january-2012

TRAVEL BRAZIL
Rio’s
highpoints
Portuguese explorer
Gaspar de Lemos was the
fi rst European to feast his
eyes on what has been
called the world’s most
beautiful bay. With
complete lack of
imagination however, he
named it simply ‘January
River’ (later discovering
that it wasn’t even a river).
Few of the hundreds of
thousands of tourists who
ride the cable car up to
Pão de Açúcar or take a
‘pilgrimage’ up to visit
Christ the Redeemer on his
Corcovado mountain
crow’s-nest, would be so
devoid of inspiration. The
skyline of Rio is a sight
you will never forget. The
original inhabitants knew
the bay as Guanabara,
which is often translated
as ‘the bosom of the sea’.
They knew what they
were talking about.
54 Holland Herald
MAIN
The tranquil Santa
Teresa area is a
starting point for
many hikes;
TOP RIGHT
Mountains meet
the city; hiking in
Tijuca