"Sexy Rio De Janeiro" Rio de Janeiro by JohnniOmani

Rio De Janeiro is a city that is driven by sunshine, gorgeous people, music, dance and beaches. Carnaval is world a renowned event but the samba parties in Lapa, Flamengo football celebrations, Leblon's cafes and Ipanema and Cocacabana's beach life are all gems in their own right. Rio De Janeiro is a city that encompasses all of the great traits of cities around the world yet adds its own brand of Brazilian spice and flare. The city has an addictive mix of music that ranges from Samba and Bossa Nova to Hip hop and funk with the best parties being held in the favellas. The heart and soul of the city pulses to a backdrop that leaves most visitors in awe. Spectacular rainforests lay only a short ride away and views from Sugar Loaf or Corcovado Mountain give you a bird's eye view of this striking urban setting. Rio De Janeiro is a city that manages to stylish survive despite its trouble and shortcomings. Favellas compete with wealthy homes for space often only seperated by a highway or road. Police corruption remains citywide and causes an understandable distrust in the system yet the city moves forward with a rare positive energy. Despite the division between the rich and poor, there are many different ways the city is solidified. The beaches have always been free and open to all walks of life and it is possible to see favella kids playing soccer passing the ball back and forth as they tip toe pass models, hippies, wealthy Cariocas and tourists. Rio De Janeiro is truely a marvelous city.

Named one of the seven wonders of the world in 2007, Cristo Redentor is Brazils biggest monument and certaintly its most famous worldwide. Nothing can prepare you for the first glimpse of this amazing statue and you dont have to be religious to appreciate it significance in this country. It turned 75 years old in 2006 and it received over a 100 million votes by Brazilians in the Wonder of the World contest joining the likes of the Taj Mahal and Petra Jordan. It took ten years to build, done in pieces and sits on top Rios highest mountains allowing travellers a chance to admire the statue while taking in breathtaking views of the city. The design to have Christ stretching out his arms perfectly straight was to give the appearance (from a distance) of a giant cross. Cristo stands over 100 feet high and weighs over 3000 pounds. Local residents joke about the citys crime rate by saying that even Christ is not immune to muggings and symbolizes (his arms outstretched) that he was recently mugged ! Taxi drivers charge R 10 to drive you up or you can do as part of tour. Cristo Redentor was one of my favorite most memorable moments while in Brazil.

Maracana Madness (Flamengo Fans)

Nearly everyone in Brazil dreams as a young child of playing in Maracana stadium, Brazil's giant shrine to football and the place where legends such as Pele have played. Matches here rate the most exciting on the Planet and the behavior of the crowd is festive, intense and loud. The massive samba drums seem to never stop and people paint themselves in the local teams colors (Flamengo has 35 million supporters in Brazil) while they scream and jump up and down at the action. Some fans get so crazed that they detonate smoke bombs, throw dead chickens around and launch cups of urine onto the fans in the lower decks. Massive flags swirl around the stadium while police try to manage an unimaginable situation making the entire experience surreal. When the home team scores a goal the eruption of excitement travels around the stadium like a tidal wave. Experiencing Maracana Madness should be high on any travellers list. Incredible.

• Pros:Beautiful people, beaches, football and sex appeal
• Cons:Pricy and pockets of poverty
• In a nutshell:Rio is one of a Kind