MISS LEADING TOUR GUIDE
RIO DE JANEIRO
I love to write my blogs on the cities I have visited as though I am telling you a story of my journey. Travelling in Argentina and being so close to Brazil, we thought we should extend our trip by a couple of days and see Brazil. Unsure of when we will be back to South America, we made the decision to stop in at Rio de Janeiro. When looking for accommodations, we thought it was quite pricey and it really depended on where you wanted to stay. We wanted to be near a beach but it came with a price. However, we were lucky enough to stay at a friend’s apartment in Ipanema. Having such a short time in Rio didn’t allow us to explore the city, but it gave us a taste of its energetic and passionate lifestyle. I decided to tell you the story of our journey in Rio through a list of things we’ve done along with things we would have seen and done.
TEN THINGS TO EXPERIENCE IN RIO DE JANEIRO
1. Gentileza gera gentileza
This is not a thing to see or a thing to do but maybe it can be and therefore it can bring you great experiences. An older gentleman had said this to us and we asked what it meant and he explained it in a lot of Portuguese that we could not understand. It means kindness begets kindness and we thought it was so simple and powerful. Jose Datrino, a brazilian man was behind this by making inscriptions of this saying under an overpass in Rio. Since then, I guess it has become the city’s slogan. When you tell people you are going to Rio you may get a surprised or a scared face or a “why would you go there?” kind of a confused look. After all, you get an earful of all the crimes and gang related activities that happen in Rio de Janeiro. Don’t let any of that stop you from seeing this beautiful city that’s full of life. Just remember this in your heart and in your mind – Gentileza gera gentileza.
2. Enjoy the Beaches
The life of the city is in its beaches. The beaches of Rio de Janeiro have something special to them. Pristine white sand and dreamy waves from the Atlantic Ocean that will keep you at the beach all day long. Copacabana is the more well known, touristy and a very busy beach in a middle class neighbourhood and Ipanema is the quieter beach in an upperclass neighbourhood. It really is just one long stretch of shoreline with each beach having its own character. Personally, we loved being in Ipanema as the neighbourhood is very quiet and peaceful. The first thing we had in Rio was an Acai berry smoothie – a local favourite. Our apartment was right across from Ipanema beach so a little bias goes a long way.
3. Christ the Redeemer
You can’t come to Rio without seeing this giant statue that is the symbol of Rio de Janeiro. This statue is situated on the summit of Mount Corcovado and is the largest art deco style sculpture in the world. There are many ways to get to this landmark. You can take a train, a car or even hike there. We took a taxi to the parking lot and walked to the entrance. The drive is very beautiful through winding uphill roads through the mountain. It’s an extremely busy place, so plan to go early morning to beat the crowds.
4. Santa Teresa
One of my favourite neighbourhoods in Rio. We decided to spend an afternoon in this area as it was recommended on every travel site I was visiting. It’s a beautiful artistic neighbourhood on Santa Teresa hill overlooking Rio. It’s mesmerizing walking through the winding uphill and downhill cobbled stone narrow streets. We passed by homes and local shops and along the way we saw school children playing soccer – a very Brazilian defining moment. We were in search for a particular restaurant and was completely heading the wrong way. A truck pulled up beside us and alerted us that we were heading into the favela area and for us to turn back as it can get dangerous in there. It’s a total maze, so you’re bound to get lost. He was a guy from Canada and he knew we were Canadian because my husband was wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs hat. He eventually led us to the restaurant we wanted to go to but unfortunately it was closed. We then spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the neighbourhood.
5. Lapa and Selaron Steps
Not too far from Santa Teresa is the Lapa neighbourhood, the heart of the nightlife in Rio. While on the cable car at Sugarloaf mountain, we met a couple who were also travelling and they had mentioned Lapa with only good things to say about it. We didn’t have time to visit Lapa in the evening but heard it is the heart of the city at night with open air samba jams. This area is actually very close to the Selaron Steps. One of my highlights of my trip was arriving at these steps. These steps will connect you to Lapa and Santa Teresa neighbourhoods. The Selaron steps by Jorge Selaron is a masterpiece and so beautiful to look at. It consists of 215 steps covered by tiles, ceramics and mirrors. He claimed it as his tribute to the Brazilian people. He was found dead with burn marks on these famous steps. Heartbreaking.
6. Take a cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain
One of the more touristy things to do, but totally worth it. Once you get to Sugarloaf mountain, you can buy your tickets there as the lines move pretty quick. It’s a great ride up the cable car with beautiful views of Rio. Once you’re at the top, you can stay a while, walk around the grounds and watch the sunset. We stayed there for sunset and the ever changing colours of dusk was breathtaking.
7. Tijuca park
If you’ve got a generous amount of time in Rio then make your way to Tijuca National Park in the centre of the city. Hiking the trails will grant you with beautiful views of Rio without the tourist traffic. It’s a beautiful rainforest with waterfalls and many species to spot. The park closes at 5pm so make sure you start the day very early.
8. Go to a Football game
Just another south american thing to do when in south america. Whether it’s a premier league match or just their local home team, the experience you will have at one of these games will be priceless. It’s just a local thing to do. Check the game schedules and see if you can fit it into you itinerary.
9. Brazilian Steakhouse and Caipirinhas
If you’re a meat lover, you can’t miss out on going to a Churrascaria (barbecue) Rodizio (all-you-can- eat) in Brazil. For the times when you are not in a Churrascaria Rodizio, try beans and rice, Brazil’s national dish. Don’t forget to add Brazil’s national cocktail to that; a caipirinha made with cachaca, lime and sugar. There are so many snacks you can try when you’re at the beach.
10. Favelas
Lastly, exploring the favelas. I say this lightly because I am torn on how to visit these shanty towns. I find it extremely unbearable for large tourist groups to march their way in and out of peoples home, but it’s also not entirely safe to wander in there on your own as well. So what do you do? There are couple of options. We actually didn’t to a tour of the favelas. We accidentally stumbled into one and that was probably not the best scenario. However, it was uneventful and we’re thankful for that. There are many day trips offered to tourists to visit the Brazilian favelas. Some favelas have lots of hostels and accommodations and therefore are more welcomed to tourists. I’ve read you can actually stay in a hostel in a favela and it’s completely safe. Research the favelas first and avoid going into Rocinha as it’s not patrolled because it’s too large. If you have a local friend, then take that friend with you and always remember, Gentileza gera gentileza.
