Located in Zona Sul, Copacabana Beach is one of the most famous and most beautiful beaches in the world. The atmosphere is very vibrant and the people are colorful and fun loving. Get to her by taking the subway on Line 1 or take one of the pubic buses. Copacabana beach runs between Princesa Isabel Avenue and lifeguard Post 6.
The Beach
The view to the left of Copacabana beach is the towering mountain of Sugar Loaf and Fort Duque de Caxias built in 1779. On the right is Copacabana Fort, which dates back to 1914. It houses the Army Historical Museum. The beach runs for 2.2 miles (4 km) in an east west direction running from Postos Dois to Posto Seis. Stop by one of the several beach bars and enjoy a gold cup of chopp (draft beer) and refeicao (herbed meat and fried onions). Take a walk along the beach to enjoy some of the most incredible sand sculptures and when you get thirsty try some of the agua de coco or coconut water straight from the coconut.
Sports on the Beach
The locals or Cariocas really enjoy their sports. As a result the government has provided many sports facilities along the beach. Volleyball nets are strung along the shores. There are also football courts. Cariocas also like to stay in shape, there are several places on the beach with training equipment where locals can pump iron and build muscles.
Running for 2.2 miles (4km) parallel to the beach is the promenade. Completion of the project was in 1970. Designed by Roberto Burle Marx it is made of a black and white wave design. It is a popular route for cyclers, joggers and roller-skaters. Across the street from the promenade are some first class hotels including the 5 star Copacabana Palace Hotel, Sofitel, JW Marriott, and the more affordable Tulip Inn. There are several excellent Brazilian restaurants in the area. Try Siri Mole (Seafood), Carretão (Churrascaria) or Amir (Arabic food). Try also Rondinela or Taberna on Av. Atlantica for some real local cooking. Order peixe frito na brasa, a fried fish plate or aipim com carne seca which is dry meat with a fried root called manioc.
Carioca Tips
Enjoy the Sunday at Avenida Atlantica, half closed to cars. From Friday to Sunday there is a touristic fair in front of Rio Othon Hotel that starts at 6pm. There you can find great souvenirs and artwork. Have breakfast at Confeitaria Colombo at Copacabana Fort, one of the best places to eat in the shine mornings in Rio de Janeiro.
Hippie Fair
A group of hippies started a Sunday market in Ipanema in 1968 and the traditional fair continues with over 700 stalls set up at the Feira Hippie de Ipanema. This is a great place to find authentic Brazilian folk and contemporary art, jewelry, clothing and lots of food. Plenty of tourists flock to the fair that is extremely popular today. If you are looking for souvenirs then the fair is the best place to find a good bargain. Ceramic figurines, embroidery, lace, gemstones – are a few examples of the great folk arts and crafts you will find at the Hippie Fair. Come rain or sun shine, the fair must go on every Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.
You will find plenty of local people at the fair, which is a wonderful place to spend a few hours. The best thing is that most merchants selling their ware are open to bargaining so you can end up with a number of fairly-priced art pieces for yourself. The general rule is to bargain for 2/3rd of the asking price. The idea is to have some fun and knowing the Brazilians, you can expect to have a friendly chat with each vendor, even though most speak only a little English.
Wet Your Appetite at the Fair
Apart from arts and crafts there are a few Bahia food stalls that sell traditional dishes including bacalhau, a codfish omelet and plenty of sweet dishes such as coconut candy. The Flower Power generation was used to wearing sandals and you will find handmade leather sandals at an affordable price.
The Hippie Fair is held every Sunday at Praça General Osório, a square that takes up an entire city block that is bordered by Rua Prudente de Morais and Rua Visconde de Pirajá. The fair has evolved into a major arts and craft market with several of the city’s artisans highlighting their works. Forget about the hassles of sticking to a budget when shopping at the fair. Chances are you will end up buying much more than you expected and still have a good deal of money left over for a few Caipirinhas and batidas.
Don’t leave the fair without trying the Acarajé. It is a croquette, fried in Dendê (Palm) oil, filled with spicy shrimp. The Hippie Fair is a great place to find bikinis. They are made in severeal models and colors and it’s a great way to dress like a native or just have it as souvenirs
Rio Sul Shopping Center
On April 28, 1980 the first mall in Rio de Janeiro opened its doors to the shopping public. With over 400 shops and a very tasty food court, this incredible building is still one of the premiere shopping facilities in Rio.
There are eight floors of some of the most amazing shopping in Rio. Women and men’s fashions, children’s clothing, electronics and jewelry are all featured at this mall. There is even a large home furnishing section. Children will love the toy stores and men will make a beeline to the home theater center. Music, books and souvenirs all have a home here. Some of the best stores
The 2 food courts have several cafes where a tired shopper can sip a cup of eye-opening Brazilian coffee and enjoy a show on one of the large screen projectors. Or, if sugar is the key to keep you shopping, stop in at one of the candy stores. The restaurants run the gamut from quick and easy fast food to high-end gourmet establishments. Italian, Asian, French and Mexican food is just some of the specialties served here. A great option for Mediterranean, Italian and Brazilian food is Rascal at the first floor.
This mall has more than meets the eye. There are four movie theaters showing all the latest blockbusters. A fitness center and full service day spa will keep you looking trim and beautiful. There is a travel agency where you can book your return trip to Rio as well as bank to keep your wallet filled while shopping and a money exchanger. A pharmacy, post office and police station are also on premises. Try to visit H Stern Store, where you can see a huge variety of Brazilian semi precious stones famous world wide. Celebrities as Angelina Jolie has worn them.
The Riosul is just north of Copacabana Beach on Avenida Lauro Muller in the Botafogo district. Free buses from the beach and nearby hotels will take you directly there. There is also a free bus that goes from Cardeal Arcoverde Subway Station to the mall and back, from 10 am to 10 pm, from Monday to Saturdays and from 3 pm to 9 pm on Sundays.. The large parking garage has valet parking so tired toes do not have to traipse across several hundred feet of parking lot at the end of a busy shopping day.
The Riosul is the shopping mecca of Rio de Janeiro. With something for everyone and prices that are sometimes reasonable but most times cheap, this mall is a fun place to spend an afternoon or evening. Just be sure it is the last stop of your day as you are bound to leave staggering under the weight of all your purchases.
Havaianas
Absolutely sensational! Havaianas are heaven for the feet! These amazingly comfortable sandals have been a hit in Brazil since they were first designed in the 1960s. Today, they are storming onto the international fashion scene. Popular with models, movie stars and moguls, they are now available to the world at affordable prices and in colorful and mod designs. Now, Havaianas has its own website and many stores in Rio (a great one in Rio Sul Mall) where you can find many different models that will fit your taste and feet.
Fashioned after the Japanese sandal called the Zori, made with rice straw soles and cloth straps, these sandals were designed for comfort and durability. In 1994, the inspiration to create monochromatic sandals was inspired by surfers in Brazil who would remove the straps, turn the sandal over and then reattach the straps. In 2006, the Havaianas Slim was created with a more delicate strap for women. This is the most popular style today. 2007 marked the permanent introduction of Havaianas into the United States and in 2008 Havaianas moved into Europe when their international base was set up in Madrid.
More than 40 types of Havaianas are now available. Color options increase your choice to 350 possible styles. The design options have also become more radical. Psychedelic swirls, geometric prints and Hawaiian floral are among the most popular in today’s market. Swarovski crystals, metallic and camouflage are all available. Havaianas are also made for young children and toddlers. A special elastic strap keeps them on little feet.
These flip-flops are often manufactured to celebrate special events. Sandals with team colors were available for the World Soccer Cup. The 2016 Olympics will most likely have their own special design. The most recent limited edition is a Slim Crystal Mesh in silver, gold or pewter. The straps are embellished with sparkling crystals. These sandals retail for $148.00. However, standard styles are very affordable.
When visiting Rio be sure not to leave the city without at least one pair of Havaianas for yourself. These also make a great gift for friends and family at home. Teenagers will especially love the crazy and nouveau designs. Adults will appreciate their comfort and durability. After all, these sandals never lose their shape or their straps. And, best of all, they do not hold foot odor and always smell fresh.
Rio Carnival
From the beautiful and sexy beaches of Rio de Janeiro to Rio Carnival and the Rio Nightlife, the type of energy that the city of Rio emulates is just simply electrifying. What is even more exhilarating are the deliciously bronzed samba dancers, the pulsating music, the energy and applause of the spectators filled with Cariocas and visitors from around the world who call come to the same place to experience the world famous Rio Carnival.
Held every year during the week leading up to Lent, Rio Carnival attracts visitors from all corners the globe.
It is inconceivable to think of Rio without thinking of its unrivaled Carnival. Anticipation builds and the excitement grows as Carnival time gets closer and closer. Without a doubt, this is the favorite holiday celebration in Rio. The city glows with the smiles and energy of the locals — or Cariocas. Samba music can be heard coming from neighborhoods throughout the city and crowds gather to dance and play all day, night and straight into the next morning.
It is the inherent spirit of the Cariocas and their true joie de vivre that makes Rio Carnival such a glorious success year after year!
Rio Carnival 2017
Here you will learn all about the events of Rio Carnival 2017: the glorious Sambadrome Parades, with Rio de Janeiro’s 12 most elite samba schools making up the Special Group parading at the main two parades on Carnivals Sunday and Monday — the other 15 samba schools that make up the Access Group parade down the Samba runway on on Friday February 24th and Saturday February 25th, in a fierce competition for a spot among the Special Group in the following year’s Rio Carnival.
Explore the stage of Rio Carnival, the Sambadrome, its sectors and purchase tickets for the big show. Find an entire section about costumes that can be used to assist those who want to take part in the biggest party on the planet and parade with a real samba school.
Book hotel accommodations and tickets to the parade and directions on how to get to sambadrome using the safe subway system.
While preparations continue for the Carnival all year round, technical rehearsals by the samba schools are held at the Sambadrome for a few weeks before the big weekend of competition. This is the prelude to the most extravagant, beautiful, and sexy spectacle, which the whole world waits for with baited breath.
For every Carioca, this is a sign that their much awaited four-day holiday is around the corner. The Carnival is watched on television sets all over the world. The energy and spirit of the celebration transcend the one-dimensional view from the TV to captivate each viewer and draw him or her into the excitement and ecstasy of the festival.
All else comes to a halt on the four days of the Carnival, with the exception of samba, women, beer, and partying all night long. Once the Sambadrome empties, the parties continue at every street corner all over the city. Throughout the neighborhoods of Rio Cariocas celebrate the arrival of the Carnival.
People dance along the streets singing the songs of the Samba. Everyone comes together in friendship and fun to enjoy the balls, street parades and the excitement of the Sambadrome. Cariocas make no distinction between locals and foreigners, who are most welcome to participate in the event. In fact, visitors can grab a place on the samba strip as a participant with one of the samba schools. All you need is to buy one of the school specific costumes.
Costumes will be available in mid-November
There are many theories as to the origin of the Carnival with stories of it being a pagan celebration in ancient Rome. Carnival balls became popular in Rio in the nineteenth century with legendary balls held at the Copacabana Palace Hotel and the Municipal Theater.
The inevitable influence of Afro-Brazilian culture in the form of the samba heralded the beginning of the Samba Parade in the 1930s. It is the ethnic melting pot of Rio that makes this festival unlike any in the world. The combination of the cultural diversity and Brazilian swing rhythm is what makes the Carnival in Rio so unique.
Women are at the head of the parade of each samba school. They have the job of conquering not only the spectators’ hearts, which is not too difficult, but those of the judges too. The Porta Bandeira, the flag bearer of the samba school, in an intricate sequin and feather costume is the first to enter the samba strip as the crowds stand and cheer as she passes by performing the most elaborate samba steps.
Accompanying the Porta Bandeira is her protector the Mestre Sala. Inspired by the nobility of the eighteenth century, the couple is adorned with very elaborate costumes. His job is to guide and watch over her as she dances along the parade route. Originally, he would guard her armed with a knife so other Samba schools could not distract her and cause her to lose points. The Porta Bandeira must dance and interact with the Mestre Sala as well as the audience. She cannot allow the flag she carries to touch her body or wind around the flagpole. To do so would result in a loss of points for her troupe.
Then come the floats with beautiful women sensually dancing the samba in the tiniest of costumes, accompanied on either side of the floats by ‘alas’ or sections of the samba school. Each section has a different type of costume, all of them breathtaking to say the least.
Each samba school has 80 minutes to parade down the strip at the Sambadrome. The Rio Carnival kicks off with the opening ceremony on Friday where King Momo is crowned by Rio’s mayor. In the evening a children’s parade sets the tone for the next four days of revelry combined with an intense show of dance, theater, arts and music. On Saturday, members of the Access Group strut their stuff in the hopes of joining the major league players. Sunday and Monday are reserved for the 12 best samba schools vying for the championship spot where six of the finest march on each day.
The schools of samba are a musical genre symbolizing Brazil. At the Sambadrome each school plays out its own story with a common theme ranging from politics to arts and sports. What everyone looks forward to apart from the dancers is each team’s unique song, creative costumes, and choreography. Each Samba School tries to be more creative than its competitor. From levitation to a flying astronaut, the Sambadrome is always full of surprises. And each year the schools seem more and more creative as rich imagination give way to show stopping flights of fancy.
All roads lead to the Rio Sambadrome on Carnival nights. It is advisable to take the subway or a taxi to reach the stadium. Admission is around $70 for the grand stand, with seating arrangements starting at $200′s. However, it is even more fun joining the samba parade. To be able to participate in a Samba School parade, all you need to do is pre-order a costume with us. Yes, your costume is your ticket to parading.
No comments:
Post a Comment