Botanic Garden & Going Home 植物园与回家了
September 2, 2025
Today marked the final day of our,……
今天是我们布宜诺斯艾利斯、。。。
September 2, 2025
Today marked the final day of our, Buenos Aires, Iguazú Falls and Rio journey. Since our flight was not until the evening, we still had a full day to explore. Believe it or not, during the entire trip we had never sat down for a proper breakfast in a restaurant. We decided to change that this morning and stopped by a local spot on the way to the Rio Botanical Garden. The western-style breakfast was filling, though not particularly Brazilian in flavor.
At the Botanical Garden, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the marvelous and biodiverse grounds. Lush greenery surrounded us, jackfruit hung from the trees, and playful monkeys caught much of our attention. We lingered there longer than expected, soaking up the peaceful atmosphere, and had a delightful lunch right inside the garden before wrapping up our visit.
In the afternoon, it was time to head to the airport. We spent a couple of comfortable hours at the Priority Pass Lounge before boarding our overnight flight. By morning, we landed in Atlanta, where we checked into the Delta Sky Club with our travel companions while waiting for our connecting flight to Phoenix. In the lounge, we improvised a little birthday cake and even sang a birthday song for one of our friends—a cheerful and heartfelt way to close the journey.
What a fitting end to this trip: beautiful gardens, shared laughter, and memories to carry home.
二零二五年九月二日
今天是我们布宜诺斯艾利斯、伊瓜苏瀑布和里约热内卢之旅的最后一天。由于航班在晚上才起飞，我们依然有大半天的时间可以探索。在整个旅程中，我们还没在餐厅里正式吃过早餐。于是今天早上，我们决定打破惯例，在前往里约植物园的路上，在一家当地餐馆享用了一顿早餐。虽然是西式风味，分量充足，但并没有多少巴西特色。
在植物园里，郁郁葱葱的绿意环绕四周，树上挂满了菠萝蜜，而顽皮的小猴子更是吸引了大家的目光。我们悠闲地漫步在充满奇妙与生物多样性的园区中。最后还在园区内的餐厅享用了一顿惬意的午餐，才依依不舍地离开。
回到住处打包收拾行李，预定的出租车准时来接我们前往机场。在候机的几个小时里，我们在 Priority Pass 贵宾休息室里舒适地度过。在飞机上好好睡了一觉，夜航班清晨抵达亚特兰大，我们和同行伙伴们一起进入达美航空Sky Club，在那里等待转机前往凤凰城。在休息室里，得知今天正好是其中一位朋友的生日，我们搞了一份小小的生日蛋糕，还为朋友唱起了生日歌——温馨而欢乐的时光，让我们的四国之行有一个完美的结局。同时为我们自己还能像以前一样在外折腾而欣慰。
Christ the Redeemer 基督像
September 1, 2025
Christ the Redeemer is the most iconic landmark in Rio de Janeiro. …...
基督像是里约热内卢最具代表性的地标。。。
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。
Sugar Loaf Mountain and Sunset Cruise 面包山与日落游船
August 31，2025
After a healthy breakfast in our rental unit, we set out early,……
在租住公寓享用了一顿健康的早餐后，。。。
August 31，2025
After a healthy breakfast in our rental unit, we set out early, catching the Metro and then walking about 30 minutes to the Sugar Loaf Mountain cable station. Thanks to the early start, we avoided the crowds and easily boarded the two connecting cable cars. At the summit, the view was simply breathtaking—sweeping 360-degree panoramas of sea, city, and steep green peaks blended together to form one of the most striking urban landscapes in the world.
We spent a couple of hours strolling around the top before descending to the middle station. Instead of continuing down by cable car, we chose to hike through the dense forest trail. Along the way, we were lucky to spot small monkeys darting among the trees. At the base, we eyed a popular beachfront restaurant near Sugar Loaf, but the wait was over an hour. Instead, we called an Uber to Café Marinas, our next scheduled stop. There we found an Argentinian steakhouse—one of Michael’s recommendations—and enjoyed a relaxed lunch outdoors. The food was delicious, and we savored the flavors of Argentina one more time while soaking in the perfect weather.
In the afternoon, we walked to the nearby dock for our 4:00 pm sunset cruise. Although the sun was a little shy, hiding behind the clouds, the scenery was still magnificent. As the boat glided along Guanabara Bay, we passed striking landmarks such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the futuristic Museum of Tomorrow, and a small white seaside church beloved by us.
For dinner, we treated ourselves to Giuseppe Grill Leblon, a high-end Brazilian steakhouse. The service was impeccable, though the food itself did not quite meet our expectations.
Overall, it was a wonderful day in Rio—soaking up the spectacular views from Sugar Loaf Mountain, admiring the city from the water on a scenic cruise through Guanabara Bay, and ending with a taste of Brazil’s upscale dining scene.
二零二五年八月三十一日
在租住公寓享用了一顿健康的早餐后，我们早早出发，乘坐地铁再步行约 30 分钟，来到面包山 (Sugar Loaf Mountain) 的缆车站。我们提前在网上买好了票，由于时间尚早，没有任何排队。顺利乘了两段缆车登顶之后，眼前的景色令人屏息——360 度全景尽收眼底：大海、沙滩，城市与陡峭的青翠山峰交织在一起，构成了一幅壮丽的景观。
我们在山顶悠闲漫步了两个多小时，随后坐一程缆车下到中途站，没有继续乘第二程缆车，而是选择徒步穿行在茂密的森林小径中下山。一路上幸运地遇见了几只在树间跳跃的小猴子。抵达山脚后，来到我们之前看中的一家临海餐厅，但等位时间要超过一小时，于是改叫 Uber 前往下一个目的地 —— Café Marinas。在那里，我们发现了一家阿根廷牛排馆，这是家米其林推荐的餐厅。因为晚上要吃大餐，中午我们就以素食为主，当然既然坐在牛排馆，阿根廷烤肉还是要来一点的。我们坐在户外，享用正宗的阿根廷美食，再次沉浸于完美的天气之中。
饭后我们步行至附近码头，参加下午四点的日落游船。虽然太阳有些害羞，时常躲在云层里，但景色依然很美。游船缓缓驶在瓜纳巴拉湾 (Guanabara Bay)，沿途经过当代艺术博物馆、充满未来感的明日博物馆，以及一座小巧洁白的海边教堂。
晚餐我们来到位于 Leblon 的 Giuseppe Grill，这是一家高档巴西牛排馆。来之前期望很高，但也许是这些天来阿根廷烤肉吃多了，今晚的大餐虽然服务无可挑剔，但食物本身并没有让我们十分惊艳。
总体而言，今天在里约度过了美好的一天 —— 登顶面包山欣赏壮丽景色，在瓜纳巴拉湾乘船领略城市风光，并体验了巴西高端餐厅的风味。
Rio de Janeiro 里约热内卢
August 29，2025
On the Brazil side, we stayed near the border,……
在伊瓜苏巴西一侧，我们的旅馆离边境很近，。。。
August 29，2025
On the Brazil side, we stayed near the border, far from the town of Foz do Iguaçu and any commercial district. After returning from the park last night, we ordered home delivery from a Japanese restaurant. The food was decent. This morning, we had breakfast at the hotel. The property was simple: rooms on the second floor, with an open parking garage and a small sitting area below. Our host, who lived in the same compound, was very kind and welcoming.
After check-out, our Brazil driver picked us up and took us to the airport. We arrived a few hours early and were pleasantly surprised to find a comfortable Priority Pass lounge. Since both of us had membership, we could treat our friends as guests. Even better, we discovered a small private room that fit all six of us—perfect for chatting in Chinese without disturbing anyone.
Looking back, our visit to Iguazú Falls was flawless: perfect weather, perfect scenery, and perfect car service.
Upon arrival in Rio de Janeiro, we met a representative from the transfer company we hired from booking.com at the exit. She led us to a waiting area where our hired van pulled up. Because there was no space inside for luggage, the driver secured our bags on the roof rack. Soon we were on our way to our Airbnb in Leblon.
Not long after departing, the driver pulled into a fuel station and asked us all to step out. A worker opened the front hood to fill the car with ethanol gas. Although he could have refueled before picking us up, we didn’t mind—this small moment gave us a glimpse into everyday life in Brazil. The rest of the ride was smooth. Despite our giving him the wrong street number, the driver went out of his way to ensure we were dropped off at the correct address.
Our Airbnb unit was on the ninth floor. After settling in, we headed next door to an Italian restaurant for dinner. We indulged in hearty Italian cuisine—though still no pizza.
August 30，2025
We joined a “free” walking tour of the historic center of Rio de Janeiro. Taking Metro Lines 4/1, we got off at Carioca Station, where the meeting point was just a short walk away. Our first impressions of the city were positive: the subway was clean and comfortable, and the streets were tidy and inviting.
The guide led us through several city blocks, with the tour ending at the grand Municipal Theater. Along the way, we picked up small but memorable facts—for example, “Carioca” means people from Rio. The guide also planted seeds for a future visit, such as recommending Café Colombo, considered one of the best cafés in the world.
After the tour, we treated ourselves to a cozy Brazilian restaurant, where we enjoyed several delicious local dishes. Energized, we continued on foot to our next destination: Rio de Janeiro Cathedral. While its pyramid-like exterior might appear “ugly” to some, the vast interior space, flooded with colorful stained light, was both powerful and inspiring.
From there, it was only a short walk to the Escadaria Selarón. This iconic staircase, decorated with a kaleidoscope of ceramic tiles from around the world, was buzzing with visitors snapping photos. It was easy to see why it’s one of Rio’s most beloved landmarks.
Later, we hopped back on the metro and headed to Leblon Beach. There we indulged in simple pleasures: people-watching, sipping fresh coconut water, coffee, and beer with the sound of the waves as our backdrop.
As evening settled in, we strolled back to our rental unit. For supper, we finally gave in to a supermarket pizza—a playful “broken promise,” since we had resisted pizza until now. Locals would have paired it with a bottle of wine, but for us it was just a light, easy meal.
We called it a day—a very good day. Rio had left us with a warm and lasting first impression.
二零二五年八月二十九日
在伊瓜苏巴西一侧，我们的旅馆离边境很近，开车没几分钟就到了，但离伊瓜苏市 (Foz do Iguaçu) 的市区和商业区还是有点距离。旅馆很简朴，有点像中国的农家乐。十几个客房在二楼，一楼是开放式停车场，一个小小的休息区和早餐厅。女主人非常热情，她就住在同一处院落里。昨晚从公园回来后，考虑到不想天黑在外面走，在女主人的推荐和帮助下我们点了一家日本餐厅的外卖，味道还算可以。今天早晨，女主人亲自下厨为客人们准备了早餐。我们今天不赶路，大家终于可以多睡会儿再好好吃顿早餐。
退房后，包车司机来接我们去机场。我们提前几小时抵达，惊喜地发现机场里有一家舒适的 Priority Pass 贵宾室。因为我们两人都持有会员卡，能带朋友一起进入。更巧的是，我们找到了一间可以容纳六个人的小房间，这样大家就能自在地用中文聊天而不用担心打扰别的客人。吃饱喝足上飞机，下一站里约热内卢。
回想起这次伊瓜苏大瀑布的旅程，真是完美：完美的天气，完美的环境，完美的接送服务。
飞机抵达里约热内卢后，我们在出口处遇到接送公司的工作人员。她带我们到等候区，我们通过 booking.com 预订的面包车很快就开了过来。因为车内没有放置行李的空间，司机把六个行李箱固定在车顶的行李架上。这让我们想起今年上半年在印度也有一次类似的经历。
车子往里约热内卢市区方向开去。没过多久，司机转进一家加油站，让我们先下车。一名工作人员打开车头盖，开始往车里灌注乙醇燃料。虽然他完全可以在来接我们之前就加好油，但这小小的插曲也让我们多了一份了解巴西日常生活的机会。之后的路程十分顺利。尽管我们在预订车时填错了门牌号，司机依然尽心确保把我们送到正确的地址。
我们的 Airbnb 公寓在莱布隆 (Leblon) 区，公寓在九楼，楼下有保安。安顿好之后，我们就去了楼下旁边的一家意大利餐厅享用晚餐。餐点丰盛美味，因为还在为前些天在布宜诺斯艾利斯的最后一顿披萨耿耿于怀，虽在意大利饭店，今晚依然没有点披萨。晚餐后我们走去附近一家超市买了各种水果。
二零二五年八月三十日
来巴西之前就一直听说这里治安不好，曾来过这里的好友也一再提醒要我们注意安全，保护好自己的随身物品。我们把Airbnb选择在莱布隆（Leblon)区也是出于对安全的考虑。另外我们决定在里约热内卢不坐公交车，而是坐地铁或Uber。
今天早上我们参加了一场里约热内卢历史中心的“免费”徒步游。乘坐地铁 4/1 号线，在 Carioca 站下车，集合点离地铁站不远。对这座城市的第一印象十分美好：地铁干净舒适，街道整洁宜人。
参加徒步游的人不少，大家来自世界各地。分成英语，葡萄牙语和西班牙语三组。导游带领我们穿过几条街区，讲述了许多关于城市的历史。途中我们也学到了一些有趣的知识，比如“Carioca”指的是里约人；她还让我们为未来几天的行程种了草——推荐了被誉为“世界上最好的咖啡馆”之一的科伦坡咖啡馆 (Café Colombo)。徒步行在宏伟的市政剧院 (Theatro Municipal) 前结束。
行程结束后，我们在附近找了一家温馨的巴西餐厅，点了几道地道的巴西菜，味道令人十分满足。随后我们步行前往下一个目的地——里约热内卢大教堂 (Catedral Metropolitana)。这座教堂的外观造型很独特，在一些人眼里或许很“丑陋”，但内部设计却极具震撼力，彩色玻璃透入的光线让整个空间显得很庄严。
接着我们继续步行来到塞拉隆台阶 (Escadaria Selarón)。这座由五彩瓷砖拼贴装饰的台阶，是里约热内卢最受欢迎的景点之一。到处都是游客拍照留念，热闹非凡，也难怪它会成为这座城市的地标。
下午，我们再次搭乘地铁前往莱布隆海滩 (Leblon Beach)。在海边，我们享受着最简单的乐趣：听着海浪的声音，看人来人往，喝新鲜的椰子汁、咖啡和啤酒，格外惬意。
傍晚时分，我们悠闲地散步回到住宿。晚餐就随意在超市买了二个现烤的披萨——算是一个“小小的破戒”，因为我们之前一直坚持不点披萨。当地人通常会配上一瓶红酒，而我们则以这份简单的餐食轻松结束一天。
Iguaçu Falls & Paraguay 巴西伊瓜苏瀑布与巴拉圭
August 28，2025
This morning we said goodbye to Argentina……
今天我们与阿根廷道别。。。
August 28，2025
This morning we said goodbye to Argentina. Our Argentine driver picked us up at 8:00 a.m. and drove us to the border. At the Argentine customs, we met our Brazilian driver who guided us through the exit process. There was no queue and the whole procedure took just five minutes, although we noticed a long line of cars and taxis waiting to cross. Once cleared, we transferred our luggage into a van and drove toward the Brazilian side. There, we had to step out and enter the customs building to get our passports stamped. Again, the process was quick and painless.
Afterward, we dropped our bags at our hotel near the border before heading directly to Iguaçu National Park on the Brazilian side. Being among the first tourists to enter, we boarded the park bus and rode to the trailhead.
The view was absolutely breathtaking. A massive wall of waterfalls stretched before us, roaring with energy. As we walked along the trail toward the platform extending to the Devil’s Throat viewpoint, rainbows arched above the mist and the spray soaked us through. Watching speedboats dart into the thundering falls, just as we had the day before, only heightened the drama.
No words could truly capture the experience of seeing so many cascades and rainbows all in one place—it was unforgettable.
After the hike, we settled for a simple lunch of fish and chips on a terrace with a distant view of the falls. The Brazilian park is much smaller than the Argentine side, and most visitors can explore it comfortably in three to four hours.
At 1:30 p.m., our driver returned to take us across yet another border—into Paraguay. Once we realized Paraguay was just a bridge away, we had contacted Iguazufalls.Travel to add it to our itinerary. Because of the country’s low sales taxes, many Brazilians cross over to shop in modern malls near the border. With an open day-trip policy, our driver simply drove us across the congested bridge without customs checks.
Instead of shopping, we continued 15 kilometers inland to visit Monday Falls. Although marvelous in its own right—comparable perhaps to Huangguoshu Waterfall (黄果树大瀑布) in China—it felt like a miniature compared to the grandeur of Iguazú. Still, the peaceful park, nearly empty of tourists, gave us time to enjoy the cascades at our own pace.
On the way back, we stopped at a shopping mall for local ice cream, beer, and coffee, celebrating the thrill of adding a new country to our journey.
二零二五年八月二十八日
今天我们与阿根廷道别。在旅馆吃了早餐，八点司机准时来接，送我们到边境。我们选用的包车公司阿根廷和巴西二边的服务真是无缝衔接。公司在巴西的包车司机在阿根廷海关迎接我们，他详细告知我们如何办理出境手续。因为我们是包车，几乎没有排队，仅五分钟就完成过境。但我们看到自驾车和出租车过境却排起了长队。
换上巴西司机的车后，我们过桥进入巴西一侧，美国公民进巴西需要提前申请签证。下车进海关盖上入境章，手续同样简便顺利。接着先把行李放到今晚入住的旅馆，然后司机载着我们直奔巴西一侧的伊瓜苏国家公园。
我们是最早入园的一批游客，搭上公园的双层巴士来到步道口。巨大的瀑布群扑面而来，轰鸣如雷，水雾弥漫。沿着步道走到魔鬼喉观景平台，眼前是汹涌的水流和缤纷的彩虹。由于步道修建得极其接近瀑布，我们全身湿透，但这种“身临其境”的体验非常震撼无以言表。瀑布与彩虹交织的画面，令人屏息，永远留在记忆中。
结束徒步后，我们在瀑布上面的露台上享用简单的炸鱼，炸鸡和薯条午餐，远眺瀑布。相比阿根廷一侧，巴西公园面积更小，通常三到四小时就能游览完毕。
下午一点半，司机再次来接我们，载着我们跨过另一条国界——进入巴拉圭。前几天得知它只隔一座大桥，我们临时决定增加这一站。这又是包车的好处，包车公司可以按照我们的要求随时作调整。司机告诉我们巴拉圭这里因低税率而成为巴西人的购物天堂，边境一带遍布现代化商场。一日游开放政策两岸人员自由来往，无需通关。
到达巴拉圭后，我们没有停留购物，而是驱车15 公里前往“星期一瀑布”。瀑布本身壮丽，或许堪比中国的黄果树瀑布，但与伊瓜苏相比只能算“小字辈”。园区内游客稀少，几乎被我们“包场”，反而倍感惬意。
返程途中，我们决定在边境旁的巴拉圭商场小憩，尝了当地的冰淇淋、啤酒和咖啡，为旅途中意外多踏足一个新国家举杯庆祝。