Tag: rio
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One Last Evening in Rio
Before heading to the airport, we went back to Ipanema Beach to watch one last sunset. The beach buzzed with conversation. People gathered in small groups, sharing drinks and snacks while waiting for the sky to put on its evening show. It felt less like a quiet beach and more like an enormous open-air café,…
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Exploring Rio’s Historic District
When I think of Rio de Janeiro, I picture Sugarloaf Mountain, the golden beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, and Christ the Redeemer watching over the city. But I realized I knew very little about downtown Rio. So on the last day of our trip, I decided to join a free walking tour and explore its…
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Wandering Through Ipanema’s Hippie Fair
Before leaving for Brazil, I had one small mission. I wanted to bring home a souvenir I would actually use. Not something that would sit on a shelf collecting dust, but something that would remind me of the trip every time I saw it. After a little research, I decided that if I was going…
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Sugarloaf Mountain: An Afternoon Full of Surprises
We booked our tickets to Sugarloaf Mountain for mid-afternoon, hoping to see Rio from above in daylight and stay long enough to watch the sunset. It turned out to be a great decision. Surprisingly, there were no lines when we arrived, and within minutes we were stepping into the cable car. As the gondola climbed…
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Favela Rocinha, A Different Side of Rio
When planning our trip to Rio de Janeiro, I knew I wanted to visit Rocinha, the city’s largest favela. Favelas are an important part of Rio’s identity, and I wanted to see that side of the city for myself. I’ll admit, I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect or whether joining a favela…
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A Walk Around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas
After spending the morning at Christ the Redeemer and Parque Lage, we decided to walk back toward our hotel along Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. It was nearly a two-hour walk, but we weren’t in a hurry. Our only plan was to enjoy the afternoon, find a beautiful place to watch the sunset, and see what…
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A Jungle Hidden in the Middle of Rio de Janeiro
After visiting Christ the Redeemer, we made our way to Parque Lage. I had seen photographs of the beautiful Palacio with Christ the Redeemer rising high above it on Corcovado Mountain. It quickly became one of the places I was most looking forward to visiting. I imagined sitting in its famous courtyard café with a…
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Standing Beneath Christ the Redeemer
Some trips begin with a plane ticket. Mine began with a book. A few months before traveling to Brazil, I read a historical novel about an woman searching for her roots in Rio de Janeiro. Woven into her story was another one—the incredible story of how Christ the Redeemer was built. I found myself fascinated…
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My First Impression of Ipanema Beach
Before arriving in Rio de Janeiro, I assumed the city would have a slower, more laid-back feel to it. I imagined people lingering over coffee at seaside cafés, surfers heading into the waves, friends gathering for a game of volleyball, and families slowly making their way onto the sand. After visiting other coastal destinations, that…
Notes From Everywhere 