Brazil’s safety issue is just like in another big city

“I think Brazil is getting a bad rap. To be honest with you, the first few times that I went to Brazil I was very nervous and thought, ‘oh my God,’ this and that. I’ve been to Brazil many times and Brazil as a country and Brazilians as a people are getting a bad rap. Brazil isn’t as dangerous and as scary and as crazy as everybody thinks it is. I mean sure, there has been some bad things that have happened down there in the past. Bad things happen everywhere, you know? We can say the same thing in Detroit, we can say the same thing in New York, we can say the same thing in a lot of cities across the United States.” Dana White – UFC President

To read the full article, click here
Source: MMA Mania

It’s not the same anymore

Many travelers before come to Rio assume that our city is cheap to eat, stay and have fun. It can be but you need to know a local to make things easier for you.
Last April one of the Brazil’s largest circulation magazine released an article about Rio’s cost of living. It shocks most of the Cariocas (locals).
The research was made by several institutes from all over the world comparing the prices from products in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and other countries. Here we made a compilation of the most interesting prices and products:

Tourism
Eiffel Tower (Paris) = €13.40
Sugar Loaf (Rio) = R$44

Statue of Liberty (New York) = US$13
Christ Statue (Rio) = R$36

Rent a bike
in Paris, FRA = €9.50
in Rio, BRA = R$30 to 45

Brazilian Soccer Team
in Paris = €87
in Rio = R$239

But if you still looking for something remarkable during your stay in the Wonderful City here are a few:
>Copacabana Palace: 1 night at the super suite = R$4,000
>Satyricon: Lobster for dinner = R$150

Street party! (Samba)

Suvaco do Cristo - 2010

It’s time to celebrate and dance the samba at the streets of Rio. Besides the official party only starts in March, in January and February one can join the blocos (=street party). There will be 424 blocos all over the city. Choose yours and have fun

We listed some of the blocos and the most famous at the South Zone of Rio. List were made by date, bloco name, where it starts, time and neighborhood.

January
20th – Boca Maldita – Concentração na Rua Barata Ribeiro às 15h – Copacabana
30th – Acadêmicos do Vidigal – Concentração na Av. Delfim Moreira às 14h – Leblon

February
06th – Verde Amarelo e DJ Brasil – Concentração na Marina da Glória às 15h – Flamengo
13th – Só Caminha – Concentração no Largo dos Leões às 12h – Botafogo
13th – Vira-Lata – Concentração na Av. Delfim Moreira às 10h – Leblon
19th – Desliga da Justiça – Concentração na Praça Santos Dumont às 16h – Gávea
19th – Banda de Ipanema – Concentração na Rua Gomes Carneiro às 16h – Ipanema
19th – Imprensa que eu Gamo – Concentração na Rua Gago Coutinho às 13h – Laranjeiras
19th – Spanta Neném – Concentração na ciclovia da Lagoa às 13h – Lagoa
19th – GB – Concentração na Rua General Glicério às 12h – Laranjeiras
20th – Kizomba – Concentração na Praça do Jockey às 17h – baixo Gávea
20th – Calma, Calma sua Piranha – Concentração na Rua Visconde de Caravelas às 13h – Botafogo
20th – Arrasta – Concentração na Rua Jornalista Orlando Dantas às 15h – Flamengo
20th – Bagunça o meu Coreto – Concentração na Praça São Salvador às 17h – Laranjeiras
20th – Me Esquece – Concentração na Praça Ataualpa às 08h – Leblon
20th – Ai, Que Cimento – Concentração na Av. Prefeito Mendes de Moraes às 17h – São Conrado
20th – Ensaio Geral – Concentração no Posto 6 às 10h – Copacabana
20th – Sangue Bom – Concentração no Posto 6 às 08h – Copacabana
24th – Cariocas do Mundo – Concentração no Calçadão do Arpoador às 17h – Ipanema
25th – Perereka sem dono – Concentração na Rua Henrique Novaes às 16h – Botafogo
25th – Inova que eu Gosto (Amigos da FINEP) – Concentração na Rua Paissandu às 17h – Flamengo
26th – Escola Sá Pereira – Concentração na Rua Capistrano de Abreu às 09h – Botafogo
26th – Banda do Catete – Concentração da Rua do Catete às 16h – Catete
26th – Fogo na Cueca – Concentração na Rua Maestro Francisco Braga às 12h – Copacabana
26th – Amigas da Pracinha – Concentração na Praça Pio XI às 10h – Jardim Botânico
26th – Ansiedade – Concentração no Marcado São José às 13h – Laranjeiras
26th – Imagino! Agora Amassa – Concentração na Rua José Linhares às 08h – Leblon
26th – Simpatia é Quase Amor – Concentração Praça General Osório às 14h – Ipanema
26th – Brasil – Concentração no Parque dos Patins às 16h – Lagoa
26th – Espumas e Paetês – Concentração na Praça General Glicério às 11h – Laranjeiras
26th – Só o Cume Interessa – Concentração na Praça General Tibúrcio às 11h – Praia Vermelha
26th – Banda Bandida – Concentração na Rua Carvalho de Mendonça às 16h – Copacabana
26th – Mendigos – Concentração na Rua Bulhões de Carvalho às 12h – Ipanema
26th – Os Imóveis – Concentração na Rua Sousa Lima às 14h – Ipanema
26th – Rio Pandeiro – Concentração na Praça São Salvador às 16h – Laranjeiras
26th – Areia – Concentração na Rua Dias Ferreira às 12h – Leblon
26th – Cutucano Atrás – Concentração em frente ao La Fiorentina às 17h – Leme
26th – Ih! É Carnaval – Concentração na Avenida Pasteur às 17h – Urca
27th – Empolga às 9 – Concentração no Posto 9 às 16h – Ipanema
27th – Carvalho em Pé – Concentração na Rua Visconde de Caravelas às 10h – Botafogo
27th – Alegria sem Ressaca – Concentração na Av. Atlântica às 08h – Copacabana
27th – Banda do Arroxo – Concentração na Rua Belfort Roxo às 14h – Copacabana
27th – Quem não Guenta Bebe Água – Concentração na Rua Gago Coutinho às 12h – Laranjeiras
27th – Boka de Espuma – Concentração na Rua Marquês de Olinda às 16h – Botafogo
27th – Bambas do Catete – Concentração na Rua do Catete às 14h – Catete
27th – Blocão – Concentração no Posto 6 às 09h – Copacabana
27th – Vila Rica – Concentração na Rua Siqueira Campos às 15h – Copacabana
27th – Da Preta – Concentração na Av. Vieira Souto (Posto 10) às 10h – Ipanema
27th – Se Não Quiser me Dá Me Empresta – Concentração na Av. Vieira Souto às 13h – Ipanema
27th – Suvaco do Cristo – Concentração na Rua Jardim Botânicos às 09h – Jd. Botânico
27th – Tambor Carioca – Concentração no Parque dos Patins às 16h – Lagoa
27th – Gigantes da Lira – Concentração na Praça General Glicério às 09h – Laranjeiras
27th – Larga a Onça Alfredo – Concentração na Rua Ipiranga às 17h – Laranjeiras
27th – Chora Me Liga – Concentração na Avenida Delfim Moreira às 10h – Leblon
27th – Ai, Que Vergonha – Concentração no Calçadão da praia de São Conrado às 15h – São Conrado
27th – Tá Pirando, Pirado, Pirou – Concentração na Rua Lauro Muller às 14h – Urca

Samba, samba, samba…

One of Rio’s biggest events are coming and the Carioca’s are ready to party, dance and show their joy to the world. Join us!
Since Jan/9 the rehearsals for Rio’s official Carnaval has started. Each Samba School will rehearse once or twice, at the Sambodrome in different days/times.

January agenda:
Jan/9 (Sunday) – Rocinha (7pm), São Clemente (8pm) e Salgueiro (10pm)
Jan/15 (Saturday) – Alegria da Zona Sul (7pm), Viradouro (8pm) e Imperatriz (10pm)
Jan/16 (Sunday) – Cubango (7pm), Mocidade (8pm) e Unidos da Tijuca (10pm)
Jan/22 (Saturday) – Caprichosos (8pm) e União da Ilha (10pm)
Jan/23 (Sunday) – Renascer (7pm), Grande Rio (8pm) e Mangueira (10pm)
Jan/29 (Saturday) – Porto da Pedra (8pm) e Portela (10pm)
Jan/30 (Sunday) – Santa Cruz (7pm), Beija-Flor (8pm) e Vila Isabel (10pm)

February agenda:
Feb/06 (Sunday) – Império Serrano (7pm), Império da Tijuca (8pm) e Salgueiro (10pm)
Feb/12 (Saturday) – São Clemente (8pm) e União da Ilha (10pm)
Feb/13 (Sunday) – Estácio (7pm), Mocidade (8pm) e Mangueira (9pm)
Feb/19 (Saturday) – Porto da Pedra (7pm) e Portela (10pm)
Feb/20 (Sunday) – Inocentes (7pm), Vila Isabel (8pm) e Grande Rio (10pm)
Feb/26 (Saturday) – Imperatriz (8pm) e Beija-Flor (10pm)
Feb/27 (Sunday) – Unidos da Tijuca (10pm)

Information:
>rehearsal season goes until Feb/27
>free entrance
>Sambodrome location

Summer Time in Rio

Some helpful tourist tips

From our contributor Shama Ko:

The trick is not to be afraid, which can cause inaction and paralysis, but always stay alert. Don’t do stupid things like…

* Don’t go around flashing your electronics (mp3 players, Iphones and etc.) or money.
* Don’t bring a whole lot of attention to yourself as obviously being a foreigner.
* Walk with a purpose and try not to look totally lost on the streets holding a map or staring at the gps on your cell phone.
* Don’t carry much money and it doesn’t hurt to have a deterrent wallet with 10-20 reals in it.
* Buy a money belt if you have to move legal documents or large amounts of money.
* Make photocopies of your passport and don’t carry around the originals.
* Don’t let anyone suspicious get to close to you on the streets (no handouts or shoe shining)
* Don’t walk on the beach alone at night.
* Don’t walk in dark alley’s or low traffic streets alone at night.

And finally: Trust your instincts and be alert. Just common sense stuff…Don’t be careless and you’ll be okay.

Local’s spot: Baixo Gávea

A very chill spot tucked away in a nice part of Rio. One will really enjoy hanging out here since you had handful of restaurants and bars to choose from. Sunday nights are small scale street party which starts happening around 10pm and locals start filling in quickly. All in all its a very relaxed atmosphere. It’s a young crowd, with lots of college kids and a fair mix of young adults. Nice place to mingle with some locals. Everyone super friendly and the woman are beautiful. Have a tall glass of curb side beer (Brahma) and enjoy!

Hang Glide in Rio de Janeiro

“Look at the horizon, and keep my pace”. So off we went, flying as free as bird and admiring the captivating view of Rio de Janeiro…

Why travel to Rio de Janeiro? Here you will find…

A forest? An ocean? A Metropolis? Beautiful people? Friendly People? Yes, Rio has got it all. One can travel to Rio de Janeiro, the Wonderful City, for business, for fun, to practice sports, to watch big events, with family, etc. Besides all the issues concerning the problems of big cities Rio is ready to fulfill ones dreams.

Most of travelers come to the Wonderful City and go straight to the beach for a relaxing swim and a cold coconut water while a happy Carioca (a local) is smiling offering a chair to be rented at the warm sand of Ipanema, Leblon or Barra beach. But this is just the beginning. One will find here a full-day program that can start with a refreshing Açaí juice (known as dietary antioxidants may promote health) that can be found in every neighborhood inside popular juice stores. Follow that up with a hike at Tijuca Forest (world’s largest urban forest), which has many waterfalls and breath taking views from the city, lunch the traditional Brazilian cuisine “feijoada” (black beans, rice, meats, slices of orange, kale and farofa) surrounded by Guanabara Bay, Sugar Loaf and Christ Statue. Keep on track because day one is not even at the end. After lunch, one will tour the Sugar Loaf getting the cable car up the hill to see one the most traditional and gorgeous views from Rio de Janeiro. Take a deep breath and get down to Arpoador beach, walk up the rock and contemplate the sunset. Now one will feel like a Carioca (a local) and ready to party at Rio’s nightlife.

Culture, architecture/history and nightlife are integrated here. Start having some draft beers (chopp in Portuguese. =cho+pe) at famous and very local Baixo Gavea (at Gavea neighborhood, in front of Joquei Club) where one will meet true Cariocas. If your feeling is electronic music go to 00 Club (at Gavea) or Club 69 (at Ipanema), but if you want to experience famous Samba and a mix of cultures don’t waste your time and head to Lapa. With bars and nightclubs like Estrela da Lapa, Carioca da Gema, Circo Voador and Teatro Odisséia one will not be disappointed and will bring home lifetime memories and new friends.

Looking for world-class events? Yes we also have those as well. Rio de Janeiro is the host city of two of the world’s major events: 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Games. Plus the Carnival once a year at the end of February or beginning of March the entire country uses costumes, dance and party for a week-long.

So what are you waiting for? Start to save money and come to the Wonderful City.

Amazing Deals on Airline Tickets. Very Low Rates. Onetravel.com

Missed this summer? So, get ready for 2011 :)

Follow those 10 steps and you’ll enjoy your stay at the Wonderful City just as a Carioca does every Summer:

1- Sunscreen: minimum 30sfp

2- Hiking at the astonishing Pedra da Gávea

3- Coconut water or water all day long. From 2-3 litters/day are recommended.

4- Go for a night swim at Arpoador beach

5- Drinking chopp (=draft beer) at a street pub (=bar/boteco)

6- Smile, be happy.

7- Fresh fruit juice before head to the beach

8- Walk along the beach or rent a bike on Sundays

9- Enjoy one day at Prainha or Joatinga beach

10- Dance, drink and act like a local at Lapa