Christ the Redeemer 基督像
September 1, 2025
Christ the Redeemer is the most iconic landmark in Rio de Janeiro. There are two main ways to reach the site: by funicular or by van. While riding the funicular would have been our preferred choice, it requires a 40-minute walk from the nearest metro station through unfamiliar streets. To avoid the extra walk, we opted for the official van service that picked us up directly at Botafogo Metro Station. After a short ride, we transferred to another van that carried us up the mountain to the monument.
Unfortunately, the weather was not very cooperative today. Clouds covered the sky and light rain came and went. At first, the statue was completely hidden in mist. But as luck has often been with us on this trip, the rain suddenly stopped and the clouds drifted away. Christ the Redeemer appeared dramatically before the cheering crowd—only to vanish again a few minutes later back into the mist, a truly mysterious sight.
After a short stroll through the small park at the summit, we descended by van back to the metro station and took the train to the city center for lunch at Café Colombo. Two days earlier we had seen long lines there, but this time we walked in without waiting. As Rio’s oldest café, it impressed us with its grand architecture and elegant interior. The food and drinks were satisfying, and the lively atmosphere was heightened by several birthday celebrations taking place around us.
In the afternoon we headed to the Museum of Tomorrow, where we spent a couple of hours exploring its creative exhibitions. The futuristic architecture of the building itself was a highlight. Plus, it was free for elders like us. Afterwards, we took an Uber to Ipanema and strolled along the beach, sipping fresh coconuts and soaking up the vibrant seaside vibe before dinner.
For our final meal in Rio, we wanted to show consideration for one of our travel companions who is vegetarian. She had graciously joined us at many meat-heavy restaurants throughout the trip, so we chose a vegan restaurant for the evening. It turned out to be an excellent choice—not just for her, but for everyone. The dishes were delicious and full of flavor.
Although the day began with rain, it ended as yet another memorable travel day filled with iconic scenery, rich culture, and great food.
二零二五年九月一日
基督像是里约热内卢最具代表性的地标。前往山顶有两种方式：乘坐登山小火车或开车。我们本来更想搭乘小火车，但从最近的地铁站走过去需要40分钟，而且路不熟。为了避免额外的步行，我们选择了官方面包车服务，在博塔弗戈 (Botafogo) 地铁站直接上车。短途行驶后，我们换乘另一辆面包车，才最终抵达山顶的纪念碑。
今天的天气并不太配合, 早上起来天空就一直布满乌云，时不时还飘着小雨。当我们到达山顶时，起初雕像完全隐没在浓雾之中。但幸运一如既往地伴随着我们的旅程，几分钟后雨突然停了，云层慢慢散开。基督像在欢呼的人群面前戏剧般地显现出来——不到一分钟又神秘地重新消失在雾气之中，场面奇妙而震撼。大家都不愿离开，眼看着基督像就这样云里雾里的忽隐忽现，那种感觉真的是很神奇。功夫不负有心人，我们居然等到被蓝天白云衬托着基督像。
在山顶待了近一小时后，我们乘面包车下山回到地铁站，再搭地铁前往市中心，在科伦布咖啡馆（Café Colombo) 用午餐。两天前我们路过时，这里排着长长的队等开门。今天我们运气好，竟能直接入座，并且正好还是六个人的大桌。作为里约最古老的咖啡馆，它以宏伟的建筑和华丽的内部装饰闻名，令人印象深刻。餐点和饮品也颇为可口，而热闹的气氛更因多场生日聚会而显得格外喜庆。
下午，我们前往明日博物馆 (Museum of Tomorrow)，花了两个小时参观创意十足的展览。未来感十足的建筑本身就是一大亮点，而且对我们这样的“长者”还是免费入场。之后我们叫了 Uber 去到伊帕内玛 (Ipanema)，沿着海滩散步，一边喝着新鲜的椰子水，一边感受充满活力的海边氛围。
在里约的最后一顿晚餐，我们特别为同行的一位素食伙伴挑选了一家素食店。从阿根廷到巴西，一路以来她都毫无怨言地陪我们大家在以肉食为主的饭店用餐，因此今晚我们大家决定陪她一起吃素食。结果证明这一选择非常明智——不仅仅是她，我们每一位都觉得菜肴非常美味可口，是一次很不错的体验。