"Sta Teresa and Corcovado" a Rio de Janeiro Travel Page by NedHopkins

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Sta Teresa Home

Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa was home to Rio's elite during the 19th century. It's the only large section in the city that hasn't been 'modernized.' Graceful mansions line cobblestone streets that descend into the area near the Gloria metro station.

The area is dotted with charming restaurants and bars.

Taking the ancient bonde up and strolling down is a nice way to spent an afternoon.

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The Bonde

The Bonde

The open–sided bonde (or bondinho) leaves from a platform adjacent to the Petrobras building in downtown Rio and crosses a sky–high aqueduct (the 18th century Arcos da Lapa) en route to the top of the morro on which Santa Teresa sits.

A policeman is aboard many of the trams. They leave every 15 minutes during the day for the roughly 30–minute trip.

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Arcos da Lapa

Arcos da Lapa

The Roman–style aqueduct, Arcos da Lapa, was built in 1755 and converted to a tramway in the late 19th century.

The bonde (barely visible in my photo) crosses it moments after leaving its downtown station.

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Christ the Redeemer

Corcovado

The best–known symbol of Rio, Cristo Redentor stands nearly 100 feet high; his arms span over 90 feet.
The statue is visible from nearly everywhere in Rio. And, from the platform on which its base sits, the panoramic views of Rio are awesome.

A cog–train (a sort of cable car) takes visitors to a landing about 70 meters from the top. On my first two trips to Rio, I trudged up the 220+ steps that end at the base of the statue.

That is no longer necessary. Since early in 2003 elevators take visitors to a second landing, and an escalator then rises to the base itself.

It is now a mark of honour, if not devotion, to have climbed those 220+ steps. Of course, even today you don't have to take the easy way up....

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From Corcovado to Pão do Açucar

From Corcovado

The view from atop Corcovado is spectacular.

Caveat: you can often see nothing but the tops of clouds. But when it's clear, or even semi–clear, the panorama is breathtaking.

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Cristo Redentor

Cristo Redentor

On more days than not, the background to the great statue is more like this than like my first picture.

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The Leblon Beach

Leblon

Leblon is named for a Frenchman who once owned much of the beachfront property. His name, Le Blanc, came out as "Leblon" in Brazilian Portugese.

The beach itself is much less crowded than the adjacent Ipanema or than Copacabana; at least it was during my stay (which included a weekend).

The Leblon area is more chic than Copa, with interesting shops and good restaurants and hotels. (One of the latter is visible at the right in my photo. The more distant Sheraton can be seen center-left, with the "two brothers" morros center-right.)