The Hunt for Jesus.....Rio de Janeiro

Rio was hands down a LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE. I am the luckiest person EVER. I saw one of the seven wonders of the world....for free. While on the ship, I can sign up to be a tour escort for the tours they provide the guests. All I have to do is make sure everyone gets on and off the bus ok and then I am free to enjoy the tour like everyone else! UNREAL.
Our day started off in the city. We drove around and stopped at a large cathedral where our tour guide, Fernando, said thousands gather for mass. Fernando said that Brazil is mostly Catholic so there were beautiful churches everywhere. I fell in love with the buildings, the Opera house, the political houses, everything was so detailed and amazing. After the church we drove up to Sugarloaf Mountain, named because of its shapely resemblance to a sugarloaf. (Fernando's words because I have NO IDEA what a sugarloaf is ;) On the way we passed a gorgeous house, well mansion, that used to be home to Princess Isabel. Brazil was the last country to free its slaves and Princess Isabel was the saint who freed them. There were statues all around the city in her honor. WOMAN POWER!!!!! We also passed stadiums that were home to the professional soccer (or football) teams. I wish I could see a game while I'm here but they are usually at night and by then we are sailing away. We headed along Copacabana beach, and of course I sang the song the whole way :D. One of my Brazilian friends told me that Madonna will be playing a free concert there for New Years! Wish we were there for that lol! Finally, we reached Sugaloaf Mountain and rode several cable cars to reach the top. It was so misty that you couldn't see the end of your cable or the ground! Very scary experience!
After Sugarloaf we went to lunch at a popular Brazilian BBQ/ steakhouse. I enjoyed the salad bar :D. I had a fruity ice cream for desert that was AMAZING!!!!!!! Ugh, I will miss that!!!! I was talking to one of the guests on the tour and we came to find out that we were both from Colorado! In fact, he lived on 64th and Sheridan and moved to Oregon ten years before I was even born! What are the chances!?!?! I think I will forever remember that I met a fellow Colorado-ian in Brazil. WOW.
Then it was time for the highlight of the tour. The trek up the mountain to Jesus included a steep train ride and multiple stairs, we were that high up. It was huge, I literally had to lay on the ground to see the whole thing! We were told that it was sculpted all over the world, the head alone came in 124 pieces from France. That is one big puzzle! :o The mist was beginning to clear as we got up there and I got some incredible pictures :D I started playing with my panoramic mode on my camera which is so freakin SWEET!!!!! The view below was breathtaking. My friend Brian had to hold my hand because he is afraid of heights and his knees became weak as we were looking down. We were on top of the world, at Jesus's feet. Unbelievable.
So I can now officially cross off one of the wonders of the world, and start on getting to the next one! My bucket list seems to grow the more I learn about other cultures and the entire world that I still have to see!!!!!!!!!! I am so blessed to have this opportunity. I am trying my best to soak in everyday and not take anything for granted because even though I am in the tourist areas that are really nice and everthing is awesome, we still see the poverty and the beggars along the street. I know that I have a wonderful life and I hope that one day, I can help people have a better life too.
I hope everyone is enjoying themselves, its nearly Christmas time and I wish I could be home for the holidays!
Love you all,
Shannon <3