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SUGAR LOAF



The Portuguese christened it, the French fought and lost for it and the Brazilians love it.  Apparently, this barren mountain, about 400 meters tall and made up of quartz and granite is believed to be about 600 million years old. There are a few places in Rio whose names are almost synonymous with the city itself. The Sugar Loaf (Pao de Acucar),  situated right at the mouth of the Guanabara Bay at the Urca district of Rio, is one of these. 

With an interesting name, credited to the originality of the Portuguese of the 16th century (due to its resemblance with the traditional sugar loaf), the mountain finds itself in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. Extensively popular due to its deep historical and cultural significance, international movies shot here, the cable cars and the exquisite Brazilian sunset moments, the Sugar Loaf mountain, along with  the shorter peak Morro da Urca represents the Rio sentiments to it's core.  Two cable car systems help the  tourists to reach the peak. The first cable car ascends to Morro da Urca from the base Morro da Babilonia and the second connects to the peak of Pao de Acucar. 

The view  of Rio and it's twin City Niteroi from the top of this mountain is breathtaking, to say the least, especially during the sunset of a cloudless day. Christ the Redeemer, standing majestically on the Corcovado mountain, gets lighted up in the backdrop of the deep crimson sky and the famous coastline including the likes of Copacabana and Ipanema gets charged up with the evening energy. Flights from the Rio airport fly close to the Christ and lighted up ships sail through the Guanabara bay. It's like experiencing Rio de Janeiro at its best - energetic, magnificent, rugged and musical....all at the same time.

The place is easily reachable from anywhere in Rio. While taxis are effective to reach this location from any part of the city, those interested to experience public modes of transport can try Metro lines 1 and bus number 107 or 582 from the Centro along with a bit of walking.

 I haven't been exactly a tourist in Brazil, but the few times I visited Brazil on work, I always experienced the same sentiment - that life should be and can be fun...always. And few hours on the top of the Sugar Loaf after a Brazilian day at work just reminded me the same...once again.






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