by Allan Taylor

Created on: May 13, 2008

Glitzy Rio de Janeiro

In January 1502 a Portuguese explorer Gasper de Lemos sighted the magnificent granite domes and white sandy beaches of Guanabara Bay. He mistook the inlet for a river mouth, which he named Rio de Janeiro.

The settlement here has since blossomed into the world's most spectacular city with, in the metro area, 11.7 million people, know as Cariocas. Rio squeezes itself between the mountains and sea. Fantastic surf beaches alternate with rocky headlands and towering granite knobs resulting in many barrios, or mini-cities with exotic names .... Botafogo, Copacabana and Ipanema. Flying into Rio reveals a beautiful sight. It is an unforgettable experience for tourists as this marvelous city becomes a reality.

Whenever I have gone to Rio I have stayed at Copacabana Beach. The airport bus hurtles into town via the bus terminal (rodoviaria) and major city hotels, then roars through a tunnel to traverse Copacabana's wonderful Avenida Atlantica with its broad sidewalks and luxurious hotels and apartments, then onto Ipanema Beach and Leblon. Midway on Copacabana I leap off and hail a taxi to my hotel.

On the flat Copacabana is five city blocks wide from beach to granite bluff, and hotel prices decrease inland. Up the hill amongst suburbia may be found budget hostels for workers and backpackers.

Once safely installed in your hotel near the beach you can acclimatize yourself. The reputed urban lawlessness of Rio is a worry. The doorman assured us it was safe to brave the night to try a nearby restaurant. The evening was pleasantly warm, shirt sleeve weather. My companion and I used primitive Portuguese and charades to bring forth a tropical version of fish and chips and lager beer which we devoured on the street balcony.

Buses and cars swept by on the narrow one way street below us, reluctantly slowing down for the red light, but never stopping unless there was firm evidence of cross traffic! Motorcyclists roared and wove through the traffic in both directions without crash helmets or lights. Patrons of the restaurant parked their cars on the sidewalk oblivious to any hazard created. Our first experience of Carioca temperament! ... anything goes if you can get away with it; Latinos regard laws as a guide for behavior in an ideal society, which doesn't exit!

Rio is so different and exotic for tourists coming from temperate climes. Impressive is the tropical warmth, the refreshing deluge, the luxuriant vegetation with gorgeous flowers cascading to the pavement,

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