is amazing. If you are lucky enough to be able to take a holiday to Brazil make sure to include a visit to Rio.
Find out more about our Brazil holidays or read our guide to Brazil.