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Visit Rio - Rio de Janeiro undoubtedly competes with worldwide
cities such as Sydney for occupying the most beautiful setting of
any city in the world. At the heart of Guanabara bay Rio is the
ultimate coastal city, stretching its length lazily along miles of
pristine white beach, with the bulk of Sugar Loaf Mountain rising to
the east and the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking the city
from inland.
The site was first glimpsed by a Portuguese vessel over 500 years
ago on New Year's day, 1502 as mistaking the bay for the mouth of a
huge river, the captain christened it Rio de Janeiro, the river of
January. The name stuck, even after the factual inaccuracy of it had
been established. The natives had another name for the settlement
that was established here: "Cariocas" - literally "White Man's
Houses". It's a name that the inhabitants of Rio now bear. But the
most accurate appellation is that now used by the cariocas
themselves. They call Rio "Cidade Maravilhosa" - the Marvellous City
- and there are few that would disagree.
It is the beaches that define Rio. Copacabana and Ipanema are the
two most famous and both are stretches of amazingly white sand,
permanently drenched in sunshine. The beach functions as the social
centre of the city, it is here that the locals and tourists spend
most of their leisure time, baking in the hot sun through the day,
or chilling out at the seafront bars and restaurants when evening
falls.
But life in Rio is not all about relaxing; this is one of the
biggest cities in South America and life here moves at a fantastic
pace. The favelas, the shanty towns that cling to the slopes on the
outskirts of the city are just one symptom of Rio's dominance in the
region. These settlements are added to the city faster than they can
be assimilated and are ever-increasingly extending the city borders.
Although such poverty is harrowing to see, the settlements are
affirmations of the indomitable nature of the city, and visiting one
of these durable communities is an important cultural experience.
Another cultural experience, Carnival time in February is when
everyone wants to visit. Over a full night of celebrations the city
centre comes to a standstill as brightly decorated floats and
costumed dancers fill the streets with light, colour and noise. Rich
and poor alike delight in these inimitable celebrations that truly
define the cariocas spirit.
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