A trip to Rio de Janeiro and Niterói took place three days after our arrival in São João del-Rei, where we stayed in a hotel located on Copacabana beach.  Upon our arrival, our Hotel gave us a complimentary tour of world-renowned jeweler H-Stern, to visit their showroom where magnificent hand-crafted jewelry is created with Brazilian stones.  That evening, the students had the opportunity to get acquainted with Brazilian fashion in the world-class Barra Shopping Center.

The next day, we visited one of Rio’s most famous landmarks, Sugar Loaf Mountain, to experience the magnificent views of Rio de Janeiro. From there, we went to Niterói to view and study the architecture of Oscar Niemeyer.  We visited the Contemporary Art Museum and the Restaurant Olimpo, where we had lunch. In addition to an excellent menu,the restaurant offered splendid views of the Bay of Guanabara and the surrounding mountains of Rio.

On our third day, we continued our study of Niemeyer’s architecture in the Cathedral of San Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro and the Sambodromo where the students, dressed in full-carnival regalia, had the opportunity to dance in the world’s greatest parade stadium. The fun had just started, when we stopped in at the famous stadium Maracanã to visit the Soccer Hall of Fame where the students photographed the footprints of Pelé, Garrincha, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and other soccer greats.  From the stadium, we went to Corcovado by way of Rio’s lush Tijuca Forest. This was a time to photograph the towering sculpture of Christ, The Redeemer. The views were just magnificent! At night, the students took time off to visit and shop in the tourist kiosks set in the marble-paved sidewalks designed by the famous landscape architect Burle Marx, a partner of Oscar Niemeyer.

 The next morning, the group headed off to sun bath on the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana and, in the afternoon, we headed back to São João del-Rei.