Rio, Part 1 of 3

Beautiful Rio, even the sidewalks deserve a close look as you amble through Rio -- the most exciting city in South America. They alternate white and black stone blocks brought from Portugal as ballast. But Rio isn't scenery, or shopping or cultural activities even though Rio has all of this and more. It's people -- the Cariocas.

It's the clerk who takes you down the block to sample a special pastry and some lethally strong coffee. It's the boy on a bus who shows you his favorite spot on the beach. It's the waiter who talks about modern art and tells you how to get in the back door so you don't miss the Rodin Exhibit. It's the hundreds of thousands of screaming, flag waving, foot stomping, arm shaking fans who root their team to victory in Maracana Stadium. It's the mannerly fellow at the golf club who, when your change fails, signs for your fruit drink Cariocas call Rio "Cidade Maravilhosa." It should be "Cariocas Maravilhosas." So if you visit, practice saying "Obrigado" or thank you. You use it a lot. Whip out a map, and folks stop to help. Dust off high school Spanish -- portuguese is close -- or some Italian, and you'll get a gentle smile and, often, a bit of helpful English. Manners haven't died in Brazil.

But is Rio safe? You've heard the stories. When you get there ask about the politics of those now fading reports. In the meantime, apply the "13 year-old-girl rule." If you see pubescent girls in shops, on streets, in buses and at the beach, tourists who don't flaunt their wealth should be safe. Certainly there are spots in Rio away from the tourist sections patrolled by tourist police, where you can get robbed -- especially at night. With 6,000,000 people you get a few bad coconuts. Been to LA or New York or Paris or any other large city lately? Just take the same precautions you would in any big city and you'll be fine.

With that hurdle past, let's romp through Rio. No place in the world offers so many beaches -- and, as my husband notes, " or such tiny bathing suits," No place offers majestic mountains lapped with warm ocean waters downtown. Incidentally, a local claims the tourist police won't let you you leave the country if you've not been up to the Corcovado with its Christ statue or swayed across on the cable car to Sugar Loaf. But if you tour in the back seat of a cab or tour bus you simply meet other tourists. Get out on your own feet and meet the Cariocas, the natives who make Rio a romp!

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic