Cidade Maravilhosa: a Quick Overview By Area.
Whether you're right now in Rio on your first or 2nd trip or about to travel to the Marvelous City, you want to know more about each district and area in Rio and the points of interest in each part. You've come to the right place as this entry is all about giving you that basic yet crucial backround info about the various areas of Rio. I will cover in a separate upcoming entry, each area with more details. Rio is divided into 4 main areas, or zones. Clockwise, they are Centro or Downtown, Zona Sul or South Zone, Zona Oeste or West South and Zona Norte or North Zone.
In North American cities, Downtown is where most trendy clubs, bars and lounges as well as posh shopping centres are located. Not so much in Rio de Janeiro and Brasil generally speaking. There, downtown is mainly the business area, where most white collar workers earn their daily bread. It's also in Centro that cultural points of interest are to be found such as museums, colonial architectures and churches. The downtown area is very active and buzzing with life during the day, however, at night, most of these areas are best avoided as they get filled by night fall with transvestites, prostitutes and other shady characters. The only exception to that is the Lapa district which is one of THE best places for Rio nightlife. The other main points of interest in Centro, are the bohemian and artists' quarter of Santa Teresa and its beautiful colorful houses in cobbled streets hills; Gloria district, a quit residential area and the regional and very scenic airport of Santos Dumont.
Further south of Centro area, is the Zona Sul or South Zone, which is the main area of interest to us. This is where the nicest, wealthiest, poshest and most beautiful along some of the true landmarks of Rio are located. Areas such as Flamengo, Botafogo, Urca (where the Pão de Açucar/Sugar Loaf is located), Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema, Lagoa (the Lagoon), Leblon, Gavea and its very posh and exclusive Jockey Club are in the Zona Sul/South Zone. This is where some of the best beaches in Rio are located, mainly in Ipanema and Leblon. Other main landmarks in the Zona Sul are the Arpoador beach, the Jardim Botanico and the world famous Corcovado (Christ Statue).
West of Leblon, we have São Conrado, a nice and elegant residential area and Barra da Tijuca, simply known as Barra. This is a newer middle to upper class neighborhood, with wide avenues, big shopping malls. In other words, a copy cat of any North American suburb. All in all, the only points of interest in Barra are the beautiful Praia do Pepe (Pepe Beach), Praia de Joatinga (Joatinga Beach), Barra Shopping mall and one of the trendiest clubs in Rio, Nuth.
Finally, coming full circle, we have Zona Norte/North Zone. This is an area which is predominantely comprised of poor neighborhoods. The only points of interest are the Maracana Stadium to catch a football match which is a must do experience in Rio, specially in a big match; visiting the Tijuca Forest, the biggest urban forest in the world and finally, another must do experience, attending the Salgueiro samba school's rehearsal, on Tuesday and Saturday nights, starting at around 11pm. Be warned tough that this is a seasonal thing, which runs from August to Carnaval (usually February, but sometimes, March; more on that in more detail in an upcoming post!).
As mentioned before, this is a very general and brief overview of the different areas of the Cidade Maravilhosa, Rio de Janeiro. Needless to say, I will cover in more depth, the points of interests in each area in a future post. Quite honestly, even with 1 full post dedicated to each area is not enough as there are so many great things to do and places to see in Rio, a truly a fascinating city of endless faces. The more time one spends in Rio, not only the more one falls in love with this city, but more importantly, the more one realizes how rich, beautiful, elegant, alluring, fascinating yet simple and non-chalant the Marvelous City is. In other words, a very addictive place!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
How To Dress Like A Brazilian?
In a previous post about safety issues in Rio, I mentioned that one of the best things you can do to have a safe time in Rio is to blend in. And what better way to that than dressing like a Brazilian. So how does a Brazilian dress? And where in Rio do they buy it from ? Read on my friends.
First, as mentioned before, no designer things, no expensive watch or sunglasses, no bling bling such as bracelets, gold chains or fancy cell phones or ipods. For the day time activities, if close to the beach, just get a short that you bought at one of the many stores in Ipanema or Copacabana. Buy a pair of flip flops, a local T-shirt and you're set. If you're away from the beach, then again, a simple pair of jeans along a T-shirt bought locally and some running shoes. All of course locally bought. I can hear now asking, "where do I buy these things in Rio?"
I'm glad you asked. There are a lot of options, but one of your first option would be to go to Rio Sul Shopping in Urca, close to the Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf). But don't buy your items from the expensive/imported or designer stores. Buy from a local brand store called C&A, which is very popular among the middle class in Brasil. They have some relatively nice looking things, not very expensive and most importantly, they help to blend in quite nicely.
Another option would be to look at the stores lining up Nossa Senhora de Copacabana street, which is the 1st street paralel to Avendia Atlantica, and has a good local selection of clothing.
If you want a truly local look with an added "adventure" to it, then hop onto the Metro and stop at Uruguaiana station in Centro and go to the Saara market at Rua da Alfandega. There you would find everything you'd need at rock bottom prices, read local prices, plus you'd also find all the touristy stuff you would ever wanted/needed at half the price of Copacabana's going rates.
As much as what to wear is important, it is also as importantly critical as what NOT to wear in Rio. Besides the obvious designer clothing with bling blings, one thing that makes someone sorely stand out as a gringo is the capoeira pants, the Brazilian futebol/soccer national shirt, a Copacabana hat with colorful parrots on it. And the worst of all, not only the biggest give away but also the most ugly sight, that is to be wearing socks with sandals. This is quite a popular "fashion" attire for Germans and Brits. Guys, first, if you really have to wear sandals, wear the local types and secondly, PLEASE, no socks with them!
And by far the most important piece of clothing one must have if they truly want to blend in, is to wear a tan. A real one. :-) So spend your first day at the beach, working on your tan. Of course after having stopped at the local pharmacy to pick up a nice local tanning and sun screen lotion.
Of course, there are a ton of other places to buy local clothings in Rio that would help you blend in better. As you spend more time in Rio and get to know real cariocas (the name given to Rio residents), or as they're called, a carioca da gema, then a whole new world will open up before your bewildered eyes. And that's one of the most charming and enchanting aspects of Rio, the Marvelous City. Speaking of which, as I am writting these concluding lines, all of a sudden, I hear the famous marchina (old carnaval song) which has become the anthem of Rio de Janeiro play in my head...
Cidade Maravilhosa, cheia de encantos mil,
Cidade Maravihosa, coração do meu Brasil
First, as mentioned before, no designer things, no expensive watch or sunglasses, no bling bling such as bracelets, gold chains or fancy cell phones or ipods. For the day time activities, if close to the beach, just get a short that you bought at one of the many stores in Ipanema or Copacabana. Buy a pair of flip flops, a local T-shirt and you're set. If you're away from the beach, then again, a simple pair of jeans along a T-shirt bought locally and some running shoes. All of course locally bought. I can hear now asking, "where do I buy these things in Rio?"
I'm glad you asked. There are a lot of options, but one of your first option would be to go to Rio Sul Shopping in Urca, close to the Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf). But don't buy your items from the expensive/imported or designer stores. Buy from a local brand store called C&A, which is very popular among the middle class in Brasil. They have some relatively nice looking things, not very expensive and most importantly, they help to blend in quite nicely.
Another option would be to look at the stores lining up Nossa Senhora de Copacabana street, which is the 1st street paralel to Avendia Atlantica, and has a good local selection of clothing.
If you want a truly local look with an added "adventure" to it, then hop onto the Metro and stop at Uruguaiana station in Centro and go to the Saara market at Rua da Alfandega. There you would find everything you'd need at rock bottom prices, read local prices, plus you'd also find all the touristy stuff you would ever wanted/needed at half the price of Copacabana's going rates.
As much as what to wear is important, it is also as importantly critical as what NOT to wear in Rio. Besides the obvious designer clothing with bling blings, one thing that makes someone sorely stand out as a gringo is the capoeira pants, the Brazilian futebol/soccer national shirt, a Copacabana hat with colorful parrots on it. And the worst of all, not only the biggest give away but also the most ugly sight, that is to be wearing socks with sandals. This is quite a popular "fashion" attire for Germans and Brits. Guys, first, if you really have to wear sandals, wear the local types and secondly, PLEASE, no socks with them!
And by far the most important piece of clothing one must have if they truly want to blend in, is to wear a tan. A real one. :-) So spend your first day at the beach, working on your tan. Of course after having stopped at the local pharmacy to pick up a nice local tanning and sun screen lotion.
Of course, there are a ton of other places to buy local clothings in Rio that would help you blend in better. As you spend more time in Rio and get to know real cariocas (the name given to Rio residents), or as they're called, a carioca da gema, then a whole new world will open up before your bewildered eyes. And that's one of the most charming and enchanting aspects of Rio, the Marvelous City. Speaking of which, as I am writting these concluding lines, all of a sudden, I hear the famous marchina (old carnaval song) which has become the anthem of Rio de Janeiro play in my head...
Cidade Maravilhosa, cheia de encantos mil,
Cidade Maravihosa, coração do meu Brasil
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tourist Visa Requirements to Brazil
To be allowed entry into Brazil and even prior to that, access inside the aircraft going to Brazil, a valid visa (in most cases a toursit visa) is required. There are various types of visas such as the tourist visa, the work visa, the business visa, the study visa, the one for religious or sporting event and so forth. But for the sake of this post, I'll only focus on the Tourist Visa which is what the majority of people going to Brazil will need.
You may be wondering, what a visa for Brazil? Is that a joke? I hear you. I felt exactly the same when I first heard about it before my first trip to Brazil in October 2005. But yes, Brazil requires a valid visa for citizens of Canada, the US, Australia, Japan, Russia, Mexico, Nigeria. To get a full and updated list of countries whose citizens require a visa for Brazil simply consult the Brazilian consulate in your city if there is one if not, contact the Brazilian Embassy in your country. For us Canucks, here's the link for the Brazilian Consulate in Toronto: http://www.consbrastoronto.org/ For you my Yankee friends, here's the link to the Brazilian Consulates in major cities accross the US: http://www.brazilhouston.org/ingles/jurisdic.htm
Here's a list of Brazilian consulates in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and N.Z.: http://www.deltatranslator.com/brazil-emb-consul.htm
Once you've located the nearest Brazilian consulate, browse through their site and make sure to read it carefully, specially all the requirements and criterias before applying for a Tourist Visa. The application itself is no big deal, but does take a few minutes. You can fill the form right there online and then print it and either take it in person to the nearest Brazilian Consulate or if that's not an option, you can mail it directly along your passport (again read very careful the requirements/criterias for doing that before sending it!). Make sure you apply at least 2 weeks before your trip. And once you've received your visa, you will have 90 days to enter Brazil otherwise, it will expire and you'd have to re-apply and pay the visa application fee again.
The length of visa one would receive varies greatly. I have heard of people receiving anywhere from a one time 30 days, a one time 90 days to as much as an unlimited entry for 5 years, which is the one I received. Again, the wild fluctuations are mainly encountered in the US, while for us, Canucks, the normal standard is the unlimited entry visa for 5 years!:) The application fee has been just increased, so check on your local consulate's website for the fee. I remember paying CDN$72 in August 2005 while it's been just increased to CDN$91.00 for Canadian citizens.
Citizens of most European countries do not require a visa to enter Brazil. Here's the complete and update list of countries whose citizens do not require a tourist visa to Brazil:
http://www.consbrastoronto.org/some_countries.php
It goes without saying (but I'll say it nonetheless) that a valid passport is a must to travel to Brazil. Make sure that your passport doesn't expire for at least 6 months before your return date from Brazil. In case your passport containing your Brazil Visa is about to expire within the next 6 months or has expired, and you have a trip to Brazil coming up, do not panick! You do not need to apply for a new visa and pay again the application fee provided your visa is valid beyond the expiry date of your passport. All you need, is make sure you get a new passport before you travel and when you go to renew your passport, make sure you tell the immigration officer not to damage the page on your old passport which has your Brazil Visa on it! On my last trip during Carnaval 2009, I had just renewed my passport and had made sure that the page containing my Brazil Visa was not damaged during the renewal process. All I had to do was take both passports with me on my trip and I had no problem at all.
Now that you have a good handle of the requirements to obtain a Tourist Visa to Brazil, go ahead and apply for one. Again, apply at least 2 weeks before your trip and you'd be fine. This will be one trip you will never forget and one that you will be making for the rest of your life! Brazil and specially Rio, is truly an addictive place. You will be hooked for life, trust me on this! I'm speaking from personal and first hand experience on that. And I am not an isolated case. Very far from it! On the next post, I'll cover your very first day in Brazil/Rio and what to do and what not to do upon landing at the Galeão (Rio's international airport name).
So stay tuned and hopefully I'll see you in Rio....;)
You may be wondering, what a visa for Brazil? Is that a joke? I hear you. I felt exactly the same when I first heard about it before my first trip to Brazil in October 2005. But yes, Brazil requires a valid visa for citizens of Canada, the US, Australia, Japan, Russia, Mexico, Nigeria. To get a full and updated list of countries whose citizens require a visa for Brazil simply consult the Brazilian consulate in your city if there is one if not, contact the Brazilian Embassy in your country. For us Canucks, here's the link for the Brazilian Consulate in Toronto: http://www.consbrastoronto.org/ For you my Yankee friends, here's the link to the Brazilian Consulates in major cities accross the US: http://www.brazilhouston.org/ingles/jurisdic.htm
Here's a list of Brazilian consulates in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and N.Z.: http://www.deltatranslator.com/brazil-emb-consul.htm
Once you've located the nearest Brazilian consulate, browse through their site and make sure to read it carefully, specially all the requirements and criterias before applying for a Tourist Visa. The application itself is no big deal, but does take a few minutes. You can fill the form right there online and then print it and either take it in person to the nearest Brazilian Consulate or if that's not an option, you can mail it directly along your passport (again read very careful the requirements/criterias for doing that before sending it!). Make sure you apply at least 2 weeks before your trip. And once you've received your visa, you will have 90 days to enter Brazil otherwise, it will expire and you'd have to re-apply and pay the visa application fee again.
The length of visa one would receive varies greatly. I have heard of people receiving anywhere from a one time 30 days, a one time 90 days to as much as an unlimited entry for 5 years, which is the one I received. Again, the wild fluctuations are mainly encountered in the US, while for us, Canucks, the normal standard is the unlimited entry visa for 5 years!:) The application fee has been just increased, so check on your local consulate's website for the fee. I remember paying CDN$72 in August 2005 while it's been just increased to CDN$91.00 for Canadian citizens.
Citizens of most European countries do not require a visa to enter Brazil. Here's the complete and update list of countries whose citizens do not require a tourist visa to Brazil:
http://www.consbrastoronto.org/some_countries.php
It goes without saying (but I'll say it nonetheless) that a valid passport is a must to travel to Brazil. Make sure that your passport doesn't expire for at least 6 months before your return date from Brazil. In case your passport containing your Brazil Visa is about to expire within the next 6 months or has expired, and you have a trip to Brazil coming up, do not panick! You do not need to apply for a new visa and pay again the application fee provided your visa is valid beyond the expiry date of your passport. All you need, is make sure you get a new passport before you travel and when you go to renew your passport, make sure you tell the immigration officer not to damage the page on your old passport which has your Brazil Visa on it! On my last trip during Carnaval 2009, I had just renewed my passport and had made sure that the page containing my Brazil Visa was not damaged during the renewal process. All I had to do was take both passports with me on my trip and I had no problem at all.
Now that you have a good handle of the requirements to obtain a Tourist Visa to Brazil, go ahead and apply for one. Again, apply at least 2 weeks before your trip and you'd be fine. This will be one trip you will never forget and one that you will be making for the rest of your life! Brazil and specially Rio, is truly an addictive place. You will be hooked for life, trust me on this! I'm speaking from personal and first hand experience on that. And I am not an isolated case. Very far from it! On the next post, I'll cover your very first day in Brazil/Rio and what to do and what not to do upon landing at the Galeão (Rio's international airport name).
So stay tuned and hopefully I'll see you in Rio....;)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Rio Safety Tips
As mentioned in an earlier post, safety is a major topic in Brazil and even more so, in Rio de Janeiro. We have all heard and read all those horror stories about Rio being one of the most violent and dangerous cities in the world. Yes it is true that Rio is not Kansas City, but it's far from being the war zone like as the media like to portray it. The majority of the violence is located in the favelas. So what can you and I as visitors and travelers to Rio do to ensure we have a safe time there?
First and foremost, as mentioned in a previous post, Rio is definitely not the place to show off. Quite the opposite, try to keep as low a profile as you can. Leave your jewelry, bracelets, rings, watches and expensive cell phones at home.
One thing I always do everytime I go to Rio is to always take with me 2 wallets, one old with expired library or other bogus cards in which I keep some change for what I'll need that day and another wallet, with all my IDs and credit cards that I always keep safely in the hotel's safe. When it comes to money transaction, another key thing to remember is to always keep some cash in the front pockets of your pants/shorts spread out. Make sure you know how much you have in each pocket so when you buy something, you only take what you need from your pocket. It is highly suggested not to take out your wallet in public places such as the beach, street vendors and the likes. Inside the malls or stores, no problem, but outside, be extra careful. At times, during events where there will be lots of people and you want to take a little bit more cash than needed just in case, I would also put some back up cash inside the socks I'd be wearing.
When withdrawing cash from the ATMs, try to do that strictly during the day using an ATM inside a mall or inside an actual branch. When getting the cash out of the machine, stand as close to the ATM machine as possible and take a quick look around you to ensure no one is looking at you. Then take the cash immediately and put it straight inside your front pocket or your wallet. Please do not count the cash there in public! Also, when leaving the bank branch, look around you to see if no one is looking at you and walk away fast in a confident manner. Even better, don't walk to your hotel/apart with your pockets full of the cash you just withdrew from the bank. Hop on the first cab in sight.
When in Rio, try to blend in as much as possible. To achieve that, travel light and just observe how people are dressed and dress the same way. As mentioned previously, clothing is of excellent quality in Brazil and at half the price of the cost back home. Please leave the hawaiian shirts, designer items and the likes at home. For the day to day things, a short, T-shirt and flip flops are the way to go or a simple pair of jeans along some tennis shoes are fine too. If you were to go to a nice classy restaurant or go out at night, then a long trouser with dress shirt and dress shoes are the norm.
If you have to wear a hat/baseball cap, try at least to wear one with a local brand. Wearing caps in Rio is not as common as in North America/Europe. If you are taking your digital camera with you, make sure it is well hidden. Do not carry it in your hands or worst, on your neck. Remember, this is Rio, not Kansas City. Before taking it out, take a quick look to make sure there are no shady looking people around you, take a few pics fast, then put it back in your pocket.
For getting around, cabs are a no brainer and the way to go as they are cheap and safe. Cabbing at night is a must, there's no way around it. Another good and cheaper alternative to taxis is the metro/subway. Rio has a very efficient, fast, safe subway system. Bus is another option as well, but at first, I wouldn't recommend it specially if you don't speak fluent/near fluent Portuguese, don't know Rio and the myriads of bus routes well and this is your first or second time there since it would be easy for you to end up in the wrong bus in the wrong part of town. (I will cover more in detail the subway and bus system in Rio in a future post).
Needless to say not to get too drunk, specially late at night when you're going out. Inside clubs, never leave your drinks unattended. You should never leave your drinks away from your sight at any time. And when leaving your club to return to your hotel/apart, do not walk even if it's only a block or two away. That's the perfect opportunity to get mugged! To avoid that, simply take a cab!
Following these basic common sense tips and precautions have allowed me to have so far a safe and uneventful time in my 10+ trips to Rio so far. And it's not very hard to do. Use the same common sense you would use in any major city and you would be not only fine but have the time of your life. :)
First and foremost, as mentioned in a previous post, Rio is definitely not the place to show off. Quite the opposite, try to keep as low a profile as you can. Leave your jewelry, bracelets, rings, watches and expensive cell phones at home.
One thing I always do everytime I go to Rio is to always take with me 2 wallets, one old with expired library or other bogus cards in which I keep some change for what I'll need that day and another wallet, with all my IDs and credit cards that I always keep safely in the hotel's safe. When it comes to money transaction, another key thing to remember is to always keep some cash in the front pockets of your pants/shorts spread out. Make sure you know how much you have in each pocket so when you buy something, you only take what you need from your pocket. It is highly suggested not to take out your wallet in public places such as the beach, street vendors and the likes. Inside the malls or stores, no problem, but outside, be extra careful. At times, during events where there will be lots of people and you want to take a little bit more cash than needed just in case, I would also put some back up cash inside the socks I'd be wearing.
When withdrawing cash from the ATMs, try to do that strictly during the day using an ATM inside a mall or inside an actual branch. When getting the cash out of the machine, stand as close to the ATM machine as possible and take a quick look around you to ensure no one is looking at you. Then take the cash immediately and put it straight inside your front pocket or your wallet. Please do not count the cash there in public! Also, when leaving the bank branch, look around you to see if no one is looking at you and walk away fast in a confident manner. Even better, don't walk to your hotel/apart with your pockets full of the cash you just withdrew from the bank. Hop on the first cab in sight.
When in Rio, try to blend in as much as possible. To achieve that, travel light and just observe how people are dressed and dress the same way. As mentioned previously, clothing is of excellent quality in Brazil and at half the price of the cost back home. Please leave the hawaiian shirts, designer items and the likes at home. For the day to day things, a short, T-shirt and flip flops are the way to go or a simple pair of jeans along some tennis shoes are fine too. If you were to go to a nice classy restaurant or go out at night, then a long trouser with dress shirt and dress shoes are the norm.
If you have to wear a hat/baseball cap, try at least to wear one with a local brand. Wearing caps in Rio is not as common as in North America/Europe. If you are taking your digital camera with you, make sure it is well hidden. Do not carry it in your hands or worst, on your neck. Remember, this is Rio, not Kansas City. Before taking it out, take a quick look to make sure there are no shady looking people around you, take a few pics fast, then put it back in your pocket.
For getting around, cabs are a no brainer and the way to go as they are cheap and safe. Cabbing at night is a must, there's no way around it. Another good and cheaper alternative to taxis is the metro/subway. Rio has a very efficient, fast, safe subway system. Bus is another option as well, but at first, I wouldn't recommend it specially if you don't speak fluent/near fluent Portuguese, don't know Rio and the myriads of bus routes well and this is your first or second time there since it would be easy for you to end up in the wrong bus in the wrong part of town. (I will cover more in detail the subway and bus system in Rio in a future post).
Needless to say not to get too drunk, specially late at night when you're going out. Inside clubs, never leave your drinks unattended. You should never leave your drinks away from your sight at any time. And when leaving your club to return to your hotel/apart, do not walk even if it's only a block or two away. That's the perfect opportunity to get mugged! To avoid that, simply take a cab!
Following these basic common sense tips and precautions have allowed me to have so far a safe and uneventful time in my 10+ trips to Rio so far. And it's not very hard to do. Use the same common sense you would use in any major city and you would be not only fine but have the time of your life. :)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
10 Rio Commandements
1) Leave Jewelry And Your Bling Bling At Home!
This is a major one. Rio and Brazil in general are not a place to show off! Leave all your bling bling such as necklaces, bracelets, expensive watches, ipods or iphones back at home. The only exception being when you're off to a swanky event or a posh club. Other than that, keep a low profile. As low as you possibly can! (I will dedicate an entire full post on the safety/precautions issue in an up-coming post as this is a crucial one in Rio/Brazil).
2) Stay In Zona Sul/South Zone.
This is the best part of town to stay where most things of interest to you are located. Specially around Ipanema, Leblon and some parts of Copacabana in that order. You might also consider Barra da Tijuca, further west, but you'd be a bit far away from everything, albeit in a very safe and America feel like area of Rio.
3) Stay Away From The Cops.
Things work differently down there. Cops are no exception to that. They take action first, then think. Even if you know you're right. If they feel like arresting you, don't sweat it. Let them take you to the police station and once there, call your consulate. If they feel like fining you for whatever reason, such as for example for a driving offense (another big reason not to drive in Rio), then make good use of your slickness to talk your way out of them giving you a ticket. But under no circumstances, be the first to offer them a bribe. If you do, that will only escalate the problem and may turn into your worst ever nightmare. Again, do not ever under any circumstances in Brazil be first to offer or propose a bribe to a cop, whether a a municipal or federal one or even worst, to a PF (Federal Police) or a PM (Military Police). However, if they sugggest that perhaps a solution can be reached by giving them a "tip"/gorjetinha", then by all means, but again, use all your game/slickness/negotiation skills to lower it as much as possible.
4) Always Have Small Change On You.
Do not go around with a R$50 or worst, with a R$100 bill and thinking that cab driver, the bus driver or the beer guy at the beach has change for a R$50 bill. Small changes will be your best friend and will make your life so much easier, while in Rio/Brazil.
5) Don't Stay In Another Area Of Town Because It's Cheaper.
If it is your first time in Rio/Brazil and you have limited to non-existant Portuguese, then stick to the Zona Sul (South Zone) of Ipanema, Leblon or Copacabana, in that order. This is where most places of interest will be located anyways, plus these are the safest areas in town to stay, specially for a first timer. If you're on a budget, what you may save by staying in areas like Centro, Botafogo, Catete or Flamengo, you would waste more on cab fares. Not to mention you'd be staying in areas where very few if any at all speak any English, plus at night, these areas can be a bit edgey. Not that it's dangerous, it's just that for someone that doesn't speak fluent Portuguese and with limited Rio and Brazil experience, it's not recommended.
6) Don't Drive In Rio.
Now this is a BIG one. Don't even think of renting a car and driving in Rio. Specially if you're a docile driver from North America or Western Europe. The only rule in Rio is that there is no rule when it comes to traffic rules and road signs. Everyone drives as if they own the road and believing they are Felipe Massa or the re-incarnation of Ayrton Senna. I am not kidding. Even if you're a lucky expat with all an expense paid account, stick to taxis. To make things even more complicated to drive in Rio, it's truly a maze-like city and one wrong turn could take you to a favela/slum or being fined by the kind cops (see item #5) or get stuck in traffic jam for hours. Thanks God this is not São Paulo, but still, stay away from driving in Rio. So better to play it safe and cab it or take the metro/subway, which is very efficient and ultra rapid.
7) Some Tips On Food.
I will post a more detailed entry about the delicious Brazilian food and another one about the out of this world fruit juices that this land is truly blessed with. However, just some basic tips in here that could mean the difference between the time of your life or an horrible one. First of all, don't try the peppers. Peppers in Brazil are a total different ball game to what you may be used. Trust me on this!Your stomach will be eternally gratful to you for following that one little tip. ;) Next, take it easy on the heavenly caipirinhas. These little drinks are so tasty that they barely taste like alcholic beverages, but after 2 or 3, they get get to work BIG TIME. So keep that in mind. Another point to remember, is stay away from the shrimps or oysters' sold on the beach or on the street for obvious reasons. Other than these 3 things, enjoy to your heart's desire all the succulent food and delicious drinks Brazil has to offer.
8) Avoid the Favelas/Slums.
The majority of favelas are on the hills with the exception of Santa Teresa, Cosme Velho and Joatinga. Other than these, hills and mountains are to be avoided at all cost. Venture there only at your own risk. The only time you would ever go there (if you're adventurous/brave enough) is either with a local you REALLY know and trust who lives in the hill or with an organized Favela Tour Group.(Yes, there are organized tours inside Favelas, mainly the Rocinha favela, which is the largest in Rio and those tours are very safe and highly recommended. More on those Favela Tours on a separate post, so stay tuned...). If you go outside of any of these rare exceptions, going to a favela is like playing Russian Roulette but with only a 50% chance of making it back alive and in one piece. Don't say you were not warned!
9) Copacabana Beach at Night.
Stay away from the beach alltogether after sunset as thats' where the majority of muggings occur. Keep also in mind that Avenida Atlantica, the main beach road in Copacabana, gets filled with hookers, trannies and the likes after dark (and sometimes during the day too). Oh and Club Help, is not a place to take your date or a place to look for a date. It's strictly a pick up joint for prostitutes as is the case for quite a few clubs and bars along Avenida Atlantica at night, unfortunately. So when it gets dark, do as I and most others in the know inlcuding the locals do, that is to leave Copacabana and venture into more classy, relax, fun and safe parts of town such as Ipanema or Leblon or on Fridays, Lapa is a must. Most of the best places to go out at night are located there anyways. On an upcoming post, I'll cover more in details the various options for the nightlife and the best clubs to go each night of the week.
10) Keep it cool.
In Rio, relax, keep it cool and be ready to have fun. You have to be on your guards all time, specially at night, but don't be too parano neither. Find a good balance. The toughest part is the first day or so as you don't know what to expect specially if you've searched a bit about Rio and read about its reputation of a rather violent city. But don't let that scare you. Keep your cool, be on your guards and follow basic common sense safety precautions (which I will cover in more depth in a future post), and take cabs, specially at night and you'll be ok. Or rather, you'll have the time of your life and will not want to leave this magical place and you'll undoubtedly and truly understand the reason why Rio is referred to as a Cidade Maravilhosa or the Marvelous City. :)
Welcome to Rio de Janeiro, the most addictive place on Earth!:)
This is a major one. Rio and Brazil in general are not a place to show off! Leave all your bling bling such as necklaces, bracelets, expensive watches, ipods or iphones back at home. The only exception being when you're off to a swanky event or a posh club. Other than that, keep a low profile. As low as you possibly can! (I will dedicate an entire full post on the safety/precautions issue in an up-coming post as this is a crucial one in Rio/Brazil).
2) Stay In Zona Sul/South Zone.
This is the best part of town to stay where most things of interest to you are located. Specially around Ipanema, Leblon and some parts of Copacabana in that order. You might also consider Barra da Tijuca, further west, but you'd be a bit far away from everything, albeit in a very safe and America feel like area of Rio.
3) Stay Away From The Cops.
Things work differently down there. Cops are no exception to that. They take action first, then think. Even if you know you're right. If they feel like arresting you, don't sweat it. Let them take you to the police station and once there, call your consulate. If they feel like fining you for whatever reason, such as for example for a driving offense (another big reason not to drive in Rio), then make good use of your slickness to talk your way out of them giving you a ticket. But under no circumstances, be the first to offer them a bribe. If you do, that will only escalate the problem and may turn into your worst ever nightmare. Again, do not ever under any circumstances in Brazil be first to offer or propose a bribe to a cop, whether a a municipal or federal one or even worst, to a PF (Federal Police) or a PM (Military Police). However, if they sugggest that perhaps a solution can be reached by giving them a "tip"/gorjetinha", then by all means, but again, use all your game/slickness/negotiation skills to lower it as much as possible.
4) Always Have Small Change On You.
Do not go around with a R$50 or worst, with a R$100 bill and thinking that cab driver, the bus driver or the beer guy at the beach has change for a R$50 bill. Small changes will be your best friend and will make your life so much easier, while in Rio/Brazil.
5) Don't Stay In Another Area Of Town Because It's Cheaper.
If it is your first time in Rio/Brazil and you have limited to non-existant Portuguese, then stick to the Zona Sul (South Zone) of Ipanema, Leblon or Copacabana, in that order. This is where most places of interest will be located anyways, plus these are the safest areas in town to stay, specially for a first timer. If you're on a budget, what you may save by staying in areas like Centro, Botafogo, Catete or Flamengo, you would waste more on cab fares. Not to mention you'd be staying in areas where very few if any at all speak any English, plus at night, these areas can be a bit edgey. Not that it's dangerous, it's just that for someone that doesn't speak fluent Portuguese and with limited Rio and Brazil experience, it's not recommended.
6) Don't Drive In Rio.
Now this is a BIG one. Don't even think of renting a car and driving in Rio. Specially if you're a docile driver from North America or Western Europe. The only rule in Rio is that there is no rule when it comes to traffic rules and road signs. Everyone drives as if they own the road and believing they are Felipe Massa or the re-incarnation of Ayrton Senna. I am not kidding. Even if you're a lucky expat with all an expense paid account, stick to taxis. To make things even more complicated to drive in Rio, it's truly a maze-like city and one wrong turn could take you to a favela/slum or being fined by the kind cops (see item #5) or get stuck in traffic jam for hours. Thanks God this is not São Paulo, but still, stay away from driving in Rio. So better to play it safe and cab it or take the metro/subway, which is very efficient and ultra rapid.
7) Some Tips On Food.
I will post a more detailed entry about the delicious Brazilian food and another one about the out of this world fruit juices that this land is truly blessed with. However, just some basic tips in here that could mean the difference between the time of your life or an horrible one. First of all, don't try the peppers. Peppers in Brazil are a total different ball game to what you may be used. Trust me on this!Your stomach will be eternally gratful to you for following that one little tip. ;) Next, take it easy on the heavenly caipirinhas. These little drinks are so tasty that they barely taste like alcholic beverages, but after 2 or 3, they get get to work BIG TIME. So keep that in mind. Another point to remember, is stay away from the shrimps or oysters' sold on the beach or on the street for obvious reasons. Other than these 3 things, enjoy to your heart's desire all the succulent food and delicious drinks Brazil has to offer.
8) Avoid the Favelas/Slums.
The majority of favelas are on the hills with the exception of Santa Teresa, Cosme Velho and Joatinga. Other than these, hills and mountains are to be avoided at all cost. Venture there only at your own risk. The only time you would ever go there (if you're adventurous/brave enough) is either with a local you REALLY know and trust who lives in the hill or with an organized Favela Tour Group.(Yes, there are organized tours inside Favelas, mainly the Rocinha favela, which is the largest in Rio and those tours are very safe and highly recommended. More on those Favela Tours on a separate post, so stay tuned...). If you go outside of any of these rare exceptions, going to a favela is like playing Russian Roulette but with only a 50% chance of making it back alive and in one piece. Don't say you were not warned!
9) Copacabana Beach at Night.
Stay away from the beach alltogether after sunset as thats' where the majority of muggings occur. Keep also in mind that Avenida Atlantica, the main beach road in Copacabana, gets filled with hookers, trannies and the likes after dark (and sometimes during the day too). Oh and Club Help, is not a place to take your date or a place to look for a date. It's strictly a pick up joint for prostitutes as is the case for quite a few clubs and bars along Avenida Atlantica at night, unfortunately. So when it gets dark, do as I and most others in the know inlcuding the locals do, that is to leave Copacabana and venture into more classy, relax, fun and safe parts of town such as Ipanema or Leblon or on Fridays, Lapa is a must. Most of the best places to go out at night are located there anyways. On an upcoming post, I'll cover more in details the various options for the nightlife and the best clubs to go each night of the week.
10) Keep it cool.
In Rio, relax, keep it cool and be ready to have fun. You have to be on your guards all time, specially at night, but don't be too parano neither. Find a good balance. The toughest part is the first day or so as you don't know what to expect specially if you've searched a bit about Rio and read about its reputation of a rather violent city. But don't let that scare you. Keep your cool, be on your guards and follow basic common sense safety precautions (which I will cover in more depth in a future post), and take cabs, specially at night and you'll be ok. Or rather, you'll have the time of your life and will not want to leave this magical place and you'll undoubtedly and truly understand the reason why Rio is referred to as a Cidade Maravilhosa or the Marvelous City. :)
Welcome to Rio de Janeiro, the most addictive place on Earth!:)
General Basic Tips about Rio and Brazil
So you finally made the decision to take the plunge and go to Rio and even bought your ticket! Make sure you have your visa (yes Brazil requires a visa for certain countries, including the USA, Canada, it's no big deal to obtain one, but I'll cover that aspect in more detail in a future post, but make sure you have a valid visa before getting on the plane or you will not be admitted in Brazil!) and you have your ticket. Congratulations! Let me tell you that you're about to embark on the greatest vacation of your life. A vacation that will mark you forever, as it has for everyone that visited this enchanging land of Terra Brasilis. However, before you go, there are a few basic things you must keep in mind to make the very best of your trip.
First and foremost, in Brazil, the language spoken is NOT Spanish, but Portuguese. However, when investing in a course or a language book, make sure you get a Brazilian Portuguese and not a continental Portuguese (from Portugal) as the two are quite different, almost two different languages. The expressions, the vocabulary as well as the pronunciation are very different.
A lot of times, I hear people say and ask whether speaking Spanish will do it in Brazil. I shrug whenever I hear that. How would you feel if a foreigner were to start talking to you, in your country, in say German or Greek. To say that you would not be very pleased or impressed is a major understatement. Having made that point very clear, investing the time to learn the language (Brazilian Portuguese, remember? ;) ), will bear amazing fruits. You do not have to immerse totally into the language, but even as little as say 1 hour a day will do wonders. A good point to start with this is the Pimsleur Brazilian Portuguese 3 set cds. It's a very efficient and fast way to be able to learn the basics. Needless to say that even being able to say just basic things will make your trip so much more enjoyable.
Another key point that a lot people forget when they travel to Brazil and that is come as light as you can. Why? Simply because you won't need half of the things you might think you'd need while in Brazil. This is a tropical country, with a hot weather, specially in Rio, in the west and the north of the country. In the south, it's another story, depending on the time of the year you're travelling. Keep in mind that in Brazil, seasons are reversed compared to North America and Europe. Indeed, Brazil being in the southern hemisphere, summer in Brazil runs from November to March, while winter is June to September.
Also, everything you need is available in Brazil at half the price (if not cheaper but for the same quality if not higher!) of what you would pay in your country (if you're travelling from North America, Europe or Japan). Brazilian clothing are very nice, colorful and quite fashionable. You'll get a lot of compliments from your friends and family back home when you return with your clothings Made in Brazil. So come light, and get things as you need them.
Stay tuned for a more practical tips in the next post.
Payman.
First and foremost, in Brazil, the language spoken is NOT Spanish, but Portuguese. However, when investing in a course or a language book, make sure you get a Brazilian Portuguese and not a continental Portuguese (from Portugal) as the two are quite different, almost two different languages. The expressions, the vocabulary as well as the pronunciation are very different.
A lot of times, I hear people say and ask whether speaking Spanish will do it in Brazil. I shrug whenever I hear that. How would you feel if a foreigner were to start talking to you, in your country, in say German or Greek. To say that you would not be very pleased or impressed is a major understatement. Having made that point very clear, investing the time to learn the language (Brazilian Portuguese, remember? ;) ), will bear amazing fruits. You do not have to immerse totally into the language, but even as little as say 1 hour a day will do wonders. A good point to start with this is the Pimsleur Brazilian Portuguese 3 set cds. It's a very efficient and fast way to be able to learn the basics. Needless to say that even being able to say just basic things will make your trip so much more enjoyable.
Another key point that a lot people forget when they travel to Brazil and that is come as light as you can. Why? Simply because you won't need half of the things you might think you'd need while in Brazil. This is a tropical country, with a hot weather, specially in Rio, in the west and the north of the country. In the south, it's another story, depending on the time of the year you're travelling. Keep in mind that in Brazil, seasons are reversed compared to North America and Europe. Indeed, Brazil being in the southern hemisphere, summer in Brazil runs from November to March, while winter is June to September.
Also, everything you need is available in Brazil at half the price (if not cheaper but for the same quality if not higher!) of what you would pay in your country (if you're travelling from North America, Europe or Japan). Brazilian clothing are very nice, colorful and quite fashionable. You'll get a lot of compliments from your friends and family back home when you return with your clothings Made in Brazil. So come light, and get things as you need them.
Stay tuned for a more practical tips in the next post.
Payman.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Cidade Maravilhosa Blog
Welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa Blog. For those who don't know, Cidade Maravilhosa is the sentimental name by which one of THE most beautiful, if not the most beautiful city in the world is reknowned as, the ever mesmerizing Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. This blog will not be just another page chanting the beauty of this gorgeous city, although it's very hard not to do that about such a magnificient city. What this blog will be about is mainly tips, suggestions and other advices on the best places to go, see, restaurants to eat, clubs to party as suggested by locals.
What does that mean to you as a person contemplating going to Rio or who is preparing an upcoming trip there? It means you'll know first hand the best places that the locals hang out, the places are not only on vogue at the moment, but also ever green places that are rarely covered in main stream guides. Places where you would pay local prices and not the over inflated gringo price. If that is something that is of interest to you, then you should visit this blog often as it will be updated regularly with what's going on, the best concerts, events, clubs and lounges to have the time of your life in the Marvelous City.
So stay tuned for more...
What does that mean to you as a person contemplating going to Rio or who is preparing an upcoming trip there? It means you'll know first hand the best places that the locals hang out, the places are not only on vogue at the moment, but also ever green places that are rarely covered in main stream guides. Places where you would pay local prices and not the over inflated gringo price. If that is something that is of interest to you, then you should visit this blog often as it will be updated regularly with what's going on, the best concerts, events, clubs and lounges to have the time of your life in the Marvelous City.
So stay tuned for more...
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