Cruise along with Raul Dias through Rio de Janeiro- a city fabled for its potent mixture of fun and sun!
Tall and tan and young and lovely the girl from Ipanema goes walking and when she passes each one she passes goes "Ahhh!"…sang Antonio Carlos Jobim. Such sights truly justify Rio’s title of cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city); a city that lives in and for the sun, a city sure to leave your hedonistic taste buds tingling!
Undisputedly Brazil’s major cultural capital Rio has a seductive charm so blatantly evident in its sumptuous beauty, with built-up areas nestled between a magnificent bay and dazzling beaches on one side and the abruptly rising Serra da Carioca mountain range, covered by a plush tropical forest, on the other. The continuing strength of foreign currencies against the Brazilian Real and the national football team’s success in the recent World Cup have both helped to make Brazil – and Rio in particular – an increasingly popular and affordable year-round destination.
Rio is a big city and figuring out where to start can be a wee bit daunting. Centro or Downtown Rio is the first destination for museum lovers as it is teeming with world class museums especially in the Flamengo and Gloria historical areas where a must see is the Museum of Naïf Art in the Corcovado where there are over 8,000 pieces in the permanent collection with artists representing 130 countries. The Corcovado Mountain or hunchback is also synonymous with the statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) blessing the city with open arms. The Statue of Christ stands 30 meters high (100 feet), covered in a mosaic of soapstone. On its base there is a small chapel and the vista from here is unparalled offering a panoramic view of Rio: the Guanabara Bay, Niteroi, the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon, the botanical garden, the Jockey Club and the Tijuca National Park, Further north, Copacabana, Botafogo, and the famous Pao Acucar (Sugar Loaf).
If hitting the beach circuit is more your scene then head for one of Rio’s many beaches where from dawn until dusk and even after dark, the residents of Rio can be found enjoying the long stretches of sandy coastline with which the city is blessed. The beach is not merely a place to absorb the sun’s rays but also an important venue for sports, socialising and even business. It is a people-watcher’s paradise – clothing is minimal and bodies are bronzed and beautiful. One such magnet for Brazilians and tourists alike is Ipanema Beach where the summer "happens" in Rio. By far Rio’s most popular beach Ipanema is considered to be the paradise of sun worshipers who flock to it daily, seeking their piece of the action. Ipanema is always setting new trends, and what happens here reverberates throughout the country at a frenzied pace. Alongside the beach one can find some of the most sophisticated shops in the city jostling for space with the botecos or small restaurants offering an inexpensive yet tantalising array of treats ranging from the ubiquitous coxina de galinha (savoury chicken wrapped in dough) and pao de queijo (cheese-filled balls of pastry) to the very strong, very black and…yes, very good Brazilian coffee.
Rio’s other equally famous beach Copacabana Beach has attained iconic status thanks to its legendary New Year’s celebration which attracts over 2 million people from all over the world! Following a local tradition, most people dress in white for good luck. Offering a white flower to Yemanjá, the goddess of the seas is also a part of the ritual. The exquisite fireworks festival which starts at midnight, lasting almost a half hour is truly spectacular. With white sand and waters that are never rough, this is also a very popular beach for sunbathing. During the summer international championships of beach soccer, volleyball and other sports are promoted in arenas along Copacabana Beach.
A trip to Rio comes with a warning: Be prepared to shed all inhibitions as this magnificent metropolis envelopes you in its sensual embrace, with its rhythmic pulse surging through your veins leaving you gasping for breath…but remember! You can’t blame it on Rio!!
(First published in Liverpool Student)
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