Nouméa in New Caledonia

Nouméa is the biggest city in New Caledonia [French: Nouvelle-Calédonie].
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France, so people speak French.

Sightseeing: Downtown in Nouméa

La place des Cocotiers is very large park 

located in the center of Nouméa.
 There were a fountain and lots of coconut trees in the park.

the view from FOL hill
We could see the downtown of Nouméa, Baie de la Moselle,

 and lots of yachts from the top of the hill.

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We hurried to the Marché.

Juice bar in the Marché.

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We found the Nouméa Cathedral.
while walking in Nouméa.

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Climb up the Hill Ouen Toro

There was a cannon on the top of the Hill Ouen Toro.

This cannon was placed during the world war Ⅱ.

Sunset from the top of the hill Ouen Toro. 

 

 

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Dinner at the hotel

Polynesian dance show at the restaurant

Episode of Nouméa

Nouméa is not so big city even though it is said that it is the biggest city in the main island of New Caledonia. But it's a bit tough to walk in Nouméa because it's very hilly. So people often ride a bus instead of walking. But the buses don't arrive on time. So you need to be so slow and relaxed as local people.
Firstly, we went to 'La place des Cocotiers' located in the center of Nouméa.
It was very large park and it had very tropical atomosphere.
There were a fountain and lots of coconut trees in the park.
It was very tropical mood. In Place des Cocotier, local people sit on the bench and do nothing or eat lunch.
Next, we went up to the FOL hill. It was tough to climb up the hill and we sweated a lot. We could see the downtown of Nouméa and Baie de la Moselle bay from the top of the hill. It was a beautiful view with lots of yachts and blue ocean.
Then, we hurried to the Marché because the market was open only in the morning. There were many tropical fruits and vegetables in the Marché. We also found some shops which sell jewelries and accessories.
Tomo & Chouchou wanted to see the sunset from the top of the hill, so we climbed up the Hill Ouen Toro. It was the steep slope. Anyway we met several people going up the Hill Ouen Toro for the sunset like us. It was beautiful sunset from the hill. We took the sunset photos then we went down.
We booked a restaurant in the hotel which serve the foods while watching Polynesian dance show. There was the sea beside so we could eat seafoods such as a big lobster and shrimps. Tomo was proposed to dance together by a little boy who performed Polinesian dance during the show. This little dancer pulled Tomo to the stage and they danced together. After dancing, he gave a necklace made in seashells as a gift to Tomo. He gave a good memory!

Relating article

-> The Isle of Pines[Île des Pins], New Caledonia(1)

Christ the Redeemer [Cristo Redentor] in Rio de Janeiro

Corcovado Hill [Portuguese: Morro do Corcovado]
Christ the Redeemer [Christo Redentor] is on the top of the 710m (2,329ft) Corcovado hill [Morro do Corcovado]. 

Access to the top of the hill: by Corcovado Train [Trem do Corcovado].

At the entrance of the Corcovado Train 

[Portuguese: Trem do Corcovado],

we already found the statue of Jesus Christ.
 

 

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We took a Corcovado train.

 

Corcovado Train [Portuguese: Trem do Corcovado]

 

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The train went through the Tijuca Forest.

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We got off the train.

We took an escalator to approach the statue of Jesus Christ.

 

 

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Christ the Redeemer [Portuguese: Cristo Redentor]

30m (98ft) tall and 8m (26ft) pedestal.

Its arms stretch 28m (92ft) wide. 

Episode of Corcovado Hill [Morro do Corcovado]

Tomo & Chouchou went to Rio de Janeiro to see "Christ the Redeemer [Cristo Redentor in Portuguese]". This is the symbol of Rio de Janeiro and/or Brazil. Christ the Redeemer is on the top of the Corcovado hill [Morro do Corcovado]. We decided to go up to the top of Corcovado by Corcovado Train [Trem do Corcovado]. Already at the entrance of the Corcovado Train, we found the statue of Jesus Christ. It was a great surprise! So we took a photo with it.
Corcovado is located in the large urban forest: Tijuca Forest. So Corcovado train [Trem do Corcovado] go through the rainforest. In the Tijuca Forest National Park, there are hundreds of species of plants and wild animals found only in Atlantic Rainforest [Mata Atlântica]. So we were expected to find some animals there. Unfortunately we couldn't find rare wildlife from the window of Corcovado train. But it was very enjoyable to pass through the jungle by Corcovado train.

From the train terminus to the observation deck at the foot of the statue of Jesus Christ, we needed to go up by steps, escalator or elevator.
Tomo & Chouchou went up by escalator, then finally, we could meet the Christ the Redeemer which is standing on the Corcovado mountain! Seeing Christ the Redeemer was our long-cherished wish, and it came true!!! We were so amazed to see the size of the real Christ the Redeemer in front of us.
It was like that Jesus Christ watched carefully the city of Rio de Janeiro from the Corcovado hill.
In addition, this Christ the Redeemer is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. That's true. The way Christ stands with open arms like the cross on the cliff may tell us many things.
Not only Christ the Redeemer but also the landscape of Rio de Janeiro from the top of the Corcovado mountain was great. We could see all the city of Rio, famous beaches, and mountains from the Corcovado.
We also met a friendly Italian tourist on the Corcovado hill. He wore the T-shirt with funny Japanese logo. We talked about the T-shirt together. Then we took a photo together. It was a good encounter. It's now a good memory of Corcovado.

Meeting Jesus Christ on the Corcovado Hill was very important moment in our lives. We will never forget this precious experience.
 


Information

The Corcovado Train/Trem do Corcovado
Adults: R$ 50,00 Children(6-12yrs old): R$ 25,00
Includes round trip ticket and admission to Christ the Redeemer' monument.
Ticket office: 8：00 – 18：30 
Payment: debit and credit cards are accepted.
Trip length: approximately 20 minutes.
Open: Mon to Sun, fm 8am to 7pm; train departing every 30 mins.


Relating articles

* Maracanã Stadium[Estádio do Maracanã]

* Downtown "Centro" in Rio de Janeiro

* Sugarloaf Mountain [Pão de Açúcar] & Copacabana