Rio is all about the beach.

This is the view from the Sofitel pool area. Although the weather wasn't full on sunny, it was still beautiful.

This is from Copacabana Beach and the beach goes from where the photo is taken, to the buildings you can see across the water in the phot above this one. Sugar Loaf is in the background.

If you click on the photo above, you can see the enormity of a favella. It is home to 150,000 people.

These photos are from Ipanema Beach which is the best swimming beach. All along the beach front they have these numbered amenities. Number 9 is where all the glamours hang out, but Dave and I seemed to be the only ones there on that day.

On Sundays, they close of the entire roadway between Copacabana and Ipenema and people can just stroll back and forth. Safety first, as the driving is a bit chaotic. It really brings people out and makes a great use of the space and caters for the volume of beach goers when the weather is fine.

Bikinis, or DT's are a must regardless of age or size.

The Favellas are amazing they way they cling to the mountain side.