Rio de Janeiro
This morning, we entered the spectacular Baía de Guanabara, which holds the port of Rio de Janeiro. The city sits at the foot of an impressive group of stone monoliths, including Sugar Loaf and Corcovado, created by a very resistant granitic gneiss which weathers into and gigantic, smooth-sided, cream-colored peaks which rise behind the high rise buildings of this lively metropolis. We divided into three groups. One visited the Rico de Corcovado and the statue of Christ the Redeemer. A second groupdrove along the coast to a reserve which protects some of the remaining populations of the Golden Lion Tamarind monkeys, endangered throughout their range due to deforestation. The third group toured the city by jeep. In the evening, we were treated to a wonderful churrascaria dinner which followed a demonstration of samba, Rio de Janeiro style. Although it was Halloween, the dancers were not dressed for that occasion (although it is difficult to imagine that the citizens of Rio would miss any excuse to dress in elaborate costumes). These dancers don these costumes through out the year to perform the samba, the national dance of Brazil. As the evening progressed, most of the guests from the National Geographic Endeavour joined the dancers in an energetic display of flesh and aerobic talent. We returned to the ship sated but energized, ready for a bit of sleep before beginning one of the several outings scheduled for the morning.
This morning, we entered the spectacular Baía de Guanabara, which holds the port of Rio de Janeiro. The city sits at the foot of an impressive group of stone monoliths, including Sugar Loaf and Corcovado, created by a very resistant granitic gneiss which weathers into and gigantic, smooth-sided, cream-colored peaks which rise behind the high rise buildings of this lively metropolis. We divided into three groups. One visited the Rico de Corcovado and the statue of Christ the Redeemer. A second groupdrove along the coast to a reserve which protects some of the remaining populations of the Golden Lion Tamarind monkeys, endangered throughout their range due to deforestation. The third group toured the city by jeep. In the evening, we were treated to a wonderful churrascaria dinner which followed a demonstration of samba, Rio de Janeiro style. Although it was Halloween, the dancers were not dressed for that occasion (although it is difficult to imagine that the citizens of Rio would miss any excuse to dress in elaborate costumes). These dancers don these costumes through out the year to perform the samba, the national dance of Brazil. As the evening progressed, most of the guests from the National Geographic Endeavour joined the dancers in an energetic display of flesh and aerobic talent. We returned to the ship sated but energized, ready for a bit of sleep before beginning one of the several outings scheduled for the morning.
