Craig wakened around 4am this morning and that was it for him.  I managed to doze on and off till around 6am, so we were down for breakfast by just after 7am.  It was a buffet but pretty good - lovely fresh fruit especially.  We had heaps of time before we were being picked up for our tour so we went in search of an ATM we'd been told about by hotel reception.  We didn't manage to find it but had a nice little stroll around the area.  

Nenad, our guide arrived just after nine and off we set.  Our first stop was to be the Corcovado - this is the distinctive mountain on which sits the amazing Christ the Redeemer statue.  On our drive there we saw in daylight this time Ipanema Beach, and the lake and then we parked in this gorgeous little square where all the buildings were in the old Portuguese style.  From there we walked down to the Tram station where we caught the tram which climbs the mountain to the base of the statue.  The ride up takes about 20 minutes and is through the most incredible rain forest I've ever seen - thick, green and so lush. It was a beautiful day and by the time we reached the top a lot of the mist had cleared and we had the most amazing views of the statue and all of Rio - down to Guanamara Bay and across to Sugarloaf Mountain which is the other distinctive peak in Rio de Janeiro.  It was absolutely breathtaking.  After we'd taken a squillion photos, we sat and enjoyed a water and just admired then we got the tram back down again.  

Back in the car and we then had a tour around the city seeing the Sambrodrome where the famous Rio Carnivale parade is held, the Maracana which is the massive football stadium and then we stopped at the Metropolitan Cathedral - shaped a bit like a huge pyramid with its bell tower standing separately by its side.  The four colossal stained glass panels inside were so so beautiful.  We then came back to Copacabana beach area where we were to have lunch.  But first we had a little walk up a side street and Nenad pointed out the studio where the bossa nova originated and which still features samba and bosa nova music nightly.  There was also a music shop there with all sorts of instruments, memorabilia, as well as CDs and music books.  Then it was time for lunch at a Brazilian Restaurant  - Churrascaria Palace.  There was a fantastic buffet with seafoods and salads and then once you're seated they come round with all the various different type of meats which have been cooked on massive skewers and the waiters come round the tables offering you a piece of the various meats - there was beef of different cuts and flavours, lamb, chicken, sausages, pork.  What a feast and so delicious and mouthwatering.  By the time we were finished we were so full we could hardly move.  Back in the car and now we headed to the base of Sugarloaf where a cable car takes you to the top of first one peak then the other.  Along the way we saw the Municipal Theatre, the National Library, and National Museum of Fine Arts - all such wonderful architecture.  The city is a mix of traditional buildings built in the Portuguese style and modern stylish architecture. We parked at the base of Sugarloaf and had a quick look at Red Beach then we caught the cable car.  The mist was well and truly swirling by now and we even had a quick shower of rain but the views once again were spectacular and we felt that we'd seen Rio with all her faces on - sunny, rainy, stormy, misty. We had a lovely wander round the top of the mountain where there are lots of little paths and walkways through the rainforest which grows there.  Back down to the car again and a drive through Urca area back to Copacabana and our hotel.  It had been a huge day as we'd been able to see so much but what an amazing place - it has the most wonderful atmosphere and is so diverse.  

Nenad found out where the ATM was locally and took us there and then farewelled us till Saturday when he'll pick us up to take us to the airport.  He had told us that the sunset from our hotel rooftop bar would be nice so we dropped our gear in our room and headed up there.  It was a lovely bar with brilliant views over the whole of Copacabana beach so we had a couple of drinks and got a few pics of the sunset and got chatting to an English couple.  We decided to walk along the beach and go back and check out the bossa nova studio we'd been at earlier in the day.  But first we took up Nenad's suggestion of having a drink at the Copacabana Palace - an iconic hotel and one of the first in the area.  We enjoyed a drink - mojito for me - nearly as good as in Cuba! in the bar which is by the side of a gorgeous pool area.  Then we headed to Little Studio where we heard a girl sing with a truly amazing voice and it was a great atmosphere in this tiny recording studio - all painted black with the sound baffles on the ceiling.  It had been a big day and by this time we were definitely flagging and we decided that we didn't need any food - we were still full from lunch - so we wandered back along the street to our hotel and off to bed.  What a day - what a city!