My town Friday Shoot out – Town’s Premier Attraction

 

Living in Brasil, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, and the city…. makes it hard to choose a premier attraction. In Rio, the Christ (the Header) and the Sugar Loaf are probably two of the most photographed places in South America, in the western hemisphere… well you get the point. Over the past few years I have written about plenty of places to see if you visit Brasil and last night I went through all my blogs about Brasil to make sure I had not written about my topic for today. Premier Attraction – Nova Friburgo

Header Photo – cable car to the Sugar Loaf – 2nd level

I am in Friburgo this week but pulled my photos from my ‘extensive’ archives anyway. I am sure that you all realize by now that I do not go out running around town for the FSO. I have taken so many photo of all the places I have visited to need this kind of exertion. Okay down to business.

 

Nova Friburgo is considered a vacation spot for many Brazilians. It is set in the middle of a nature reserve so depending on the time of year that you visit, you can hike, mountain climb (not Himalayas' height and challenge but climbing none the less), canoe, ride rapids, look at high water falls or low cascades - ecotourism at its best - and enjoy the winter festival activities with its food and music fests. Not at the end of this list because it is the least interesting thing to do but because the sentences worked out that way is the Park of the sitting dog.

 

Parque Cão Sentado is a very pleasant place to hike, one of my local favorites. The complete trail takes only 40 minutes although the portion going uphill can be more than a moderate climb in other words 30 minutes up and 10 to come down. There are also some side trails that you can explore if you want to spend a couple of hours exploring the park. This is not recommended after or during a rain storm. The stones that make up the trails are moss covered and during the stormy season can also be covered with mud, this makes coming down the trail quite slippery, even hazardous. For me during the winter, (May, June and July) is the best time to visit this park.

 

The park was first opened in 1962 and closed in 2002 because of lack of infrastructure and general disrepair. In 2004 it was

 

 

reopened as a private park. It now has a concession stand with

 

snacks, sodas and water available, picnic tables, a small lake with ducks and other birds and a very beautiful trail built up of rocks and trees from the area of

 

the park itself, leaving you with the feel of nature close at hand.

 

(I never know when to quit adding photos) – From the bottom to the top this is a fantastic place to visit - AND the PREMIER ATTACTION (can you hear the drum roll?)    Pedra do Cão Sentado

If you look closely you can see two men on his face – that is at 1111 meters high.

** there is no way to see this rock formation from the highway below, he blends into the surrounding rocks, you have to climb to the top to see him.