Friday 11th December:

An early arrival in Rio, one of the most scenic locations anywhere in the world for a "sail-in". The first symbol of Brazil and Rio is Sugar Loaf Mountain, or Corcavado, a large finger of rock that dominates the entrance to Rio harbour. Christ the Redeemer, 710 metres above Rio stays elusively behind cloud, but is actually too far away to get a decent shot of. The temperature is 30 deg and the humidity is high as we take an afternoon stroll. We don't get very far, but we do visit the oldest church in Rio, Sao Borte which has an amazing baroque interior. The traffic is gridlocked, mainly due to the pre-Olympic works going on to install a new tram system. This runs along the dockside all the way into, and I guess through the city. Access to the port is chaotic, and I'm really not sure where taxis can park, let alone any coaches.

Lorna manages to Face Time both Lucy & Hanna. Martha still not too well but she manages a few "Grandads", and "Grandmas", and her usual wave. Evie is her usual sulky self, barely willing to say hello; words will have to be had on our return. Dinner in Red Ginger, an Asian fusion cuisine, which of course Lorna didn't enjoy, but I did, a nice change of flavour.