Plimothy
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What to do? Where to start?! There's the world's largest "urban forest" (a rain forest, at that) in the mountains that hem the city against the Atlantic. The forest road is closed to motor vehicles on Sundays, and so, very quiet. Walk, run, hike, bike, birdwatch.
There are several vistas of the city and the sea, including Corcovado, which has the huge statue of Christ -- Rio's symbol to the world. There's also a hang-gliding jump-off point (fly double with a pilot).
Between the forest and the "concrete city" are favelas (shantytowns) where millions live in tropical squalor. Some of the communities are better off than others. There are organized favela tours, if you want to see how the other half lives.
A tony, artsy neighborhood in the hills is Santa Teresa. Twice a year they have an "open doors" fest. You can go into artists' studios, and there are art installations throughout the neighborhood. Have a rum drink & a meal at the Mineiro restaurant; they specialize in cuisine in the style of the neighboring state of Minas Gerais (which, btw, is good side-trip choice).
Santa Teresa is connected to the historical downtown by a trolley system. Stand on the running boards for the trip and you won't be charged the $0.75 fare (not that you seem cheap)....
Of all the things at sea level (+) -- and Rio is a world-class city, so you can guess at some of them -- I'll mention the botanical garden. A 19th-century monarch encouraged seafarers to bring back plants from their travels, so there's an exotic collection.
And don't forget to take a swimsuit....
"Brazil" is the English version. In Portuguese, it's "Brasil," and they always add the definite article "o" ("the"), so you'll see "o Brasil" -- or "do Brasil," meaning "of Brazil"; "no Brasil," "in Brazil." |
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