During our time in Rio de Janeiro, we had the chance to visit some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, often referred to as the “Pyramid Church,” left a lasting impression on me with its modernist design and towering stained-glass windows that bathe the interior in colorful light.

Seeing Christ the Redeemer was one of the top landmarks on my travel bucket list, and after visiting 57 countries, I finally made it to this iconic landmark. Standing at the foot of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain was breathtaking. The panoramic views of the city and coastline was truly unforgettable.

We also took a thrilling cable car ride up to Sugarloaf Mountain. The views of Guanabara Bay, the cityscape, and the Atlantic Ocean from the summit were absolutely stunning.

While I watched in amazement as an Azure Jay cheekily stole a woman’s sandwich and flew off, the very cute coatis roamed the grounds in packs, searching for food, and monkeys played overhead as beautiful butterflies, including one that perched delicately on Jay’s hats, created a mesmerizing scene.