Christ the Redeemer: I’m told Rio de Janeiro is quite the place — a World Heritage Site with bossa nova and beaches, samba and Santa Teresa, carnival and, er, crime. And then there’s Christ The Redeemer, often cited as one of the new seven modern wonders of the world. Except — it’s not that much of a wonder, is it? There’s no mystery — we know who designed it, how it was built, how much it weighs, its scale (and granted, he’s a hefty boy). It’s not especially old. It’s big, but is it beautiful? Those eyes, man. Never trust a man without pupils. Some see a work of art, I see a concrete lightning rod plonked on top of the Corcovado. People say the size is humbling, but the Statue of Liberty is two-and-a-half times its height; India’s Statue of Unity is more than six times as tall. I can be humbled elsewhere. The idea of trekking up a mountain for this? Maybe. Very cool if you’re into Jesus, I’m sure. But me? Not so much.
