Dreams do come true: Christ the Redeemer

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

I am not sure when I had my first glimpse of Christ the Redeemer statue on television or in a book or why it had such a wondrous impact on me. Maybe it is its majesty or its open arms of peace or merely the fact that it is a sacred and holy icon.

The statue had been on top of my list of dream locations to visit in years to come. Little did I know that the opportunity would present itself so early in my life. And there He was, towering above my head, frozen, in a gallant pose.

I pause, momentarily on my way up the steps and watch the figure illuminated by the sun's tender rays with bated breath. I have heard that the statue speaks differently to each photographer who captures the image as seen in their mind's eye. Wishing to try my luck at my photographic talents I click a couple of images in quick succession.

"Come on up. There is a better view from here," my Brazilian friend, Matheus Brêtas, calls down to me. He and Aline Amorim, two Brazilian youths that we met at the Youth Blast, are our tour guides for the day. After much planning, rescheduling and compromising chores (on our part) and much complaining on when we will finally make time to go sight seeing in Rio (on their part), the youth delegation were able to give them the green signal via facebook just a couple of hours before we decide on embarking on our adventure.

And what an experience it was indeed. A couple of minutes on the metro from Ipanema all the way downtown (on which a ticket costs $3.20 for any station) and a bus ride to Cosme Velho (on which there are no conductors but only a driver to whom you have to pay your money). We found ourselves a few steps away from Corcovado Mountain which is named after its curved shape, from the Portuguese for camel-back or hump, in the Tijuca Forest National Park. Being a renowned tourist destination, the locals are full at work. First we ward off offers to take the bus ride and opt to check out the cogwheel trains departing from Cosme Velho district at the foot of Mount Corcovado. The service runs every hour and holds up to 360 passengers. Just a 20 minute ride through dense tropical vegetation with occasional glimpses of the city from various unusual angles, you can practically smell the fresh and delicious air which soothes your senses but also builds up the anticipation of what you will see when you reach the top.

Soon we find ourselves bundled in a cab after purchasing the tickets. Elevators, each with a capacity to hold 14 people, take us up to the viewing platform at the foot of the statue. The three elevators, I was told, were installed in 2003, relieving visitors of the strenuous task of climbing the 220 odd steps. I smile to myself as I recall on what a cakewalk it would be for a Sri Lankan who has trekked up the 5200 steps to Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) annually.

My first take on the iconic statue was full of emotion. Since I have seen many a time on countless media and creative works, I realized that a part of me is afraid that I would be disappointed if the work is not up to expectation. However, Christ the Redeemer never ceased to amaze me. You get a sense as if you are floating on air when your eyes meet the stern yet comforting graze. Poised perfectly on the mountain top the statue can be seen from almost every part of the city.

Aline Amorim

Matheus Brêtas

Christ the Redeemer is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World on equal footage with the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the Machu Picchu, the Colosseum, the Stone City of Petra, Jordan and the Mayan Pyramids of Chichen Itza. Of these epic monuments, only Christ the Redeemer was built in the 20th century.

The Portuguese name for the statue is Cristo Redentor. Standing on top of the 2,300 feet high Corcovado Mountain the statue was built by French sculptor Paul Landowsk in 1931.

It had taken nine years to construct and is considered the second largest Art Deco statue in the world and the fifth largest Jesus statue in the world. Noticing the visitors clicking away, I asked Aline if Cristo is not a venue of worship.

"It is a place of inner reflection. Well, I was 12 years old the first time I was here, and it seems that things didn't change much. People are still passionate about the experience of being here and of course, they want to make this moment last forever. The only difference is that cameras evolved! Maybe we were not lucky to see people worshiping today, but I can tell you some of them, like me, are praying silently. Besides that, we often see religious groups - mainly Catholics, as this is the most popular religion in Brazil - visiting Cristo. They also celebrate masses here very often, so I think it is a place of worship," she explained in her charming accent.

Though the statue itself is awe inspiring, it is said that it alone does not lure masses. The peak offers one of the best panoramic views of the city. Nothing equals the thrill of standing atop Corcorvado beneath the outstretched arms of the statue and grazing out at the Marvelous City (as Rio is dubbed by its inhabitants) and pin pointing some of its major attractions like the Sugarloaf, the Guanabara Bay, the Lagoon, the Maracanã Stadium, the dense forests of the Serra da Tijuca Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.

"The view is better at Sugarloaf. The sunset is stunningly beautiful from there because you can see the sun going down by Cristo's side. The city is enchanting at night," Matheus tells me, perhaps as a cue to how berserk my friends and I had gone with our cameras. Not to be outdone with his pride towards his country's landmarks I begin telling him about Sri Lanka's legendary Sigiriya. He is fascinated and pronounces that he had indeed climbed a mountain once without the aid of elevators or cable cars.

"This is my second time here. I've always wanted to come back but could never make it. I'm glad I had the chance to visit Cristo with my new Sri Lankan friends", she beams before holding up her hand and checking the time on her striking purple wristwatch and declaring that there is time indeed for a visit to Sugarloaf Mountain before sunset.

Christ the Redeemer facts and figures Icon of Brazil and symbol of Christianity

Height: 39.6 meters (130 ft), including its 9.5 meters (31 ft) pedestal
Width: 30 meters (98 ft)
Weight: 635 tonnes

*Designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted by French sculptor Paul Landowski

*Made of reinforced concrete and soapstone

*Constructed between 1922 and 1931

*The statue was officially unveiled to the public by the Brazilian president Getulio Vargas in 1932

*The Nossa Senhora da Aparecida chapel at the base of the mountain houses 150 visitors and allows Catholics to hold baptisms and weddings

*Christ holding open arms was one out of three initial architectural drafts options for the statue. The other proposals included Christ holding a globe and a cross

*At least two million tourists visit the site annually

*The overall cost of the statue was the equivalent of $250,000 today

*Declared a protected monument by the National Heritage Institute, IPHAN, in 2009

*Featured on various works of fiction and media including Alfred Hitchcock's 1946 film Notorious, Janet Jackson's Runaway video, Roland Emmerich's 2009 film 2012, Chris Weitz's 2009 film The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Carlos Saldanha's 2011 animated film Rio.