What an enticing trio: Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana, and
Rio, with its Carnival. A mountain, a bay, and an exotic city nestled on the
coast amid spectacular scenery. The idea conjures up images of white sandy
beaches, palm trees rustling in the breeze, and the sun beating down on
tanned, shapely bodies. Copacabana sounds like a world invented by advertising
executives, designed to awaken burning desires and promise of their fulfilment.
For decades, writers around the globe have called Copacabana “probably the
most famous beach in the world”. Seen from Sugarloaf Mountain’s summit,
Rio, whether bathed in sunlight or sparkling in the lights at night, still
looks surreally beautiful.
Rio’s
spectacular setting with Sugarloaf Mountain in the background
Rio is divided into a north zone and a south zone by the
Serra da Carioca, steep mountains that are a part of the national park of
Tijuca. The view from the top of the Cocovado, the 750 metre mountain peak
with the statue of Christ The Redeemer at its summit offers the best possible
way to become geographically familiar with the city. Traditionally, climbers
have scaled the walls of these mounts, and still do. There are now cable cars
which take less ambitious visitors to the summits, which makes the trip less
exhausting.
The Carnival in Rio is a festivity that unites enthusiasts
of all classes on the streets. One of the things which makes the atmosphere so
unique is that the Brazilians celebrate this special event entirely for
themselves, and not in order to put on a show for the multitudes of tourists
who fly in from North America especially to see this extraordinary event.
Surely many of us have seen the news shows on television each year which
feature camera shots of bare-breasted beauties dancing ecstatically to samba
rhythms. But truthfully, Rio’s most glitzy festival may be the worst time to
be in the city. It is a fantastic spectacle, but everyone comes a bit unglued
at that time of year, taxi fares quadruple, accommodation rates triple, and
masses of visitors descend on the area to get drunk, high and exchange exotic
diseases.
This
“lady’s” cups are full of beer and everyone is invited to take a sip
during Carnival
The Rio portrayed by the tourist agencies, beckoning with
blue skies and favourable exchange rates, certainly does exist. Jammed into
the world’s most beautiful setting, the Cariocas, as Rio’s locals
are called, seem to pursue pleasure like no other people. Beaches and the
‘body beautiful’, samba and beer, football and the local firewater called
cachaca are a way of life here.
Behind the famous beach, however, skyscrapers tower, while
the streets suffocate in dust and noise. To the rear of those modern office
buildings and elegant apartments, the slums of more than 10 million people’s
shanty towns (flavelas) and villages cling precariously to the edge of
the hills, and are creeping toward the city’s centre. Poverty and crime are
endemic here. This definitely is not a place for the casual tourist. And
don’t forget, that Portuguese is the national language of Brazil, so even if
you are fluent in Spanish, it may not be of much help in dealing on the street
with the locals.
Cable
car on the way to Sugarloaf Mountain summit
A little caution is recommended in this city and on the
magnificent beaches for which it is famous. ‘Snatch and grab’ rascals can
turn a tourist’s romantic holiday into an unhappy experience, so best keep
valuables such as money, jewellery and other valuables well protected from
these petty thieves. They can be daring, innovating in their original approach
to scams, and certainly fleet of foot. One often sees the police on foot
patrol wearing expensive imported gym shoes which help to run down these pesky
robbers. Rio is a place with a two-sided reputation: dangerous and
intimidating, and glamorous and exciting.
