Brazil (Kims belated 60th Birthday trip)

Well we’re finally going to make it. Originally booked for 2020. Kims 60th birthday treat was a surprise. A trip to Brazil and its famous city of Rio de Janeiro. Unfortunately one of the most unprecedented things hit the whole planet Covid 19. A virus that shut down the whole planet and killed millions of people in the process. But after surviving the pandemic, here we are heading to Rio on a KLM Boeing 777/206 on the 9th April 2024 from Amsterdam after leaving home at 5.15am we got a lift with Peter Rowson to Southampton Airport where we caught a KLM city hopper flight of 55 minutes to Amsterdam. A 3 hour stopover a drink and sandwich later we are on our way. Rio here we come.

After arriving around 7.40pm local time some 11 hours plus flying time from Amsterdam. We spent very little time going through customs. Take note how it can be done. Employ more staff ! Especially friendly smiley ones. The wait at the carasoule seemed longer though. Met by a lady at tourist information who led us to our pre booked taxi driven by the helpful Mona Lisa. Yes real name. Our hotel The B@B hotel Copacabana Forte a 3 star situated between Copacabana beach and Ipanema beach. £333 for 9 nights for 2 people including a breakfast which was plentiful and tasty. Continental style with plenty of choice. Hot and Cold. Fruit juices including a Dettox Kiwi one! After a comfortable night’s sleep we were now ready to venture out.

Our venture out on our first main day incorporating lots of walking some 18000 steps along Copacabana beach from our hotel to the end and back. A few pit stops en route for refreshments and rest. Taking in the ambience of the beach area with its colourful venders musicians sporting people and tourists. A terrific mix of diversity. All playing there part in the atmosphere of Copacabana. A footnote we didn’t at any time feel under any threat from undesirables etc. Nor was there a police presence indicating the threat of any problems.

As night fell the atmosphere cranked up with more music smells and vibrancy. A wonderful experience in a lovely city.

Next day. Let’s see some sights? Christ the redeemer was first on the list. A 30 minute uber ride for £5.35 to the tramway station at the foot of the mountain. Return tickets up to this incredible monument were about £19 for 2 on the tramway. After seeing the spectacular views of the statue and surrounding areas of Rio. We stopped for an ice-cream and a drink. We were then treated to some mischievous monkeys. Who stole food of the tourists and even stole the tomato sauce wrappers which they sucked dry. Great fun to watch. The first robbers we had met ! From there we hailed a cab to take us to Lapa and the famous Seleron steps. Absolute fantastic spectacule of many steps covered in tiles of various styles from around the world. The original idea was to brighten up and cheer people in this drab part of Rio. It worked its fantastic.

After a meal in the Lapa area taking in the Viaduct and Cathedral en route we headed back to our hotel as we had an early start in the morning as we were going to spend Kims birthday on the Ilha Grande an island of the coast of Rio principally.

So an early pick up from out hotel 8.45am we headed for our boat to Ilha Grande arriving on the island around 2pm. The island is simply stunning we stayed in Abraao. Our accommodation was a simple but adequate a hotel nestled in-between the rain forest and locals dwellings. Called CT suites we paid £30 for bed and breakfast! We spent the afternoon partially on praia do Abraao swimming, relaxing, eating and drinking. The temperature was around 30° the rest of the day we wandered the sandy streets taking in the sights and the various bars and shops. The following day much of the same on this glorious island. We really didn’t want to leave. But sadly at 6pm we had to leave the pier on a rib back to the main land and a 3hr minibus ride back to Rio. Kims Birthday on the island of Ilha Grande had been a blast. Certainly one to remember.

Over the next few days, we visited several places without following any particular order.

On Sunday, we went to Ipanema Beach, which was crowded with beachgoers, vendors selling food, and an abundance of tropical cocktails, while surfers tackled the large waves—a remarkable sight! Nearby, we found a central park area called Parco Nossa Senhora da Paz, featuring a bustling market with clothing, trinkets, and souvenirs. After spending a couple of hours there, we relaxed in a restaurant and enjoyed a large chicken dish accompanied by fries and salad. Later, we visited a fantastic bar across from the market that offered live music, reminiscent of an open mic bar with a Brazilian twist.

We also explored the Presbyterian Cathedral, adorned with stunning statues, and nearby stood its Catholic counterpart, a grand pyramid. The expansive Campo de Santana park is a sanctuary for peculiar rodents and numerous cats, tended to by the caring ladies of Rio. The park is also a haven for ducks and Agoutis, which resemble smaller Capybaras. Adjacent to the park, a lively bazaar offers an array of goods at bargain prices.

A trip to Rio de Janeiro is incomplete without a visit to Sugarloaf Mountain. Located at the tip of the Urca peninsula, near Copacabana Beach, this uniquely shaped mountain dominates the landscape. Two cable cars provide access to the mountain, offering breathtaking views of Guanabara Bay from both sides. The summit areas of both mountains feature trails through a rainforest that covers the summits. The forest is home to a diverse range of animals and birds, and spotting them, particularly the monkeys or marmosets, is delightful. There are ample spots to rest and enjoy the panorama, have a refreshing beverage or snack, and breathe in the fresh air at 396 meters above sea level.

Situated at the end of Copacabana beach just 5 minutes from our hotel.The forte is built on a headland that originally contained a small chapel holding a replica of the Virgen de Copacabana, the patron saint of Bolivia. In 1908 the Brazilian army started to build a modern coastal defence forte on the headland to protect both the beach of Copacabana and the entrance to the harbour of Rio de Janeiro. The forte, completed in 1914, consists of two armoured cupolas, one holding a pair of 305 mm (12 in) Krupp cannons, and the other a pair of 190 mm (7+1⁄2 in) Krupp cannons.

The name of the turret with the 305mm guns is “Duque de Caxias”, and the guns are named “Barroso” and “Osório”. This cupola is behind and above the one holding the 190 mm guns so that it can fire over them. The 305 mm Krupp guns could fire a shell of some 445 kg (981 lb) up to a distance of 23 km (14 mi). The cupola with the 190 mm guns is named “André Vidal”. These guns could fire from 200 m (220 yd) to 18.2 km (11.3 mi).

The forte also has two small retractable casements on the flanks, each holding a 75 mm (3 in) quick-firing gun with a 180° traverse and a range of 7 km (4.3 mi). Unlike the large Krupp guns, these 75 mm guns are no longer in place. The north casement is named “Antônio João” and the south casement is named “Ricardo Franco”.

On 5 July 1922, the fort was the centre point of the 18 of the Copacabana Fort revolt. It was the first revolt of the tenentista movement, in the context of the Brazilian Old Republic. The rebellious officers turned the fort’s guns on Rio de Janeiro. To suppress the revolt, the government brought the battleships São Paulo and Minas Geraes. On 6 July São Paulo bombarded the forte, firing five salvos and obtaining at least two hits; the forte surrendered half an hour later.^[2] Minas Geraes did not fire.

Brazil disbanded its coastal defence artillery branch in 1987. At that time the military deactivated the forte, at least as far as its role as a coastal artillery post was concerned.

Open until 19.00 the forte has an assortment of cafe bars which overlook the Copacabana Beach.

In summary a truly magnificent place to visit. Stick to the tourist areas you wont go wrong. We will be back with Kevs Tours.