Perched on top of a mountain. Stands 98 feet tall. Largest Art Deco statue in the world. Symbol of Christianity.
I was too lazy to figure out how to get there. I’m blaming the gloomy weather! And it was already past 2pm when I left. I wanted to return before dusk, so I took an Uber, which I think is the fastest way (I definitely would’ve taken the train if the sun was present lol). The driver was kind enough to drive me up along the steep, winding road without any complaints, especially since he wouldn’t likely get any passengers back.
I was dropped off at the visitor centre, the furthest Uber/taxis/buses can go.
When I was buying a ticket, the guy pointed beside the counter— there was a live-streaming video from the top. I looked at it, and he asked, “You won’t see anything, you still want to buy a ticket?”. He wasn’t joking.
I knew exactly what I was getting. It was partly my fault. When I arrived the day before, the skies were blue, the sun was shining. But I was tired and stressed from crossing Peru to Brazil, so I decided to rest (check out Brazil blog for details lol). The following day (this day), unfortunately, the weather turned ugly. I can not just leave Rio without seeing Christ the Redeemer up close, so I still went up for it. It was the main reason why I traveled all the way to Brazil in the first place.
Going back… I proudly responded, “Yup, that’s fine.” He didn’t look pleased, as if he wanted to decide for me not to go. But eventually, he gave me a ticket. Lol!
From the visitor centre, you must take their shuttle, which will take you to the top (almost). That was another dose of steep, winding road! Lovet!
This short ride gave me time to think about my decisions in life.. I started to doubt myself. Lol! There was no sight of other tourists since I set foot on the mountain, I was the only one on the bus. I must be crazy for doing this! The church and the stores were already closed. The weather was getting worse. Thankfully, there are escalators and elevators, making it more convenient. Otherwise, you have to take 200+ steps. I wouldn’t mind taking the stairs, though, if the weather was nice.
As I reached the platform, signs of life finally came out.. they were busy taking pictures! They just happened to get there first!
It definitely wasn’t jam-packed as it usually is, if there was any consolation. Lol!
And there it is.. the iconic statue made of special concrete covered with millions of mosaic tiles! It was constructed in parts, transported up the mountain by railway, and assembled. Impressive! One interesting fact is that some workers who made these tiles wrote notes on the back. It is said that the idea for this Christ monument came from a group of Brazilians who feared a lack of religion after the church and state were separated. It was then built to strengthen faith.
This monolith rests at the highest point of the city, the Corcovado mountain, so sometimes, it can get foggy and hazy up there. Since the weather was already awful at that time, it amplified the eerie feeling. Lol! I can imagine soaking up the breathtaking panoramic views—the city of Rio de Janeiro, the Sugarloaf Mountain, and the Atlantic Ocean. But everything was a blur, and the rain began to pour.
I dashed to the visitor centre to connect to their WIFI to book an Uber. But it failed, I couldn’t connect! No taxis were available, and no other tourists left whom I could follow (they walked way too fast! Lol). I had no idea how to go back (I didn’t do my research). So I asked the shuttle drivers. Thankfully, there is a bus station further down. I started to walk. Looking a bit lost, a guy suddenly approached me and offered his car to take me anywhere. I didn’t want to judge, but I was pretty sure I would be ripped off. I politely declined (I didn’t even bother to ask the price). Then there was another guy. This time, he asked first where I was going. So I told him I needed the bus/shuttle to the nearest train station (there is a train station conveniently located near the hostel). As expected, he offered his car and charged 20 Reals. Since I was already tired, I accepted it. And voila, in a minute, we reached the bus stop! News Flash: The Uber earlier only cost 24 Reals! LOL!
If only I had little strength left on my first day in Rio, I could’ve seen the colossal statue in all its glory and the spectacular views from there. But being a Tita (an auntie lol), I badly needed to recharge. Oh well, at least I have a reason to go back 😊
I hope this gives an idea on how it looks like up there during a cloudy day so you can make an informed decision😅
