A view of the Baia de Guanabara (Guanabara Bay) with the Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf)
and the giant Redemptor Christ overlooking the city from the top of Corcovado mountain

CIDADE MARAVILHOSA! WONDERFUL CITY!... This is the slogan of Rio de Janeiro -- and I sign it. Rio is really unique!!! The privileged geography of the town, stretching between the ocean and the mountains, besides all its natural beauties, makes the difference. The overview of Guanabara Bay (look at the picture above), when the airplane is arriving in Rio, is always a remarkable spectacle for everyone, tourists or Brazilians...
With more than 6 millions of inhabitants, Rio is a big and develloped metropolis, full of contrasts and attractions. In Zona Sul (South Zone) there are the best residencial districts as well as the coast: 40 kilometers of large beaches, with white sand and blue sea.
This edge begins in the urban and lively beaches of Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, the most known by tourists. Crossing the mountain by tunnels or rounding it by Niemeyer avenue, you reach São Conrado beach (also called Pepino), the meet-point of the hang-gliding pilots and the place where they land in the end of the flights. Going on through the coast, there are the large and long beaches of Barra da Tijuca and Recreio dos Bandeirantes; after that, you´ll find Prainha, a " cult" reduct of surfers -- and finally the beautiful beach of Grumari, a treasure almost rustic and not much explored by tourism.

Besides the beaches and the nature, you will find all kind of entertainment: lots of good restaurants, nice bars and "choperias" in oppened air, shows and concerts, fine art museums, shopping centers, parks, pleasant places to walk and relax...
"Cariocas" (people from Rio) are very different of "paulistas" (from São Paulo). Maybe for living near the sea and have summer all over the year, they are more "oppened", informal, with an amazing "easy going" style. When they speak, you´ll notice an special accent and jargon...
Carnival in Rio (in february) is famous all over the world, by the monumental desfiles of the "samba schools".

Unhappily, Rio de Janeiro has serious problems of misery, homeless children, heavy traffic and violence - the same as other big cities in the world. It's also sad to see the "favelas"(shantytown) spread on the hillside of some mountais. Nowadays, the government is making efforts, and the situation is going better.
But, instead and over any problem, Rio has an "alto astral" -- a good energy -- that makes we feel cheerful, lighthearted, more glad and relaxed.

Well... you can notice that I have passion for this city... now, MY hometown :-))
I'm sure that if you know Rio, you will fall in love as I am. And want to come back!!!

Here is a little sample of Rio. (Click on the pics to enlarge it)

O Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf)
and the cable-car
a very cool way to overview Rio!

Praia do Pepino (Pepino´s beach)
overviewed from the ramp
on the top of Pedra Bonita
where hang-glidings take-off

A detail of Rio by night,
overviewed from the Sugar Loaf

Flamengo beach and Yatch Club, from the Sugar Loaf

Sunset in Ipanema beach
always a fascinating spectacle

The edge of Copacabana, Rio's most known beach, a postcard of the town

Love is in the air...:)
from the rocks of Arpoador,
the most beautiful sunset is a remarkable moment

Helping the fishermen to pull the fish-net
in Prainha, Piratininga beach
in Niteroi, near Rio

WHEN YOU COME TO RIO...

here are my suggestions for you to spend some nice moments:

- watch the sunset from the rocks of Arpoador beach...
- give a walk from Leme to Ipanema, stepping on the shore...
- drink "água de coco" (the water of green cocconut) in the beach ...
- visit the open market in Praça General Osório(Ipanema), on sundays: you´ll find all kind of souvenirs, popular art, handmade objects, clothes, jews, leather stuffs....
- go to Grumari, enjoy the beach and eat a fish in one of the rustic restaurants...
- take a walk through Paineiras, a tranquil road near Corcovado, in the middle of the Atlantic rainforest, with breathtaking views of the city. (it´s closed for traffic on sundays)
- drink a chopp at night, in a oppened bar in front of the beach...
- climb the Corcovado, and Pão de Açucar (by the cable car), in a clear day: it's really great! - if you like adventures... go to Pepino beach and make a double-flight in hang-gliding -- it´s a fantastic, exciting and unforgettable experience!!! :)))

Out of the city, in the State of Rio, there are wonderful places to know. You can cross the "Ponte Rio-Niterói" -- a large bridge, 14 kilometers long -- and take a trip to the "Região dos Lagos" (Lake Region)or Costa Azul (Blue Coast), about 2h30 from Rio. Visit Araruama, with a vast lagoon of salty-water; Buzios and Cabo Frio, with 63 marvelous beaches; Arraial do Cabo, with immense dunes of white sands.
Going to South, by Rio-Santos road, you can reach the Green Coast, still covered by the Atlantic Rainforest. There are gorgeous beaches and a lot of islands to visit in Angra dos Reis. You can take an one-day tour, in Rio, that gets you there by a confortable bus and includes a cruise by Angra bay, by boat.
That´s paradise !!! :)

LINKS IN THE WEB

Rio de Janeiro... Tourist informations, maps, pictures, sugestions for other links ...

"Rio for beginners"... An informal guide that will help you, if it's your first travel to Rio...In a well-humorated way to talk, Marcos Silviano tells you all you should know about the city and people; places to go around, clothing, safety, shopping...

Ecologic places ... Beautiful images captured by the lenses of Louise Guimarães Pedroso

About Rio ...More informations for you to know the "Cidade Maravilhosa" and the State of Rio

Watch the city and the State of Rio... History, economy, sighseeings and much more, in this guide made by Sergio Koreida

Buzios on Line (All about this beautiful place in the State of Rio)

Sun, beach and joy! ... (Pictures selected by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro)

You are listening "Mojave", composed by Tom Jobim; an arrangement by Luciano Quiñones

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