It was strange for us to see the cashew as it comes from the tree. The top part is the nut and the bottom part is the cashew "apple". The apple is edible and has a sweet taste. More frequently, however, the apples are made into a juice drink. The shell around the nut has a toxic resin similar to poison ivy. The toxins are released when the nut is roasted.
Interesting vegetables were everywhere. One of the market workers found a comfortable place to take a break.
The chickens and duck were very fresh. Large piles of shrimp arrived daily from the local fishermen.
There was an abundance of fish at the market. Most were salted rather than refrigerated.
The Rio Negro Palace is one of the official residences of the Brazilian president. The downtown area was an interesting combination of modern new buildings and old traditional buildings.
This opera house was built during the 1880s with materials imported from Europe. Besides having its own philharmonic orchestra, the opera house has hosted famous opera stars and orchestras from around the world. It is considered a world class venue on the edge of the jungle.
We flew from Manaus to Rio de Janeiro. We stayed in the Sofitel Hotel with a wonderful view of Copacabana beach. We saw some amazing sunrises and enjoyed strolling along the beach after dinner.
The Corcovado Mountain was visible from everywhere in Rio. It was the first place in the city that we explored during our visit.
We rode to the top of the Corcovado Mountain in a cog train. The name Corcovado means hunchback in Portuguese. The mountain is 2,329 feet tall and is located in a national park called the Tijuca Forest.
One of the common trees on the mountain is in the mulberry family and has large fruit called jack fruit. The fruit can be up to 36 inches long with a weight up to 80 pounds.
At the top of the Corcovado Mountain is the 125 foot tall statue of Christ which took nine years to make. The monument first opened to the public in 1931.
It was interesting to note the spikes on the head to prevent pigeons from landing on the statue. We also noticed that the next hill over was the site of numerous broadcasting antennae.
