The Son and sun worship in Rio

The quest to discover all of Brazil's many facets continued in Rio, where the vibe was perhaps closer to what you would expect of a country famous for its beach party lifestyle. It felt like a city that had something to offer everybody, and where it is almost impossible not to have a great time.

Obviously, there are the beaches, where, if you are appropriately sculpted, there are plenty of opportunities to show off on the boardwalks or volleyball courts. Actually, that's about all you can do at the city's beaches, as the water was frigid, rough and not particularly clean, which was a bit of a disappointment but didn't stop me diving in after some sun-soaking on the sand. Then of course there's THE sculpture, Christ, who stands tall up on his hill, but looks rather diminutive and not at all worthy of his new status as a "wonder" of the world (which is thanks to a rather rigged national voting campaign in Brazil when the international poll was being held). To be fair, the view he has from high up above the city is impressive, especially so as we watched the sun set behind an intense lightning storm. Spectacular!

The city is surrounded by many of these strange mountainous outcroppings, and we cable-cared up the most famous of them, Sugarloaf Mountain, and hiked up another to an historic fort, both providing stunning vantages over the coastline and city tucked within. It is without question a scenic city.

And a fun one. At sunset, there were plenty of spots for beers by the water and/or cocktails in trendy suburbs high up looking out to the ocean. We experienced the famed samba street parties, drank shots of the local speciality liquor, cachaça, enjoyed late night live music (with paired tiramisu and prosecco), and ate some truly excellent food (with some welcome international offerings for a change). Whatever mood we were feeling, we were well catered for. Lazy mornings at local cafes, exploring museums, wandering markets, taking in a football game, or just chilling at home in our lovely, spacious apartment behind Ipanema beach. I could definitely get used to the Rio life.