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Guide to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Rio De Janeiro
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Rio De JaneiroOne of the most enthralling, fast-paced, erratic cities in the world, Rio de Janeiro is both the heart and soul of Brazil and also somewhat of a troublesome sibling of the countrys more easygoing (yet lesser known) locations. Its the only city in the Brazil that can be rightly designated at a metropolis, yet have the luster and intimate, authentic experiences of the people. Many capitals throughout the world seem a bit disconnected from their surroundings, but Rio seems to fit seamlessly. The city is growing at an astounding rate, with construction occurring somewhere or other just about everyday. Its hot and its dusty, but you cant escape the pull of Rio de Janeiro whether its Carnaval season or just another baking summer day.
When to go:
While on the subject of heat, wed like to inform you, our readers, that Rio de Janeiro is no walk in the park when it comes to weather. Peak hours on a summer day can be quite brutal, and have you flocking to the subway lines just for a bit of air-conditioned paradise (of course, thats what many in the city do, so the crowdedness in the cars actually effectively cancels out any attempts at cooling down we like to believe in that lost cause anyway). However, good news: temperatures in both spring and autumn are much more moderate; people are still out and about as always, and though nothing else changes much, everyone seems to be in more cheerful moods. Spring and autumn also receive less rainfall.
Getting there and around:
Most flights, whether they are domestic or international in origin, arrive at Aeroporto Internacional Antonio Carlos Jobim. It is quite close to the city, and when you arrive, youll have access to an exchange bureau, duty-free shop, bars, restaurants and more. When you feel youre ready to head out to Rio, you can stop to rent a car at one of the agencies on-site, hire a taxi, or board a bus. We prefer taxis for convenience, and shun the thought of renting a vehicle with such chaos on the roads. You may not be completely safe with a taxi or bus driver, but with them there is a better chance than any to get to Rio all in one piece.
If you can afford it, you should always use taxis, and radioed ones at that. If you cant call a taxi beforehand, try to get one which is metered, so you wont have the hassle of bargaining with the driver beforehand. Buses are crowded efficient, but crowded and your chances of being pick-pocketed or just outright robbed are quite high, unless you happen to carry a tough-guy face with you along for the ride.
Attractions:
One of the best sights in the city, both in architectural and artistic senses, is the Catedral Metropolitana. Standing for about 30 years now, it is a beautiful concoction of sculptures, murals, exterior accoutrements, with its stained-glass windows as its highlights. There is a museum (Museu de Arte Sacra) in the basement of the Catedral that holds a few historic items with various Christian connotations.
The culture center of the city is known as the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil. Most-frequently referred to as CCBB, the building is a megacenter holding everything from cinemas to museums. CCBB holds numerous exhibitions throughout the year, and as a result brings in more than 120,000 visitors each month. CCBB offers a walking tour of the complex.
Beachgoers will either be delighted or turned off by Copacabana, a 4.5 kilometer stretch of sand where tens of thousands of people can be found on any given day. It is packed with both Brazilians and tourists, and while it can be an exciting place, those looking for some peace and quiet while watching the waves roll over will be disappointed. Theres always something great happening on the beach for those looking for fun in the afternoon.
If you find yourself waking up to a clear day, head over to Corcovado, where from its peak, you can get a spectacular view of both the North and South zones of the city. A beautiful statue, Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), has a great spot on the mountain, which you can see from just about any place in Rio.
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