Rio, Baby!

  Once the capital of Brazil – before having been superseded by São Paulo, that is – Rio De Janeiro is the pulsing heart, life and soul of the huge hunk of South America that they call Brazil; if Paris gently courts you, then Rio De Janeiro throws you down, tears your clothes off and has its way with you right then and there!

  With six million inhabitants of no particular dominant race, creed or religion, Rio is a melting pot of culture where everyone is welcomed with open arms; that is, if you’re up for a party. Yes, it’s largely Portuguese-speaking population party like no one else on earth – even wild child Lindsay Lohan would struggle to keep up. In the height of the annual carnival, held just before Easter to mark the beginning of Lent, elaborate costume parades sashay their way down the city streets, locals stay up all night drinking and dancing, and everyone indulges to the max before abstaining from the pleasures of the flesh for 40 long days and 40 even longer nights.

  The second largest event after carnival is New Year’s Eve, when all across Rio's beaches revellers don their bikinis and dance barefoot well into the small hours. Copacabana beach, in particular, is a favourite to welcome in the New Year, with fireworks shooting into the sky for a full 30 minutes from boats moored in the ocean. As the party gets underway, party-goers arrive dressed in white with red accessories, signifying both good luck and romance; bottles of Champagne are sprayed and shared with complete strangers; white flowers are thrown into the water as an offering to the Goddess Lemanja; and people make their way to priestess Mae de Santa for blessings so that they can start the year afresh. It beats slurring words to karaoke and dancing to Auld Lang Syne, that’s for sure! Brimming with passion, the red-blooded Cariocas – as Rio’s citizens are commonly known – would make even the shyest wallflower want to get up and shake their booty.

  When the party’s over and tattered streamers lie across its spilt caipirinha-stained roads, there is still plenty to do and see in the city; carved granite and quartz mountains rise out of the depths of the Atlantic before it; glorious stretches of beach form a band of shimmering gold around it; worn colonial architecture sits proudly alongside contemporary glass skyscrapers in its centre; and bristling green forests slalom down the hillsides behind it. Crowning all of this, however, is its’ iconic statue, Christ the Redeemer. Rising 130 feet above the city, the looming figure tops the Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca National Park and reminds the party people below to live life to the fullest – though by that, it probably didn’t mean base-jumping from its peak, which many have illegally done since it was opened in 1931. Despite the stunning views from here, Brazilians argue that the best 360-degree views of the city are from Sugarloaf Mountain, positioned on a peninsula that juts out from the mouth of Guanabara Bay. Whichever vantage point you see the view from, there’s no denying that it’s like sitting on top of the world.

  When you’re not sightseeing, it’s custom to lounge on Rio’s beaches and do absolutely nothing; Copacabana and Ipanema have come so renowned, in fact, that they’ve even had songs written about them. Fortunately, both live up to their reputations with scantily clad bronzed bodies either strewn across them or frolicking in the surf. A lazy tourist’s paradise, Rio’s beaches are used but not abused, and are kept meticulously clean by those who enjoy them both day and night.

  And of course, when in Rio do as the Cariocas do – and in this case, that’s ‘futebol’. A city obsessed with the beautiful game – from kids kicking balls around on dusty street corners to high-profile stadium games attended by thousands – it wouldn’t be a trip to Rio without taking in a game. With five football clubs in its official Campeonato Carioca league - including America, Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco - there’s always something to see at the famous Maracanã Stadium. The largest soccer arena in the world, the players may look like ants but at least you’ll be able to soak up the electric atmosphere and cheer with the best of ‘em.

  Like most cities, the centre is densely populated with shops, restaurants, hotels and, of course, hundreds of bars and nightclubs. Unlike most cities, however, Rio’s affluent areas are mixed in with its poorer slums, known as ‘favelas’. The divide is apparent, but it’s a little too close for comfort for some big-spenders. While Rio isn’t known for its shopping prowess, it is an excellent place to pick up sexy swimwear for half the price. Antiques and jewellery, too, can be snapped up here for those willing to barter the vendors down. Check out Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana and Rua Barata Ribeiro in Copabana and shop ‘til all your pennies drop – just watch out for petty thieves, as they prey on the not-so-subtle tourists. When the day is done, hit the nightlife and watch the world go by at a hidden street café or ‘botequim’; although binge-drinking generally isn’t a way of life here, getting laid is and flirting is brought out from the bedroom and onto the streets. Certainly, Rio isn’t for the prude or sexually repressed. Sexuality is celebrated here, and yours will be too – whether you like it or not.

  With its high season between December and February, the time to enjoy Rio at its very best is now. Alive with the buzz of carnival preparations, and with hot ‘n’ heavy weather that is more tropical than Mediterranean, the city may have lost its capital status but it certainly hasn’t lost its mojo. An unruly, sprawling mass of brilliant contrasts, of awe-inspiring design and natural wonder, it’s no surprise that Rio’s tourism industry is booming. Sure, in parts Rio is a little rough around the edges – in fact, it’s one of the most dangerous cities on the planet - but like a mysterious stranger you meet on the dance floor, that’s half the appeal.

About the author:

  Nick studied at Sussex University and graduated with a degree in English Literature and Media Studies. When he’s not writing – which isn’t often – he enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching movies, downloading music, eating out and travelling as much as he possibly can; Marbella, Miami, London and Phuket are his favourite places in the world.

  Nick has worked on a number of newspapers, magazines and websites – including Caché, Colures and AskMen.com - and specialises in popular culture, luxury and travel. He particularly enjoys writing about all that is beautiful in the world, including luxury hotels, trendy restaurants andthe latest gadgetry for the home. If it’s hip and gorgeous, Nick will have something to say about it.

  He is currently working on his first children’s book, which hasgenerated interest from a number of London-based publishers, and runs his own online magazine at www.gunpowder-magazine.com.