The theme for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is OLD and NEW. In November, I spent 5 days in Rio de Janeiro with my husband, Dale. My favorite thing to do in Rio, especially on my last night there, is to ride the cable car up to Sugar Loaf in the late afternoon and watch the sun set. It is a gorgeous sight! When the lights begin to come on at dusk around the city, I say my silent good-byes and always end with, “I’ll be back!” And so far, I’ve kept that promise.

At the top of the mountain are relics of the older cable cars. I realized that I have ridden all three generations of cable cars!

The oldest cable car operated from 1918 to 1972. I must have ridden up in one of these on my first trip to Rio in 1971! It looks scary! In fact, Wikipedia reports that there was a near accident in 1951, when one of the cables snapped and the car full of passengers hung on one cable for 10 hours! (Needless to say, I didn’t know about that incident when I rode up in 1971.)  However, there has never been a fatal accident in over 100 years of operation.

This car was replaced by a newer, sleeker cable car with floor to ceiling windows on all sides.

The 2nd generation of cable cars (with the older one behind it).

The last time I had been in Rio was in 2003, so I, along with my husband and son, rode in this 2nd generation cable car.

In 2007, an even newer, slim-lined generation of cable cars began. It is reportedly even safer, with a hi-tech infrastructure.  This was the one we rode on our recent trip in November 2016.

3rd generation cable car ascending the mountain. Below is Praia Vermelha.

And just for fun, here’s a video I took while riding from the first stage (Urca) to the top (Sugar Loaf). Enjoy!