PARADOX CITY

CITY TOUR-RIO DE JANEIRO. According to Forbes’s rankings, also known as “Cidade meravilhosa” was elected the happiest city in the world. Starting with the major sporting events of the ’10s of the XXI century, Rio de Janeiro, already famous for its natural beauty (of all the kinds!), began to work on its weaknesses as a tourist attraction, buisness and economic center in order to become a “global city”. Ready to go? WHAT TO SEE. First, the oldest monument of Rio: the Cristo Redentor. Easily connected by cableway to every morro of the city, at its feet (literally!) it offers all types of services: bars, restaurants, hotels…and now the brand new “Shopping with Christ”. It is one of the biggest shopping centers of the region, dug into the mountain itself, where you can comfortably access from the christ’s right heel. Another city’s historical landmark is the famous Calçadão de Copacabana: situated in the typical comunidade (an important advice: don’t use the already archaic term “favela”, it’s more politically correct “comunidade”). Here you can watch a folkloristic show of funky carioca offered by one of the several local beauties and eat one of the typical Brazilian dishes: a tasty queijo qualho with melaça! Everything, of course, under the security offered by the flawless UPP (Unidade de Policia Pacificadora). Do not miss the unique carnival parades, every Friday and Sunday on the Lapa Arches. For the most adventured travellers, visit the comunidade de Babilonia (recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site) with its well-known historical center. Here you can find the famous War Memorial of the UPP’s forces and the MNR (Museu do Narcotrafico do Rio) among the many attractions. WHERE TO SLEEP. Once again Rio offers possibilities for every kind of taste: the most renowned hotel, the “Veloso Palace”, has walls you can enjoy the best view of the comunidade da Liberdade. Make a detour in its spa, shopping, swimming pool, golf course…as the hotel has the record for the largest occupation of surface within the morro. If you want a more reckless stay, sleep in one of the many family-run hotels in the comunidade de Coroa: the breakfast with agua de coco and açài is included at the modest price of R$ 120 per night. NIGHTLIFE. For couples, don’t miss the romantic stroll on the city walls where you can admire the light show of the comunidade reflected on the sea. Underground people will like the roda de samba in Lapa, where the entrance fee includes a samba teacher! IS RIO SAFE? In one word, yes! The UPP of Rio oversees the city with countless bondinhos that radiate the whole urban area. It’s not recommended to go to the slum of Parque de Flamengo. It became an infamous area because of a group of homeless who occupied the abandoned spaces of the MAM (the identical version of the same is now in the comunidade of Ipanema). ENJOY IT! For sure you will go back home with saudade!