In the throng at Christo Redentor and comtemplating on the other side of the continent

The statue of Christ on the Corcovado (Rio de Janeiro) is attracting masses. And nowadays everyone in this throng will try to make a picture or better, most people want to make a selfie (I din’t!). Corcovado means hunchback, which make recall “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” with Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara. The statue of Christ Redentor (Christ, the Redeemer) is 38 m high and visible from other points of Rio de Janeiro. The access is limited by the necessity to use the Corcovado Rack Railway, which has a passenger capacity of 540 passengers per hour. One might wait longer for the trip than the trip lasts.

On the other side of the continent there’s another statue: the Virgin Mary Statue on Cerro San Cristóbal, a summit within the city limits of Santiago de Chile. It’s also attracting tourists, but it is much less crowded than Christo Redentor. There are an amphitheatre, a small chapel at the base of the statue, and a church. The sanctuary on the summit is dedicated to the immaculate conception. BTW, the immaculate conception doesn’t concern Jesus Christ but Mary’s conception. Someone has been praying at the base of the statue via a microphone, which did a lot to make the atmosphere more contemplative.

Christ Redentor with his flock of tourists

A view from Corcovado to 

Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar)

Christ Redentor without tourists

From a distance - Christ Redentor 

from Sugar Loaf Mountain

Virgin Mary Statue on Cerro San Cristóbal

Church at the sanctuary of immaculate conception

A small statue of the late Pope John-Paul II, also in the sanctuary of immaculate conception

Some Haiku from South America

Drizzle of white foam

Falling into the jungle

But eagles soar high

A country airport

All green around and tranquil

Safe boy and football

Clouds from far away

Shadows moving on the ground

While drinking a tea

Massive rock baking

The wind howls in the willow

Siesta with mate

White clouds and grey clouds

Dashing across the blue sky

Donkey looking down

Through the high mountains

A sandstorm out of nowhere

And vultures circling

Still some snow on top

The vastness of greyish rocks

Above the condor

Jasmine buds open

Fragrance and snow capped mountains

Missing the condor

The snow capped Andes

And Santiago city

Greeting each other

The sunny city

By the end of day’s turmoil

Some tranquillity

Old men at chess boards

Younger men to play a tune

Sun is dipping down

Araukarias

Shading the park San Martin

Birds picking on ground

Setting sun

On the plan’s wings

Clouds moving, too