Marvelous City

From the Sugarloaf, Rio is undoubtedly a Marvelous City - a beautiful city (quote from lonely planet South America). In the morning, the sky was covered with thick clouds, so I planned to go to the museum, but towards Sugarloaf the view soon became clear and the blue sky peeked through more and more. However, the Christ statue on Corcovado was mostly shrouded in fog. Today, Christ does not spread his arms, at least he remains wrapped in a cloud. Why not take a ride on the old tram 'Bonde'. Along the way, I found the colorful staircase 'Escadario Selarón' by the Chilean artist of the same name - colorful and decorated with countless curious tiles. Seen from below, the color contrast increases even more: steps in yellow - bright red wall tiles.

I definitely wanted to find out if the whitewashed viaduct 'Arcos de Lapa' is still used by the Bonde, and finally arrived at the train station in the city center. You can't just get on. First line up - on Saturdays, the Cariocas (residents of Rio) also take such a fun trip with their families, plus student groups. Anyway, finally the ticket and then through the barrier, I wanted to energetically enter the car and received some laughter when I hit my head on the raised blind. always smile and I immediately made some Brazilian friends: where I come from and I was welcomed and bid farewell with a handshake. In the end, everyone moves closer together, there was also a big hello when the conductor directed the last arriving girls to the seats that were 'free' on the wooden benches. The atmosphere was really good as it went over the viaduct at dizzying heights. The people below were greeted loudly and wildly waved. From the previous day, I knew the exact route and how the turning maneuver works up in Santa Teresa: everyone gets off, then the seat backs are simply tilted to the other side, thanks to a ingenious mechanism. The current collector is also swung 180° with a rope and reattached. everything back on board - for those who want to go back down immediately and off we go at full speed through the narrow streets.

Walk to the Sugarloaf: it can't be that far, according to the motto 'the journey is the destination' - well, it was. I was very thirsty, so I preferred to have a drink downstairs - and unexpectedly I arrived at a stand of craft brewers with a lot of humor and perfectly tempered specialty beers at a small market at the roundabout at the base station of the cable car. The medieval show with knight armor and the employee dressed as a hobbit were really not necessary. My skeptical look was immediately appeased with small sample beakers. So first try all the beers and listen to the brewer's explanations? I shortened the procedure and decided on a Czech Lager. Life story and brewery data were added when I asked expertly.

On the Sugarloaf itself there was a lot going on and suddenly you understand the special charm of Rio. From this ordinary rock shaped like a sugarloaf, you can perceive everything at once in 3D. Anyone who has ever prepared or watched a Feuerzangenbowle knows why the strange rock is called that: how inappropriate the English, Spanish or Portuguese names are in comparison - Sugar loaf - Pan - hä?

From the top, you can see both the expansive Copacabana and the northern beaches like Flamengo and can capture this wonderful city and the various mountain ranges with dense vegetation all at once. But I almost missed the highlight: a terrace-like small rainforest on the not-so-steep northeastern slope of the summit, which offers many different views and pleasant shade with beautifully designed stairs. Because as the sun burns down, it suddenly became clear to me - thankfully, some sun protection applied. Flora and fauna are diverse: lush green everywhere and then the tamarin monkeys, who are referred to as an invasive species just because they have a migration background - feeding them strictly prohibited. But they are curious and amusing creatures!