"A New Yorker becomes a Carioca for a... " a Rio de Janeiro Travel Page by jeffjun

I took a vacation trip down to Rio de Janeiro in August of 2005. Despite all the bad stories and experiences others had mentioned about their past trips to Rio, I wanted to visit Brazil and live like a Carioca, even if that meant only for a short period of time. Although it wasn't exactly the same style of Carioca life, since I had the luxury of staying at one of the better hotels in Rio, I had experienced some of what "the City of God" had to offer: Swimming at stunning beaches (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Flamengo, Botafogo, and Pepino), Visiting spectacular rock formation of Sugar Loaf and Corcovado, Eating Brazilian BBQ at Churrascaria restaurants, Hang Gliding off the Pedra Bonita at a height of 1700 feet, Driking Caipirinhas and dancing until 4AM, Hanging out with women in tiny bikinis, Bicycling around the Lagoa, Buying goods at Hippie Fair on Sunday, Watching a folclore show at Plataforma, Wearing the funny slippers at Petropolis Imperial Museum, Shopping at Rio Sul, and Walking around the city with wearing a shirt from Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (local soccer team).

Tupi tribes lived on this land for centuries until January 1st, 1502, the Portuguese arrived in this region, and sighted Guanabara Bay. Mistaking it for a river, they named the city "River of January". The French then took over the area until Estacio de Sa expelled them in 1567. In 1763 Rio became Brazil's capital, ruling the Empire and the Republic until the creation of Brasilia in 1960.