Designer boutiques, sophisticated department stores, luxurious shopping malls, just as Paris is to Europe and New York is to the United States, Rio dictates fashion trends for the rest of the country. Shopping in Rio can be quite an exciting experience. Imagine buying fine jewelry at the source... Brazil is the largest producer of colored gemstones. You can also shop for clothing, handicrafts, leather goods, beautiful fabrics and home decoration items. Rio caters to all tastes.
Museum of Carmen Miranda: Carmen Miranda is one of Brazil's most famous personalities. Born in Portugal and raised in Brazil, her first hit was the song Pra Você Gostar de Mim, in 1930. She was first seen in her typical bahiana costume in the movie Banana Terra of 1939. Her unique look is still copied every year in the streets of Rio during Carnival. From 1940 to 1953 she starred 14 movies in Hollywood. She is the only Brazilian ever to leave a print of her feet and hands in Hollywood's Walk of Fame. After her death in 1955, her husband donated her fabulous collection of clothing and accessories.
Since 1976 this priceless material can be seen at the Carmen Miranda Museum. It is located in Flamengo Park, not far from the Museum of Modern Art. The collection has over 3,000 pieces including performance and dress clothes, accessories, shoes, photos, decorative objects, trophies, advertising material, caricatures, videos, contracts, scripts and records. There are special exhibitions in February and August. Open from Tuesday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on weekends and holidays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Since 1976 this priceless material can be seen at the Carmen Miranda Museum. It is located in Flamengo Park, not far from the Museum of Modern Art. The collection has over 3,000 pieces including performance and dress clothes, accessories, shoes, photos, decorative objects, trophies, advertising material, caricatures, videos, contracts, scripts and records. There are special exhibitions in February and August. Open from Tuesday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on weekends and holidays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Rio is a paradise for those who enjoy good dining. Fine, elegant restaurants feature international cuisine as well as exotic, savory Brazilian dishes. Try feijoada, a dish made of black beans and pork, traditionally served with rice, kale and manioc meal, and always accompanied by a "caipirinha." The caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail made with fresh fruit, ice, some sugar and Cachaça. The churrascarias (all you can eat barbecue restaurants) are a must! Seafood dishes include a variety of fish, lobster and splendid shrimp. In Rio’s restaurants prices are reasonable and the magnificent views come free of charge.
At nightfall, you discover a world that's fantastically exciting. There are several varieties of revue clubs, nightclubs and discos.
At nightfall, you discover a world that's fantastically exciting. There are several varieties of revue clubs, nightclubs and discos.
The Brazilian Flag has a large yellow shape diamond on a green background. The colour green stands for the lush fields and forests of Brazil. The colour yellow represents its wealth in gold, which is found in many areas of the country. In the center of the yellow diamond there is a blue sphere that symbolizes the usual navy blue sky that one finds in the tropical areas of the Earth. In that sky there are the stars which represent the capital of the country and its federal states. Actually there are 26 states and the capital (27 stars). In the middle of the sphere there is a white banner with a legend: "Ordem e Progresso" that means "Order and Progress."
São Paulo is also home to some of the world's largest immigrant populations. For example, there are over 3,000,000 paulistas of Italian descent, in addition to the largest Japanese community outside Japan. São Paulo's Japantown is its own good-sized city, covering over five square miles. There are also important Polish, Jewish, and German communities. This tremendous ethnic diversity makes for some of the country's most sophisticated dining, from sushi to pizza to Bahian regional cuisine.
Brazil, Rio and beyond Peer Wandel Hansen, Sverre Eplov "It was not until this point it began to really dawn on us, that we were in Brazil. Imagine the scene: sun from a clear sky, temperature around 30 degrees celcius, and all there was to do was to relax in the boats between the falls on 'Rio Paraíba do Sul.' On a distance of the river there was some current, but no rocks. So we went overboard in our safety wests, just floating along taking in the scenery and generally enjoying life."
Cariocas and Brazilians in general are mad about soccer, the national sport. Soccer stadiums are filled to their capacity on Sunday afternoons, the crowds cheering for their favorite teams. Visitors will certainly enjoy an afternoon in Rio’s Maracanã Stadium, the world’s largest, to watch one of these spectacular matches. But Rio is not only soccer; other sports activities include tennis, golf, sailing, windsurfing, surfing, volleyball, hang-gliding and more.