Rio, Rio-todo, blog
Many travelers come to Rio de Janeiro and never once set foot in the historical district. The beaches and attractions in the Zona Sul are so compelling that they overwhelm other agendas. That’s a shame, because the historical architecture, museums, churches, age-old bars, and coffee shops in the downtown area make up the city’s rich and fascinating history. Most of the main attractions are within a few city blocks of each other and you can easily create a nice walking tour of the area. I suggest starting at the pier with a trip out to the Palace on Fiscal Island. From there, you can make a J-shaped loop around the Centro Histórico. That puts you in a great area for sitting with a cup of coffee or cold drink at one of the city’s legendary coffee shops or bars at the end of your tour. The downtown area is safe during the day and full of historical architecture, colorful people, and interesting activities. That being said, a simple reminder can never hurt: don’t bring a lot of money, credit cards or valuables with you on your walking journey downtown (or anywhere in Rio for that matter)…just enough for the day’s activities.
Here are some of the sites in the downtown historical district. I’ll update this article with more sites, so come back to see the rest.
Historic Sites:
Sao Bento Monastery
Palace on Ilha Fiscal
Rio, Rio-todo, blog
Tirelessly watching over the craziness of Rio de Janeiro, the Cristo has stood since 1931 redeeming the city and its inhabitants from the top of Corcovado Mountain. The famous monument, called Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) was designed to celbrate the 100 years of Brazil’s independence from Portugal from 1822–1922. Better late than never; the 1145 ton monument was lifted into place nine years later and has since become the very symbol of city. Today the Cristo Redentor is one of the world’s most recognized monuments. It stand 38 meters tall on the top of the Morro de Corcovado, which is on the edge of the Tijuca National Park–the large mountainous area sitting right in the middle of the city. Many of the foothills of Tijuca are loaded with favelas, poor and lawless neighborhoods of Rio, practically at the very feet of the Cristo.
From the principal viewing deck at the feet of the Cristo, you get a magnificent view of the city, from the Zona Norte (at the left hand of Christ) to the Zona Sul (at the right hand of Christ). He stands, more or less, looking out in the direction of Copacabana (justifiably where most of his attention is required). The monument was given some new features in 2000, including new lighting and new means of access to the top. You can now take one of the panoramic elevators up from the lower station, or take the high-tech escalator. If you prefer the original method, you can still climb the 222 steps, passing numerous souvenir shops and snack stands along the way. But first, you have to get up Corcovado Mountain to the lower platform and reception area. Access to the top of Corcovado Mountain is from the Flamengo neighborhood, where the streets begin their windy way up the hill. Many visitors take taxis up to the top (they are waiting at the bottom of the hill) or take one of the many vans that haul passengers in groups. The best way, however, is via the train that chugs up the hill from Rua Cosme Velho. The station at the bottom was also recently revitalized and contains shops, relaxation areas, and a photographic exhibition of the history of the monument. It costs R$20 and operates from 9am–7pm daily, the same hours of operation as the monument itself.
The official address of the train up Corcovado is Rua Cosme Velho 513 (21/2558-1329, www.corcovado.com.br).
blog, food
Wherever you go in Brazil, you’ll almost certainly run into the popular self-service style lunch experience, called comida a-quilo or food by the kilo. This is a cafeteria-style experience, but with a distinctly Brazilian accent. You start with a tray and a plate and load up as you pass along the many different meat, veggie and dessert dishes. You choose whatever you like and pay for only what you take…by weight.
Many of the more economical a-quilo eateries offer something special for the locals, known as a prato feito or ready-made plate, also known as the PF. This economical dish is generally not weighed like the a-quilo option, but has a fixed price and fixed menu. Sometimes, the restaurant staff makes it for you and sometimes you can make it yourself–generally limited to one piece of meat and as much salad and carbs as you can eat. Typical Brazilian salad items include lettuce, tomato, shredded carrots and cooked beets. You’ll also find the famous Brazilian farofa, which is a course manioc flower fried with spices and herbs. Rice and Brazilian-style beans are a given.
In most cities throughout Brazil, the restaurants that offer a-quilo and PF meals also offer delivery to your door or workplace. In fact, it was for Brazil’s working class that this tradition became so popular in Brazil. Today, you can hardly find a restaurant that does not offer some type of a-quilo option for lunch.
blog, food
Brazil is hungry for the ball! But I’m not talking about Brazilian football (soccer). I’m talking about another national passion, known as pão de queijo, or the cheese ball. This tasty morsel is a cheesy bread ball made with cheese, eggs, oil, salt, and manioc flour. The best are said to come from the Minas Gerais Region, where the fabulous finger food originated from a happy accident. In the 18th century, the wheat flour from Portugal was so bad that the people of the area substituted manioc flour and Brazilian food was born.
You can find pão de queijo in the simplest of snack stands as well as the fanciest cafes throughout Brazil…from the interior states to the coastal cities of São Paulo and Rio, not to mention the beaches of the Northeast Region. If you find yourself in the state of Minas Gerais, you’ll have the opportunity to taste the original, authentic pão de queijo in various sizes and styles.
The little cheese morsel is often served for breakfast in the cafes and bakeries of Brazil, but is also found on dinner menus, in bars. in nightclubs and in festival booths year ‘round. They are excellent with coffee in the morning or a cold beer in the evening.
Sao Paulo, blog, sp-todo
São Paulo is so big and spread out that it intimidates a lot of travelers, but two days are really about all you need to take in all the main points. You’ll be taking the metro a bit, but that’s pretty much what everybody does in Sampa (as the locals call it). In this quick walking tour, you’ll see the historical center and many of the fabulous monuments and buildings from the coffee boom days of the late 1800s. Of course, there’s a lot more to the world’s third largest city, including your nights out and shopping in the Bras and Jardins areas. You can take in many of the city’s architectural and cultural sites by walking around the old downtown area. This walking tour takes you to the Theatro Municipal, the Catedral da Sé, the Banespa building and the Mercado Municipal.
Click here to take the walking tour of Sao Paulo
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Are you ready to check out Brazil’s amazing coastline? I’ve uploaded a series of photos from some of my travels up and down the long coastline of Brazil…from the Northeast Region to the Southern Region and everything in between. Well, not exactly everything, but I’m working on it.
Check out the photo journey at Brazil’s Beaches (A Photo Journey) and see if you don’t think the water is as blue as the sky and the sand as soft as a bed sheet. I recommend a cool coconut water and a stroll along the boardwalk!
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Without a doubt, the Rio de Janeiro section of this Guide Site is going to be bulging with information about hotels, restaurants, shopping, and activities for day and night. I’ll be uploading a Carnival Planner, and much more.
But everything has to start somewhere, and I’ve begun with a review of the Hotel Florida, one of Rio’s mid-range hotels in a mid-city location between downtown historical Rio (to the north) and Copacabana and Ipanema (to the south). I like this hotel and remember it fondly as the first hotel I stayed in with my wife (then girlfriend) in Rio de Janeiro. I’ve also included a trip from Sao Paulo to Rio (or from Rio to Sao Paulo if you prefer) by car. This is something well worth doing if you’d like to see the two biggest cities in Brazil and everything in-between them.
about brazil, blog, intro
Why Visit Brazil? You’re kidding, right?
Well, for those who are just getting to know this big, beautiful South American country, here is a quick rundown of what Brazil has to offer…
Nature and Wildlife Encounters
Brazil has some of the most exotic and fascinating wildlife on the planet and you can get a close-up look when you visit Brazil’s nature hotspots. Everyone knows about the amazing plant and animal species in the Amazon Rainforest, featuring pink river dolphins, manatees and huge caiman (a type of crocodile). The pantanal area is the world’s largest wetlands and a haven for birds and land mammals. Giant anteaters, wild stork and rare blue macaws are just a few of the highlights there. Underwater animal encounters can be found all along the coast of Brazil, including Fernando de Noronha and Abrolhos and feature whales, dolphins and sea turtles. Unforgettable natural wonders include the desert dunes of the Lençõis Maranhenses and Foz de Iguaçú.
Read the rest…
blog, excursions
If you’ve never been the type to take a cruise ship vacation, now may be the time to consider it. The cruise experience has changed considerably in the past decade and today there are cruises to fit every budget, lifestyle and interest. Cruising down to Brazil is an exciting way to see the eastern coastline of South America. Cruises stop at locations, such as:
- The Amazon Coastline: Full of animal encounters, regional festivals, exotic food (including local seafood dishes), crafts and music.
- Up the Amazon River (Manaus, Parintins, etc): Animal encounters, jungle adventures, piranha fishing, hammock swinging.
- Fernando de Noronha: Scuba and skin diving, amazing beaches, dancing at night, island ambiance.
- Bahia: Clear water, beaches, beach bars and cabanas, local food, music and dance, afro-brazilian culture, snorkling.
- Rio de Janeiro: Famous monuments, art & architecture, museums, nightlife, food galore, samba, non-stop beaches.
You get all sorts of time on-shore and plenty of choices that make cruising a real option for all types of travelers. It’s especially great for couples! Here are some cruises to look over from Cruise Vacation Center.
And here are some more cruises to think about…
Norwegian Cruise Line
Royal Carribean Cruise Line
Hawaii Cruises
photo credit
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The interior state of Minas Gerais is one of Brazil’s greatest travel regions. It is rich in history and culture and offers a glorious look at some of the most Brazilian festivals, foods, and fashions. The area is mountainous with plenty of rivers and waterfalls and many of the old, colonial towns still look like they did in the 1700s during Brazil’s great gold rush, known as the gold cycle. These colonial towns are the heart and soul of the region and any trip here requires a visit to one or two of them, at least.
But first things first. Let’s talk shopping! This is one of the best shopping regions in the country and I’ve provided an overview of some great shopping areas and items in this article: Shopping Highlights in Minas Gerais.
Since most people begin their visits to Minas in the capital city of Belo Horizonte, I’ve also posted some B.H. restaurant listings and reviews, including a great spot for lunch (see Family Focusing on Food) and an elegant dinner option (see Vecchio Sogno).
Check back for more interesting additions to this section. If you have ideas of your own, send them to me in an email.
Boa viagem!
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