Ah Rio, what a magical and exotic town! While it is no longer the political capital, it is certainly the cultural capital, if not the manifestation of the Brazilian Id. There are beautiful beaches inhabited by the "Golden Youth" and more than a few nicely tanned oldsters, lively nightclubs, extravagant restaurants, and spectacular performances, the most notable being their famous carnival. We began the morning on deck to witness our arrival to this singular city. After breakfast, most of us went on the all day excursion to the nearby Tijuca Forest. No, not a nature preserve in the strict sense, but rather a gigantic urban park with 60 miles of narrow, winding blacktop through lush forest. Until the middle of the last century the Tijuca Forest was little more than abandoned coffee plantations. Not a particularly appealing backdrop, nor a very useful watershed for a tropical city…when it rained, it flowed. No problem for the energetic inhabitants of the city or cariocas as they are locally known. With an orgy of plantings, of both native and exotic species, a forest was born! A forest like the city: large, alive, from dark to light, alluring, mysterious, colorful then subdued, cool and breathtaking. We walked and ate lunch here with amazing humming birds busy, just above our heads. Others of us explored the town. There was a bus shuttle to Ipanema beach (pictured at left) during the morning and a cultural walking tour in the afternoon. All of us had dinner ashore at a Churrascaria, Brazilian for more delicious food than you can possibly eat, I think. But who could have dinner in Rio without a show, and did we have a show…Samba, Rio-style!