Sugar Oaf.

My yesterday’s wish came true as today was mostly hot and sunny. But before I embarked on my ‘people watching’ project, there was one bit of sightseeing I thought I’d better do today before the weekend rush – Rio’s No 1 tourist attraction: Sugar Loaf mountain.

I’m happy to say that I was able to get my ‘seniors’ discount (!) before I clambered into the cable car and off we went. The car did sway quite a bit but as the journey only took 3 minutes we soon reached our destination – or so I thought. The land and seascape around Rio is spectacular

so the views are amazing (those are Jackfruits on the tree, by the way)

and then I saw……

Sugar Loaf Mountain at the top of the second cable car ride! Precisely at that moment, I got the wobbles. At first, I seriously thought it was a slight earthquake tremor but then I realised it was only me who was trembling. I’ve never suffered from vertigo before but I guess that’s what it was. So, I chickened out of the second ride on the basis that it would just be the same view but from slightly higher up!

On this basis, I decided against the helicopter ride also.

As many of you know, I quite dislike having my picture taken. So, I’ve never really understood ‘selfies’. I guess I get why people might want to take a picture of themselves with friends. But to want to take a picture of yourself to prove that you are somewhere when you know you are there seems very strange to me. I may well be in the minority, though!

On reaching terra firma again, I noticed that the entrance to the cable car ride is located in the middle of some military academy

where there was now a parade going on. I think it was the Brazilian version of Remembrance Sunday.

There was hardly much solemnity or pomp and circumstance about it as everyone was dressed in battle fatigues. The officers were, though, carrying swords! So, that made it alright then.