At close glance, Rio de Janeiro is a busy and a bit worn city. But higher up, particularly at views from Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) and Cristo Redentor, Rio de Janeiro is absolutely stunning. Nestled between weathered mountains and the ocean, Rio is like no other major city I’ve seen. Copacabana and Ipanema beaches were massive and the water was warm to swim in. Attending the World Cup Round of 16 match between Uruguay and Colombia at the famous Estádio Maracanã was another highlight of this trip.