Redemption Time…

The time has come to share one of the most recognisable and great statues of the world with you.

Known to locals as the cidade maravilhosa, Rio de Janeiro certainly is a ‘marvellous city’, one of the finest I’ve had the privilege to visit. On the one side, it is a city of beaches, carnival and football but by way of contrast you have one third of the city's population living in poverty in the favelas (shantytowns), which line the hillsides of the city.

It is also home to the Christo Redentor, the Christ the Redeemer statue. Sat on top of a mountain 710 metres high overlooking the city, and standing another 30 metres high with its outstretched and welcoming arms, it truly is one of the great statues of the world.

I was a little wary about imitating this one for its religious connotations, Brazil claiming the largest catholic population in the world, but, you know, travelling half way across the world it would have been a little rude not to. A more pressing problem for me on the day was the serious upset stomach I had acquired from the night before. Within five minutes of taking this picture I was crouched over a toilet half way back down throwing my guts out in the 40 degree heat! Nice!

You probably didn’t need to know that…