January 21, 2006
We have arrived in Rio and are awaiting the arrival of Steve and Freddie Rice. It is a beautiful harbor…almost as picturesque as Vancouver, BC. We have a crew only open-Jeep tour to Tijuca Forest this afternoon from 1300-1700 which is the world’s largest urban forest, reportedly with a beautiful waterfall, tropical animals, monkeys, sloths, and exotic birds. Will let you know more after the trip. Am getting to know a number of patients on a first name basis…I do enjoy the continuity of shipboard primary care and so far, no one has required disembarkation. Problems are mostly urgent care with a fair amount of surveillance paper work necessary to satisfy the local authorities in each port. Cindy, Lito, and Micheline have been very patient with my tutelage. How are things back in the USA?? All our love!
Carter
Today we reached Rio de Janeiro. Once we were off the ship we went to catch a jeep that was going to take us on a tour of the rainforest. The rainforest was so beautiful everything was green; all the different kinds of trees were amazing to look at. We also saw a huge waterfall that was coming down the mountain. I took some picture of the waterfall. We also saw a group of raccoon near the garbage can and I took some pictures of them. The raccoons were coming up to me and others thinking we had food. It was cool to see them up so close. The people seem to be very nice here also. While we were coming down from the mountain we saw bunch of beaches full of people, never seen beaches so full of people as these ones. By far from all the places I have see on this trip this place is the most beautiful and exciting city that I would want to come back to.
Until next time always,
Alemitu
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January 21, 2006
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is the capital of Rio de Janeiro state, in southeast Brazil, on Guanabara Bay of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the second largest city and former capital of Brazil, as well as the cultural center of the country and a financial, commercial, communications, and transportation hub. It has an international airport and a subway. The area where Rio de Janeiro is now was reached by Portuguese explorers in an expedition led by Italian Amerigo Vespucci in January of 1501. Since the Europeans thought at first the Bay of Guanabara was actually the mouth of a river, they called it “Rio de Janeiro”, which means January River. In 1555 the French Huguenots established a colony, but the Governor General of the Portuguese colony of Brazil drove them out between 1560 and 1565. The city was not founded until March 1st, 1565 by Portuguese knight Estácio de Sá, who called it São Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro (San Sebastian of the January River), in honor of then King Sebastian I of Portugal. For centuries, the settlement was commonly called São Sebastião, even St. Sebastian, instead of the currently popular, second half of its name. Pirates and privateers, especially by then enemies of Portugal, such as the Netherlands and France, frequently attacked it. In the late 16th century, the Portuguese crown began treating the village as strategic location for Atlantic transit of ships between Brazil, the African colonies and Europe. Fortresses were built and an alliance was formed with nearby native tribes to defend the settlement against invaders. The exact place of Rio’s foundation is at the feet of now world famous Sugar Loaf Mountain. Later, the whole city was moved on top of a hill, imitating the medieval European strategy of defense of fortified castles; the place was since then called Morro do Castelo (Castle Hill). Until early 18th century, the city was threatened and invaded by several pirates and buccaneers, such as Jean-Francois Duclerc, René Duguay-Trouin, and Nicolas de Villegaignon. The settlement was actually captured and held for ransom by the French in 1711.After 1720, when the Portuguese found gold and diamonds in the neighbor captaincy of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro became much more useful port to transport out the wealth than farther Salvador. In 1763, the colonial administration in Portuguese America was moved to Rio. The city remained mostly a colonial capital until 1808, when the Portuguese Royal Family and most of the Lisbon nobles, fleeing from Napoleon’s invasion of Portugal, moved in. The kingdom’s capital was transferred to Rio, which then became the only European capital outside of Europe. Since there was no physical space or urban structure to accommodate hundreds of noblemen who arrived suddenly, many inhabitants were simply evicted from their homes. modern day history
When Prince Pedro proclaimed the independence of Brazil in 1822, he decided to keep Rio de Janeiro as the capital of his new empire, yet the city region was losing economic and political importance to São Paulo. Rio was maintained as the Brazilian capital after the military overthrew the monarchy and imposed a republic in 1889; however, plans for moving the nation’s seat city to the territorial center were considered, until president Juscelino Kubitschek was elected in 1955 and took office in 1956 with a promise to build a new capital. Though many thought it was campaign rhetoric, Kubitschek managed to have Brasi¬lia built by 1960, at great cost. On April 21st, 1960, the capital of Brazil was officially moved from Rio to Brasi¬lia.
city districts
The city is commonly divided into the historic downtown (Centro); the tourist-friendly South Zone, with world-famous beaches; the industrial North Zone; and the West Zone, home to the newer Barra da Tijuca region.
centro
Centro is the historic downtown of the city. Sites of interest include both the historic Church of the Candelaria and the modern-style cathedral, the Municipal Theater, and several museums. Centro remains the heart of the city’s business community.
south zone
South Zone is famous for its scenery: Copacabana beach boasts one of the world’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve parties; Sugar Loaf Mountain, whose name characterizes the famous hump rising out of the sea; Corcovado Mountain, with an incredible view of the city; and Topsail Rock, the tallest mountain in the city at 842 meters.
posted by Hills @ 10:16 AM
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