After going through photos online, I was deadset on the idea that if there was one thing to see in Rio, it was Rio from above. So for months the plan was to spend my eight hour layover getting up to Sugarloaf for this view. But when we landed and made our way to Ipanema to drop luggage off at my parents’ hotel (their layover was three days), I reconsidered. Weather was perfect, waves were rolling.. why get back in car when we could take our time at the beach, walk the city and grab a sit-down dinner?

Turns out the view at sea level is just as good.