Brazil: Rio

[bjorn]

Rio rocks. Home of the string bikini, supermodel Giselle Bundchen, and the Girl from Ipanema, this sensuous, sophisticated and friendly city is a place to experience rather than simply visit.

Rio's beach culture is amazing. Two of the world's most famous beaches, Ipanema and Copacabana, are part of Rio's 45 miles of shoreline. A stroll along the two-mile crescent of Avenida Atlântica, a beachfront road that connects the two districts, is a must. Famed for its black and white mosaic sidewalks, posh hotels, carefree bars and cafes, Avenida Atlântica is what Carioca life is all about. Lying on the sugary white beaches, gazing at the amazing view of Sugar Loaf, and sipping a cold beer or fresh coconut milk straight from the coconut is absolute paradise. Playing soccer on the sand, checking out the hotties splashing in the waves, or samba-ing in the tropical sun, is part of what the city is about. At the beach, you'll see the essence of Rio, a cradle-to-grave beach lifestyle that begins with toddlers playing in the sand, and ends with old folks walking hand in hand along the shore.

Genuine cultural experiences lurk beyond the string bikinis and speedos of Copacabana. The city displays a unique blend of contrasts: old versus new, tremendous wealth amid crushing poverty, a beachside urban metropolis nestled around craggy mountains and a huge tropical forest. There are museums, nightclubs, world-class restaurants and history to explore. Whether you come for the beach, or for the city, be seduced by the splendor of Rio.

When to go:
Anytime is a good time to visit Rio. December and February are the busiest and most expensive months because of Christmas and Carnaval. If you are planning a visit then, book well in advance.

What to Do:
History/Ruins:
Many travelers never see the historic side of Rio. Most of the museums, historic buildings, colonial churches, and monuments that tell the history of the city are downtown. The Santa Teresa neighborhood still has a lot of history and ambiance that tourists rarely see. Going through its steep streets, travelers will see ancient aqueducts, castles and colonial mansions from the 19th century, as well as incredible city views.

Museums:
Rio de Janeiro considers itself the art and cultural center of South America. There is an outstanding modern art collection at the Museu Chacara do Ceu. The Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts) has works by Brazil's leading 19th- and 20th-century artists. Presidential memorabilia, period furniture and paintings adorn the former official residence of Brazil's presidents, now the Museu da República (Museum of the Republic).

Shopping:
Shopping in Rio means upscale shopping malls, street-side shops, and beach vendors. Bathing suits are some of the best souvenirs, but the upscale shops of Copacabana and Ipanema have all sorts of goods to bring back home.

Food/Culinary Info:
Visit a botequim- a cross between a bar, a cafe, a brasserie, and a fast food place- for lunch. If you are a bit hungrier, go to a churrascaria rodízio. In these famous steakhouses, its all the meat you can eat-from filet mignon to pork ribs to chicken- for one low price. Other "musts" are the Brazilian national dish, feijoada, made with black beans mixed with a great variety of meat and a lot of vegetables, red pepper, and condiments, served with rice, manioc flour, and caipirinha (a *beep* made with crushed ice, lemon, sugar, and cachaca, a strong alcohol made from sugar cane).

Beach:
This is a city high on beach culture, but low on clean beaches. While the views are beautiful, sometimes the water is less than attractive. Watch to see if the locals are swimming- if they are in the water, dive right in.

Natural Wonders:
Rio is a city of amazing views. The panoramic cable car trip to Sugarloaf, a soaring 1,300-ft granite block standing at the mouth of Guanabara Bay, is not to be missed. Funky bubble cars transport visitors up the mountain in two stages, the first stopping at the Morro da Urca, a smaller mountain in front of Sugarloaf, and the second continuing on to the top of Pao de Acucar. Another great view can be had from the base of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). Since it was placed atop the 2,300-ft peak of Corcovado in 1931, this statue has been one of the most famous symbols of Rio. Take the scenic train through the lush tropical forest to the summit.

Festivals/Events:
Brazil's most famous festival is Carnaval, beginning at midnight on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and lasting for five days. It is celebrated all over Brazil, but Rio's Carnaval is the one known worldwide. In the sambódromo, a tiered street designed for samba parades, the 16 top samba schools compete in a celebration that is televised throughout South America.

Nightlife/Bars:
Make no mistake. Nightlife in Rio cannot be missed. There is no shortage of cafes, bars, and clubs for of all types for visitors to enjoy. Cariocas (Rio citizens) like the nightlife. It starts late (midnight is early) and continues until morning.

Cafe Quotient:
Although Brazil is the largest exporter of coffee in the world and the locals drink coffee like they drink water, Rio's cafe culture lacks the style of European sidewalk cafes or even an American Starbucks. Chances are there won't be poetry readings and performance art the local juice bar or green coconut juice shack, but rather a cool "suco natural" to sooth you after a day in the hot sun. If you are committed to the idea of having coffee, try Cave, or the Confeitaria Colombo, two traditional downtown cafes that are decorated in the Belle epoque style. Carioca coffee, a very potent, small shot of caffeine is called cafezinho expresso.

Gay & Lesbian:
Rio is part of the gay international circuit, especially during Carnaval in late February and early March. During the rest of the year, city has a decent gay nightlife. There are gay bars in Botafogo neighborhood along Visconde Silva Street, Copacabana, Avenida Atlântica, and around Rainbow kiosk. Rave parties are also popular. They're held everywhere from docks to movie theaters, and never end before morning. The most famous are X-Demente parties, held bi-weekly at Cinema Iris, downtown.

Cost:
Brazil's currency is the real (BRL), plural - reais. Prices in Brazil are much less expensive than in Europe or the States. You can easily find a room in a pousada for under $40 and eat for less than $20/a day, especially outside of big cities.

Getting Around:
Visa are required, and tourists can stay for a maximum of 90 days. Once in Brazil, travel is relatively easy. The Galeão International Airport, where most flights arrive and depart, is approximately 45 minutes from the beach area where most of Rio's hotels are located.

Getting around in Rio is tough, especially during the hot summer months. Traffic jams and parking are two big problems. Rio has few parking garages, which results in drivers leaving their vehicles anywhere they will fit, including sidewalks. Avoid driving or taking cabs- local buses in Rio are inexpensive and will take you anywhere you want to go. The metro is another good option. It is inexpensive, easy and operates Monday through Saturday 6 AM to 11 PM. A word of caution- don't bring anything you don't want to lose on public transport.

Safety:
Rio has some pretty significant problems, like poverty, corruption, and gang warfare, but the city is working hard to fix them. There is a tourist police along the beach, and this has significantly helped the city's image. Be careful and carry only as much money as you can afford to lose.

Language:
Portuguese is the local language, but it is different from the Portuguese spoken in Portugal. Few people outside of the tourist industry speak English. Spanish is helpful to know, as many words in Portuguese are the same, but pronounced differently.

Party/Social Scene:
Make no mistake. Nightlife in Rio cannot be missed. There is no shortage of cafes, bars, and clubs for of all types for visitors to enjoy. Cariocas (Rio citizens) like the nightlife. It starts late (midnight is early) and continues until morning.

Other Info:
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