Residents Protest Zipline On Rio’s Iconic Sugarloaf Mountain

Some 200 protesters gathered beneath Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous Sugarloaf Mountain to protest the ongoing construction of ziplines aimed at boosting tourism, alleging it will cause unacceptable impacts.

The four steel lines will run 755 meters (almost 2,500 feet) over the forest between Sugarloaf and Urca Hill, and riders will reach speeds of 100 km/h (62mph). Inauguration is schedule for the second half of this year, and an online petition to halt works has been signed by almost 11,000 people.

Sugarloaf — known in Portuguese as Pao de Açucar— juts out of the earth at the entrance to Rio’s bay. The U.N.’s heritage center named it a World Heritage Site in 2012 along with Rio’s other marquis mountains and, years earlier, Brazil’s heritage institute designated it a national monument.

The cable cars to its summit draw hundreds of thousands of Brazilian and international tourists each year, all eager to take in the panoramic views of the sprawling city’s beaches and forested mountains.

It is also a popular spot for sport climbing and birdwatching with preserved Atlantic Forest in a conservation unit, which towers over the sleepy Urca neighborhood. As such, the prospect of riders buzzing down wires while screaming wildly has united mountaineers, environmental activists and residents in opposition. They caution UNESCO could withdraw its heritage status. One protester on Sunday held a sign reading, “S.O.S. UNESCO”, and the group often broke out into chants of “Zipline out!”

“We are completely opposed to the transformation – which in truth has been happening for some time – of the summits of Urca Hill and Sugarloaf into an entertainment hub,” said André Ilha, a former director of biodiversity and protected areas of Rio state’s environment institute and founder of environmental non-profit Ecological Action Group.

“This is inducing people to go there for reasons that aren’t why the cable car was conceived: to appreciate the landscape,” he said.

Many residents of Urca are likewise displeased.

“We live in a small, peaceful neighborhood. There will be visual and audible impact; no one goes down a a zipline in silence,” said Aurimar dos Prazeres, president of a residents’ association. “And it isn’t one zipline. It’s four of them. One hundred people going down each hour. That’s craziness, and very big impact. ”

Parque Bondinho Pao de Açúcar, which operates the cable cars and is behind the 50-million reais ($9.5 million) project, said in a statement that sound tests indicate noise from riders will not be perceptible from below, nor will it affect climbing routes. It says it has obtained all the necessary authorizations and licenses for the project from the national heritage institute and municipal authorities And it touts the ability to drive tourism.

“In addition to the great integration with nature, the intention is to improve the experience of our visitors and make the visit to the Parque Bondinho Pao de Açucar Park even more pleasant and unforgettable,” the company says on the zipline’s website.

The company also says it consulted society ahead of time. Residents, at least, say that’s not true.

Prazeres told The Associated Press her association wasn’t approached until after works were already underway, and amid complaints. Juliana Freire, president of another residents’ association, told the AP the company brought up its intention to develop the zipline during a meeting last year about another subject, but never made any formal presentation.

Freire says the national heritage institute that gave its OK to the zipline had recently barred construction of a lifeguard tower on the beach below Sugarloaf.

Ilha told the AP that the project was presented to the natural monument’s council, comprised of government and civil society, but that members had been awaiting presentation of an additional sound study. The company said in its statement that further studies on sound and traffic are underway.

Activists on Sunday also expressed concern the zipline is a harbinger of future interventions. The company that administers the cable cars is studying a project that would modify the structure atop Sugarloaf’s summit.

Opponents have nicknamed it “the castle of horrors” and warn of all sorts of potential constructions — almost none of which appear in the company’s proposal. The company says the future project wouldn’t entail expansion of its current footprint nor the opening of new stores, and is meant to facilitate observation of the landscape, improve accessibility for the handicapped and separate the flow of tourists, workers and cargo.

By DAVID BILLER

Brazil’s Glitzy Carnival Is Back

Glittery and outrageous costumes were prepared again. Samba songs were ringing out ’til dawn at Rio de Janeiro’s sold-out parade grounds. Hundreds of raucous, roaming parties were flooding the streets. And working-class communities were buoyed, emotionally and economically, by the renewed revelry.

The COVID-19 pandemic last year prompted Rio to delay Carnival by two months, and watered down some of the fun, which was attended mostly by locals. Brazil’s federal government expects 46 million people to join the festivities that officially began Friday and run through Feb. 22. That includes visitors to cities that make Carnival a world-famous bash, especially Rio but also Salvador, Recife and metropolitan Sao Paulo, which has recently emerged as a hotspot.

These cities have already begun letting loose.

Many Brazilian mayors, including Rio’s, were marking the start of the celebrations on Friday by symbolically handing the keys to their cities to their Carnival Kings. And the first street parties of the Carnival weekend kicked off, with revelers’ costumes ranging from Pope Francis to the devil himself.

“We’ve waited for so long, we deserve this catharsis,” Thiago Varella, a 38-year-old engineer wearing a Hawaiian shirt drenched by the rain, said at a bash in Sao Paulo.

Most tourists were eager to go to the street parties, known as blocos. Rio has permitted more than 600 of them, and there are more unsanctioned blocos. The biggest blocos lure millions to the streets, including one bloco that plays Beatles songs with a Carnival rhythm for a crowd of hundreds of thousands. Such major blocos were called off last year.

“We want to see the partying, the colors, the people and ourselves enjoying Carnival,” Chilean tourist Sofia Umaña, 28, said near Copacabana beach.

The premier spectacle is at the Sambadrome. Top samba schools, which are based in Rio’s more working-class neighborhoods, spend millions on hour-long parades with elaborate floats and costumes, said Jorge Perlingeiro, president of Rio’s league of samba schools.

“What’s good and beautiful costs a lot; Carnival materials are expensive,” Perlingeiro said in an interview in his office beside the samba schools’ warehouses. “It’s such an important party ... It’s a party of culture, happiness, entertainment, leisure and, primarily, its commercial and social side.”

He added that this year’s Carnival will smash records at the Sambadrome, where some 100,000 staff and spectators are expected each day in the sold-out venue, plus 18,000 paraders. While President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is not expected to be among them, his wife Rosângela da Silva has said she will be at the parade.

The first lady’s attendance signals a shift from the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who kept his distance from the nation’s marquee cultural event.

Nearly 700,000 Brazilians died in the pandemic, the world’s second-highest national total, after the U.S., and many blamed Bolsonaro’s response, weakening the bid for reelection that he ultimately lost. Many at this year’s street parties are celebrating not just the return of Carnival, but also Bolsonaro’s defeat.

That was the case at the Heaven on Earth street party in Rio’s bohemian Santa Teresa neighborhood on Feb. 11. Musicians pounded their drums as some revelers climbed fences to watch the scene from above the pulsing throng. Anilson Costa, a stilt-walker, already had a prime view from his elevated perch. Covered in flowers and brightly colored pom-poms, he poured a watering can labeled “LOVE” over people dancing below him.

“Seeing this crowd today is a dream, it’s very magical,” said Costa. “This is the post-pandemic Carnival, the Carnival of democracy, the Carnival of rebirth.”

This year shares some of the spirit of the 1919 edition, which took place right after Spanish influenza killed tens of thousands of Brazilians, but was no longer a significant threat. WWI had just ended, too, and people were eager to unburden themselves, said David Butter, the author of a book about that year’s celebration.

“There were so many people in Rio’s city center for Carnival that the whole region ran out of water within hours,” said Butter.

Carnival’s cancelation in 2021 and its lower-key version last year pummeled an industry that is a nearly year-long source of jobs for carpenters, welders, sculptors, electricians, dancers, choreographers and everyone else involved in bringing parades to the public. As such, Carnival’s full-fledged return is a shot in the arm for local economies.

“Yesterday, I went to sleep at 3 in the morning. Today, I’ll leave earlier, because I’ve lost my voice,” said seamstress Luciene Moreira, 60, as she sewed a yellow costume in samba school Salgueiro’s warehouse. “You have to sleep later one day, earlier the next; otherwise, the body can’t handle it. But it is very enjoyable!”

Rio expects some 5 billion reais (about $1 billion) in revenue at its bars, hotels and restaurants, the president of the city’s tourism agency, Ronnie Costa, told the AP. Rio’s hotels are at 85% capacity, according to Brazil’s hotel association, which expects last-minute deals to bring that figure near to its max. Small businesses are benefiting, too.

“Carnival is beautiful, people are buying, thank God all my employees are paid up to date,” said Jorge Francisco, who sells sequined and sparkled Carnival accoutrements at his shop in downtown Rio. “For me, this is an immense joy, everyone smiling and wanting. That’s how Carnival is.”

By MAURICIO SAVARESE and DAVID BILLER

Rio’s Carnival Parade Returns After Long Pandemic Hiatus

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Colorful floats and flamboyant dancers are delighting tens of thousands jammed into Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Sambadrome, putting on a delayed Carnival celebration after the pandemic halted the dazzling displays.

Rio de Janeiro’s top samba schools began strutting their stuff late Friday, which was the first evening of the two-night spectacle.
Ketula Melo, 38, a muse in the Imperatriz Leopoldinense school dressed as the Iemanja deity of Afro-Brazilian religions, was thrilled to be back at the Sambadrome.

“These two years were horrible. Now we can be happy again,” Melo said as she was about to enter Friday night wearing a black and white costume made of shells that barely covered her body.

Rio’s Sambadrome has been home to the parade since the 1980s, and is a symbol of Brazil’s Carnival festivities. During the pandemic, it was a shelter for more than 400 homeless people and also served as a vaccination station.

Brazil confirmed its first cases of the coronavirus in mid-March 2020, just after that year’s Carnival festivities came to an end. The 2021 edition was swiftly cancelled due to the rise of the delta variant. More than 663,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Brazil, the second highest of any country in the world, according to Our World in Data, an online research site.

Entire communities rally around the competing samba schools, whose shows are not only a source of pride but also employment since preparations require countless seamstresses, welders, costume designers and more. There are months of rehearsals for dancers and drummers, so participants can learn the tune and the lyrics for their school’s song. The pandemic upended these samba schools’ way of life for two years.

Sao Paulo also kicked off its Carnival parade Friday evening. Both cities’ parades usually take place in February or March, but their mayors in January jointly announced they were postponing Carnival by two months due to concerns about the proliferation of the omicron variant.

The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths has plunged since then, and more than three-quarters of Brazilians are fully vaccinated, according to the country’s health ministry. Local authorities have allowed soccer matches with full attendance since March.

Rio authorities said earlier this week those attending the parade would have to show proof of vaccination, but media reports showed that attendees had no trouble getting tickets or entering the Sambadrome without showing the required documents.

A seat in the bleachers cost about $50, and the most expensive seats can cost more than $1,260. Going out in one of the samba schools costs a lot for tourists, but it is often free for people who are involved with the parade all year round, like 66-year-old Juciara do Nascimento Santos. She was among the revelers starting this year’s parade with the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school.

“We had to take care of ourselves during this time so we could be here today celebrating life,” said Santos, who has paraded with Imperatriz Leopoldinense since 1984. This time she was in the section of the baianas, often reserved for the oldest women of each samba school. Many of these samba schools reported they lost many of their baianas to the virus.

For those unwilling to shell out for the price of admission, there were street parties across Rio — despite City Hall denying authorization for them to take place, citing insufficient time to prepare. Some organizers couldn’t care less, arguing that celebrating Carnival wasn’t contingent on authorities’ consent, and partiers hit the streets in force.

Rio De Janeiro Delays Carnival Parades As Omicron Spreads

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The world-famous Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro will be held in late April rather than the final weekend of February, as the number of coronavirus cases in Brazil spikes and the omicron variant spreads across the country.

“The decision was made respecting for the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and the need, at this time, to preserve lives and join forces to drive vaccination throughout the country,” said a statement issued Friday jointly by the cities of Rio and Sao Paulo, which also delayed the start of its Carnival parades until April 21.

Earlier in the afternoon, Rio’s Mayor Eduardo Paes and his Sao Paulo counterpart Ricardo Nunes held a video call along with their respective health secretaries and each city’s league of samba schools that put on the parade, according to the statement.

Paes announced weeks ago that his city’s raucous street parties, some of which draw hundreds of thousands of revelers, wouldn’t proceed in the manner they did before the pandemic, but without clarifying what shape they might take.

He said at the time, however, that samba schools’ parades through the Sambadrome would proceed as planned, in light of the relative ease with which vaccination status and negative coronavirus tests could be checked upon entry.

The parade through the Sambadrome is a major tourist draw for Rio and the central fixture of the city’s pre-Lenten party. It draws tens of thousands of spectators in its bleachers and tens of millions watch from home.

Travelore Update: Brazil Justice Rules Vaccine Passport Mandatory For Visitors

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A Brazilian Supreme Court justice ruled Saturday that all travelers arriving in Brazil must present a vaccine passport documenting they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The decision from Luís Roberto Barroso challenges a more lenient rule announced by the government of President Jair Bolsonaro, who has opposed mandatory immunization against the virus that can cause COVID-19.

Barroso’s ruling must be reviewed by all 11 judges of the Supreme Court next week.

The federal government announced Tuesday that travelers arriving in Brazil did not have to produce a vaccine passport though they would have to undergo a five-day quarantine.

In ruling on a petition filed by the Network Sustainability party, Barroso said monitoring the quarantines of thousands of travelers would be too difficult and would put Brazilians at risk.

“The threat of promoting anti-vaccine tourism, due to the imprecision of the regulations that require the voucher, represents an imminent risk,” Barroso said in the ruling.

Brazil’s president has argued that those backing the use of vaccine passports want to restrict freedoms of the population.

Rio de Janeiro Cancels NYE Party Due To Omicron Fears

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Rio de Janeiro has canceled its New Year’s Eve party due to renewed COVID-19 fears.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes announced the decision on social media.

Paes had previously promised the biggest New Year’s Eve party ever, with multiple firework displays and artists performing on a dozen stages across the city. He said there is no decision about Carnival taking place in March.

The yearly celebration on Copacabana beach has in the past gathered more than one million locals and tourists.

Other Brazilian cities, including Sao Paulo and Salvador, have also canceled New Year’s Eve celebrations due to fears of the omicron variant,. So far, the Ministry of Health has confirmed five omicron cases in Brazil.

Brazil’s COVID-19 Death Toll Tops 500,000

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil said Saturday that more than 500,000 people in the country are confirmed to have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

The nation of 210 million people has been reporting an average of more than 2,000 daily deaths in recent days. Brazil’s reported death toll is second only to that of the U.S., where the number of lives lost has topped 600,000.

Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga confirmed that the official death toll had passed 500,000.

“I am working tirelessly to vaccinate all Brazilians in the shortest time possible and change this scenario that has plagued us for over a year,” Queiroga tweeted.

Brazil is registering more than 70,000 confirmed coronavirus infections every day. Just 11.4% of the population has been fully vaccinated, according to the government.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the coronavirus while trying to keep the economy humming. He dismissed the scourge early on as “a little flu” and has scorned masks.

Brazil Enjoys Fun In The Sun As COVID-19 Deaths Top 200,000

SAO PAULO (AP) — The night before New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro, thousands of revelers clad in their bathing suits crowded onto the iconic Ipanema beach to have some seaside drinks. It was one of many open-air parties occurring along Brazil’s vast coastline since the summer heat set in, and as the COVID-19 death toll climbed higher.

“It was so packed, you couldn’t set foot on the beach,” said a maintenance worker at a luxury apartment building across the street. “And it wasn’t just at night; the beach was packed during the day, too. And no one wears a mask!” he added, insisting on not being quoted by name out of worry the building’s owner would punish him for speaking to a reporter.

The explosion of celebrations came just ahead of a pandemic milestone: Brazil passed 200,000 deaths Thursday, rising 1,524 in the previous 24 hours to a total of 200,498 for the pandemic, according to data released by Brazil’s health ministry. It’s the second highest toll in the world, behind the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University’s database.

Many Brazilians have been straining against quarantine for months, going to bars or small gatherings with friends, but massive blowouts had been few and far between since the pandemic began. Festivities kicked off after the Southern Hemisphere’s summer started on Dec. 21.

While many countries imposed new restrictions to limit the spread of the virus in mid-December, the administration of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro gave its blessing for holiday fun in the sun. Tourism Minister Gilson Machado told radio station Jovem Pan that gatherings of up to 300 people were perfectly acceptable. The decision to impose restrictions is the prerogative of local governments; some that did so saw their rules ignored.

A prominent YouTuber organized a party near a river beach for hundreds of people in Alagoas state, in the country’s northeast region. Days later, local media reported that 47 people, among unmasked guests and staffers contracted COVID-19. At least two were admitted to intensive-care units.

A five-day New Year’s bash drew 150 people near the property owned by soccer star Neymar outside Rio, although he denied any association with the VIP event.

Outside Sao Paulo, Bolsonaro kicked off 2021 by jumping off a boat and swimming towards a throng of unmasked, cheering supporters.

And cops in the city of Bertioga on Sao Paulo’s coast used tear gas to disperse a celebration in the early hours New Year’s Day.

“Right before the parties, the situation was already getting bad. But this week or next, it will get even worse,” Domingos Alves, an adjunct professor of social medicine at the University of Sao Paulo, told The Associated Press this week.

Alves, who leads a team of researchers tracking COVID-19 data, warned that several states’ daily confirmed cases have already surpassed the numbers seen during Brazil’s peak in July.

Intensive-care units in many cities are once again slammed with COVID-19 patients. The mayor of Amazonas state’s capital Manaus — which one local study speculated may have reached herd immunity after its brutal first wave — declared a 180-day state of emergency Tuesday and suspended all permits for events. State authorities prohibited all nonessential activities for 15 days in most of the city

The city of 2.2 million has recorded 3,550 deaths since the start of the pandemic, and the number of COVID-19 burials has surged. Outside at least one graveyard, cars lined up filled with people waiting to bury their loved ones.

Vanda Ortega, a volunteer nurse in Manaus’ Community of Indigenous Nations, told the AP the city had adopted a hands-off approach toward the virus, first during November local elections with large rallies and long lines of voters.

“Then we had the holiday season, with a lot of secret parties,” said Ortega, who belongs to the Witoto ethnicity. “We live in an area where rich people have cabins. They have parties every week.”
M
any mayors on Sao Paulo’s shore ignored holiday restrictions their governor imposed. In at least 12 cities, mayors kept stores, hotels and beaches open to tourists.

Images of traffic jams and packed beaches, with crowds largely unmasked, were so jarring that European Union commissioner Paolo Gentiloni expressed his disbelief on Twitter, saying “I saw shameful images from Brazil.”

And Bolsonaro — who has consistently downplayed risks of the virus despite catching a case himself — signaled with his New Year’s swim that he will continue to ignore protective measures observed in most countries.

“I dived in with a mask on so I wouldn’t catch COVID from the little fish,” he joked a few days later outside the presidential palace.

Even some Brazilians who consider themselves cautious are letting down their guards. Soccer fan Ricardo Santos, 46, says he covers his face each time he goes out, carries hand sanitizer in his bag and observes social distancing. But on Wednesday, he and a dozen of other Palmeiras fans hit a bar in downtown Sao Paulo to watch their team play.

“I spent New Year’s with only two friends who live in the same building. I take precautions. But sometimes you have to accept a little risk to preserve your mental health, too,” Santos said.

Back on Rio’s Ipanema beach, Joao Batista Baria, 57, said he blamed authorities for not protecting its poorest residents.

“Everyone is talking about these beach parties, but crowding also happens on the bus, on the subway,” Baria said while cleaning the foldable chairs tourists and residents rent to soak up the summer sun. “People come to the beach because they choose to. I need to take the bus to get to work.”

Traveling To Brazil Has Never Been Easier, Visa-Free For Americans Starting June 17th

Summer is right around the corner, but you still have plenty of time to plan the perfect Brazilian adventure! This is a great time to take advantage of the current exchange rate (over $4.0 Brazilian Reais to one Dollar) and enjoy the end of visa for Americans, starting June 17^th. You are sure to find great deals and travel on a budget at this time of the year in Brazil, since it is actually winter there. Prices fall up to 50% around many Brazilian destinations during the low season with several direct flights from major US cities. 

When planning your trip, it is important to make sure that you don’t miss out on those once in a lifetime experiences. You will be happy to discover that when you visit Brazil, you can check out places like the Jardim Botânico, Christ The Redeemer Statue and Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro for free or for little cost. And they are definitely worth the money! 

Here are five destinations with direct flights from the US that you can visit and get your money’s worth, while lounging at an idyllic beach or exploring tropical vibes! 

Salvador

Brazil’s first capital and the capital of the State of Bahia State, Salvador is known as an important cultural and historical center for Brazilians. The city is listed as one of Brazil’s UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage Sites and it is also a foodie’s paradise. 

Top Five Budget Friendly Things To See in Salvador: 

Igreja and Convento de São Francisco – The 18^thcentury buildings are part of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World. The Architecture is the greatest representative of the baroque style in Bahia. 

Pelourinho –The Neighborhood located in the city’s historic center was the initial point of the city’s economical development in the 16th century. Since 1985, it is recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. 

Mercado Modelo–The site has more than 200 shops with souvenirs from Salvador and Bahia, and many kiosks serving regional Bahian food. 

Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia (Solar do Unhão) – The solar is an architectural complex which houses the Museum of Modern art, a pier, a distillery and a slave quarters. It’s a popular tourist sight with a sculpture garden.

Igreja do Senhor do Bonfim – The most famous church of Salvador. Though it’s a catholic church, it also incorporated some aspects of Candomblé, a religion based on African beliefs. Outside the church you can find the multicolored remembrance ribbons with “Lembrança do Senhor do Bonfim da Bahia” written on them, which should be tied in the arms of visitors in front the church. 

Rio de Janeiro 

The city that needs no introductions is always ready with open arms to welcome new and returning visitors. It would be easy to simply layback, relax and enjoy any of Rio’s many marvelous beaches. Perhaps learn how to play footvolleywith the friendly locals, or join a samba jam by the beach. 

Top Five Budget Friendly Things To See in Rio:

Parque Nacional da Tijuca – An immense conservation area that crosses the city from north to South, and includes several attractions such as the Floresta da Tijuca (the largest urban forest in the world), and Vista Chinesa – a viewpoint in oriental style located 380 meters over the city.

Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas – A great recreation area, encircled by a 7.2m walking and cycling path. Visitors can hire a Bike along the east side of the lake, as well as paddle boats. The area has holds also many restaurants and kiosks that serve drinks and food. 

Forte de Copacabana – Opened in 1914 in the eve of World War I, the Fort has privileged views and an amazing café – The ‘Cafe do Forte’ with outstanding Brazilian pastries and cakes. 

Sunset at Arpoador – Arpoador rocks, located in the end of Ipanema Beach, is the perfect spot to watch the sun going down beside the Two Brothers peaks. 

Santa Teresa Neighborhood – One of the most picturesque districts in Rio, it is home to numerous ateliers, bars, and restaurants that endow a bohemian atmosphere to its streets. 

Manaus

Located in the heart of the Amazon Forest, Manaus has some of the most amazing buildings, built using fine materials imported from Europe, thanks to the Rubber Boom in the early 1900s. One of the highlights is the Amazonas’ Theater, chosen by Vogue magazine as one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world.

Top Five Budget Friendly Things To See in Manaus:

Centro Cultural Palácio Rio Negro – a former residence of one of the rubber barons, it’s now the seat of the Government. It’s one of the finest examples of Amazonian Belle Époquearchitecture. 

Centro Cultural dos Povos da Amazônia – It offers one of the most important ethnographic collections from Brazil, as well as documents, copies of popular art, and a library focused on the indigenous and riverside population. 

Museu Amazônico – A permanent exhibition occupies the upper floor of the building, with displays of indigenous and pre-indigenous cultures. 

Centro Cultural Usina Chaminé – An old sewage treatment plant, built in classic style, that is now one of the most important cultural venues in the City. The building houses the Pinacoteca do Estado art collection. 

Centro de Artesanato Branco e Silva – This is the principal center for regional products from fruits to locally made baskets, and the amazing local cuisine. 

Brasília

Designed by urbanist Lucio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer, Brazil’s current and third capital (after Salvador and Rio) is the city with the largest heritage area in the world, and it is also listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site. 

Top Five Budget Friendly Things To See in Brasilia:

Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília–Designed by the Architect Oscar Niemeyer, the cathedral has stained glass window on the roof of the nave with sixteen pieces of fiberglass in shades of blue, green, white and brown painted by the artist Marianne Peretti. 

Espaço Oscar Niemeyer – The space was designed by Oscar Niemeyer in 1988, and has a permanent exhibition showing works by the architect. 

Congresso National – During the visit it is possible to learn more about the artistic and cultural heritage of the National Congress and to learn how it operates. 

Palacio do Planalto - The Presidential Palace is the headquarters of the Federal Executive and the President’s office. It was one of the first buildings constructed in the capital. The Palace has also an amazing art collection.

Lago Paranoá – It was artificially created as part of the construction plan for Brasilia, a heaven for water sports. The Bridge JK, built in 2002, in steel and concrete arches, crosses the lake. It ha a pedestrian walkway and is accessible to cyclists. 

São Paulo

São Paulo is the largest city in South America and the third largest city in the Americas. Known as the Latin American capital of events, the city has an abundance of hotels for all budgets and tastes, as well as plenty of things to do.

Top Five Budget Friendly Things To See in Sao Paulo:

Centro Cultural São Paulo – A multidisciplinary cultural space, the Center has three large libraries, a comic book library and an area for temporary exhibitions and cultural presentations. It’s one of the most traditional sites in the city. 

Instituto Cultural Itaú –- The site hosts dance, music and theatre performances, as well as themed exhibitions. 

Museu do Futebol (free of charge on Thursday) – Located under the grandstands of the Pacaembu Stadium, the star of this museum is the favorite national sport. The history of Brazilian soccer is shown in interactive multimedia pieces. 

Catedral da Sé – One of the five largest neo-gothic temples in the world, the cathedral was inaugurated in 1954. Opposite to the church there is the Marco Zero (the city’s geographical center). 

Mercado Municipal – The most traditional gourmet attraction of the city is located in an imposing building in downtown, with stained glass windows. You can find Brazilian fruits and vegetables, and the space has a gastronomy space in the mezzanine where you can taste the famous mortadella sandwich and the codfish cakes. 

About Brazil Tourism:

With its spectacular beaches, lush rainforests, rich culture, exotic cuisine and exciting nightlife, Brazil is one of the most compelling countries to visit today. Travelers are invited to explore Brazil’s incredible geographical diversity – from the wetlands to the beaches. With a beautiful, tropical climate, Brazil is an easily accessible, exotic get-away for couples, families and business travelers.

For more information, please consult our website: VisitBrasil.com

Rio de Janeiro: Official Schedule for 2018 Carnival Blocos

473 block (Blocos)  of groups aim to lead residents and tourists into euphoria at the upcoming famous Rio de Janeiro Carnival

The official Tourism Company of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro (Riotur) released the official list of the famous blocos earlier this week, confirming the events that will parade through the city during the 2018 Carnival period.

Most blocos will parade through Zona Sul (South Zone), where 128 are held, and the rest will be distributed in other regions of the city.

The number is slightly higher than the number of groups that had authorization in 2017, when 451 blocos were approved and held 578 parades.

The announcement this year came two weekends after the start of unofficial bloco testing events, which have already spread throughout the city. One of the reasons is due to some big changes in the organization and funding of Carnival this year.

The new program of the ‘Arena Carnaval Rio’, or the Blocódromo, a controversial initiative of the city hall that intends to gather revelers in the Olympic Park, in Barra da Tijuca, includes seven major blocos, among them ‘Cordão da Bola Preta’ and ‘Bangalafumenga’, and five samba schools.

Rane Souza, director at RS Language Services, is from Minas Gerais but has lived in Rio for years, and is not sure that the changes are good. “It will certainly change the feeling on the streets because most blocos are deeply rooted in the neighborhoods they were first set up,” she explains.

When asked about her bloco plans she shares, “I’ll be traveling during Carnival. I’m spending time with my folks in Minas Gerais. But, if I were in Rio I would go to: Thriller Elétrico, in Vila Isabel; Põe na quentinha, in Centro; Mulheres Rodadas, in Catete; Agytoê, Viemos do Egito, and Boitatá, in Centro.”

While officials promise there are attractions spread out between Carnival Saturday (February 10th) and Ash Wednesday (February 14th), anyone who wants to go to the Blocódromo will have to wait a little longer to know exactly what the attractions will be.

This is because the published listing does not give the name of the schools that will be presenting (one each day, from 11AM to 12 Noon) and also reserves a time slot for a “surprise attraction” (from 12 Noon to 2PM).

See the full list of 2018 Carnival blocos as a PDF file here.

By

 Juergen T Steinmetz

T-Mobile Users Get Free High-Speed Data At The Rio Olympics

Getty

T-Mobile just made it way easier for its users to navigate Rio and the Olympics.

Bonus: the offer also applies to family members of Olympic athletes.

Heading to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this August and worried about rationing your international data plan to cover Snapchat and Instagram? If you're a T-Mobile customer, you're GTG. From August 1, U.S. customers will have free unlimited access to the carrier's high-speed 4G LTE network in Brazil.

Brazilian tourism isn't the first destination to benefit from T-Mobile's travel-friendly plan. The carrier already offers high-speed roaming benefits to its American customers going to more than 40 countries, mostly throughout Europe, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, Russia, and Turkey.

For Olympic athletes' families, T-Mobile will sweeten the deal with free high-speed service as well as free Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge handsets and Samsung Gear 360 cameras from August through October.

“If a member of your family qualifies for the biggest global sporting event on the planet, your damn phone bill is the last thing you want to worry about,” John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile, said in a statement. “We’re going to make it simple for our customers—and families of the U.S. team—to enjoy the Games, stay connected and share every historic moment with those they care about.”

To qualify for free international high-speed data roaming, T-Mobile customers will need to make sure they're on the carrier's Simple Choice Plan. Families of Olympic athletes competing in the games can email RoamFreeInRio@t-mobile.com to inquire about qualifying for this year's perks—make sure to include your name, the name of the athlete you're related to, and the dates you'll be in Rio de Janeiro in the body of the email.

As preparations ramp up for the Opening Ceremonies, there are still plenty of tickets to premium events to be had. It's not too late to plan a last-minute trip to Rio this summer! Here's our guide to what to see and do in town, how to avoid mosquito bites and protect yourself from Zika, and everything you need to know about getting to and from the summer games. Looking for some celeb inspiration? Here's Ryan Seacrest's Olympic travel plan download.

Written by Poppy Garland

 www.cntraveler.com

Guide To Visiting Rio For The Olympics, From Safety To Samba #Rio2016,

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In this April 26, 2016 photo, the sun rises behind Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.... Read more

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — With the Olympics just a few weeks away, Brazil faces a litany of problems: an economy in freefall, the Zika virus and a political crisis with an impeached president. But for those brave — or foolhardy — enough to make the trip, Rio de Janeiro is a city rich with potential rewards. Broadcasters have already deemed the city's backdrop for the Summer Games the most telegenic ever. But no matter how good this teeming seaside metropolis — where the urban jungle and the literal jungle meet — looks on TV, footage simply can't compare with the experience of actually being here.

Here's a Q&A on tips for visiting Rio, from staying safe to samba parties:

A: With an estimated 85,000 police and soldiers patrolling the streets during the games — twice the security contingent in London in 2012 — Olympic and local officials have insisted Rio will be "the safest city on earth" during the Aug. 5-21 games. Still, violent crime is a fact of life in this city, starkly divided between haves and have nots, so it's best to keep a low profile.

For Cariocas, as Rio's 6 million residents are called, low-key dressing is de rigueur for both safety and practicality. Havaianas, the Brazilian flip-flop brand, are Rio's uncontested footwear of choice. And the city's golden-sand beaches make board shorts and T-shirts, or hot pants and tank tops, a uniform for rich and poor alike. (While Rio's Southern Hemisphere winters tend to be mild, thermometers can dip in August into what Cariocas consider the bone-chilling depths of the mid-60s, so pack a sweater or light jacket.)

Watches and jewelry not clearly made from plastic are best avoided, as is using cellphones in public or conspicuously carrying camera equipment. Electronics are extremely expensive in Brazil, and a smartphone can cost several months' worth of salary for locals, so it's best to keep them under wraps.

If you do get mugged, don't react or fight. Hand over your possessions calmly and without hesitation. It's only money and/or stuff. And no matter how much of a pain the ensuing nightmare of card cancellations proves, it's not worth getting injured.

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Q: Do people speak English?

A: In a word, no. Outside Olympic venues and high-end hotels and restaurants, most Cariocas only speak Portuguese, though they might know a few words of English or Spanish. On the other hand, most people are eager to help foreigners and will resort even to pantomime to get their point across.

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Q: What's for dinner?

A: If you go to one of the myriad "churrascaria" (shoe-hass-car-EE-ya) all-you-can-eat Brazilian barbeque joints, the answer is meat, meat and more meat. Roving waters brandishing spits stacked with cuts of prime beef, lamb chops, pork sausages and even wizened black chicken hearts will insist on refilling your plate till you verge on bursting.

For vegetarians or those recovering from a meat overdose, options are limited. Best bets include corner juice bars offering a cornucopia of freshly squeezed tropical fruit juices, as well as acai (ah-sa-EE) — a deep purple Amazonian palm berry that's frozen, blended and served slushy.

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Q: Is there public transportation?

A: The city's metro line is being extended to serve the beachfront Leblon neighborhood and reach the far-western Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, where Olympic Park is located. But the project is behind schedule and may not be finished in time for the games. Buses are confusing, packed, dangerous and generally best avoided. Cabs are plentiful and decently reliable — just make sure your cabby turns headlights on after dark. (Many won't.)

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Q: Besides sports, what is there to do in Rio during the games?

A: Plenty. And the good news is, the best things in Rio are free.

Rio was hard hit by the recession, with the economy shrinking last year by 4 percent, sending unemployment and inflation soaring. The nosedive of the local currency, the real, has made Rio much cheaper for visitors spending dollars or euros. But the cost of hotels and restaurants can still be shocking. Savvy travelers can staunch the bloodletting by taking advantage of the city's many free attractions:

—Sugarloaf Mountain: The sheer granite outcropping that presides over the waters of the Guanabara Bay will no doubt prove a breathtaking backdrop for the Olympic sailing races. But rather than just ogling the iconic rock, why not hike it? A guide is necessary to scale the Sugarloaf itself, but its stumpier twin, the Morro da Urca, is doable without help. A mud path winds through tropical vegetation to a summit with peerless views over the city's dense patchwork of towers, hillside "favela" slums and mist-enshrouded rainforest.

—Sunset at Arpoador: Take in the sun's spectacular nightly performance as it sinks into the Atlantic from atop the Arpoador rock formation in between Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches. The crowd there raucously applauds the glittering show, night after night.

—Pedra do Sal: Experience a "roda de samba," or live samba music, at the birthplace of Brazil's most famous musical genre. Monday nights bring hordes of aficionados to this former slave market in the Gamboa region of historic downtown for an open-air dance party.

—Centro: Rio's beaches tend to steal the thunder, but the Centro downtown region, where the city got its start 451 years ago, is a treasure trove of colonial-era churches and historic monuments. Perhaps the most stunning among them is the Mosteiro Sao Bento, a Baroque church and working monastery where monks perform Gregorian chants during Sunday Mass. Get there early to snag a seat. Also in Centro is the Portuguese Royal Reading Room, a 19th century gem of soaring jacaranda hardwood bookshelves and stained glass windows, tucked into the newly rehabilitated Praca Tirdentes.

By JENNY BARCHFIELD

Brazilians Ready To Welcome The World To Rio de Janeiro

 

Millions of Brazilians are getting ready to line the streets and cheer the Olympic Flame around country.

 

Organizers of the 2016 Rio Olympics revealed the complete route of the Olympic Torch Relay that will begin on May 3rd and spread the spirit of the Games around Brazil. At a celebratory event alongside the organizing committee's headquarters, the first torchbearers and the uniform they will wear were also revealed.

The relay will visit 329 towns and cities across all five regions of Brazil, travelling 13,000 miles by road and 10,000 miles by air, and reaching 90 per cent of the country’s population. About 12,000 torchbearers will carry the Olympic flame during the 95-day relay, which will be concluded during the opening ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium on August 5^th, when the Olympic cauldron will be lit. 

As well as the relay sections of the event in towns and cities, the torch will also be taken to some of the nation’s most stunning beauty spots, such as Fernando de Noronha and the Iguaçu Falls.

According to ancient tradition, the Olympic flame was lit at a ceremony in the Greek city of Olympia on April 21^st and will complete a short relay of Greece before being handed over to Brazil. With the announcement of the full Brazilian route, another 246 towns and cities have been confirmed alongside the 83 revealed when the torch was unveiled last July.

Olympic venues in Rio are on schedule to be open and tested prior to opening day, tickets are selling as they become available and the Olympics excitement is taking over the whole country. 

Brazil will be the first country in South America to host the Olympics Games. The country successfully hosted the 2014 World Cup, which set the stage to confirm that Brazil is the perfect place for major events. The Games will leave a huge legacy for both Rio and Brazil, and are starting to take shape.

Tourists from the Unites States, Canada, Japan and Australia who plan to visit Brazil between June 1^st and September 18^th, 2016 will be exempt from Brazilian visa. The measure will facilitate the entry of athletes and international tourists who wish to come to Brazil to accompany the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016.

The visa waiver will benefit those who are in Brazil until September 18^th, 2016 (end date of the Paralympic Games), for a period of stay limited to 90 days, from the date of first entry in the country. The visitor does not need to provide proof of tickets to attend any of the Olympic events.

No other host city will have had such big transformational benefits from the Games as Rio. In addition to infrastructure, the Games also focus on education and citizenship. ´Transforma´, the Education Program of the Rio 2016 Committee, is being extended from 52 to 162 municipal schools. The program was included in the public policies of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall since 2014, and aims to promote the Olympic values among the basic education of students, introducing them to the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.

The Rio 2016 Committee is also intensifying its relationship with society, in order to disseminate the principles of sport and the importance of sport practice, especially among young people, in Rio and throughout the country.

The 2016 Rio Olympic Games will take place from August 5^th to 21^st and will be followed by the Paralympic Games from September 7^th to 18^th.

For more information, please visit http://www.rio2016.com and http://www.brasil2016.gov.br

About Brazil Tourism: 

With its spectacular beaches, lush rainforests, rich culture, exotic cuisine and exciting nightlife, Brazil is one of the most compellingcountries to visit today.  Travelers are invited to explore Brazil’s incredible geographical diversity – from the wetlands to the beaches. With a beautiful, tropical climate, Brazil is an easily accessible, exotic get-away for couples, families and business travelers.  

For more information, go to VisitBrasil.com

KAYAK Reveals The 10 Trending Destinations For Summer 2016

Shared by Ewa Zubek

The US-based travel search and booking engine KAYAK has finally published its Summer Travel Hacker Guide for 2016. The guide reveals not only the most searched-for destinations, but also their average temperatures, best periods to book, median airfares and hotel rates. This year’s destinations are a mixed bag of tropical islands, high-tech metropolises and nature destinations, giving you plenty of inspiration to find the perfect summer holiday. How many have you been to?

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#10: Toronto

With a 27% increase in searches since last year, Canada’s coolest city is clearly not complaining about its rising popularity. And rightly so: from hipster neighborhoods to an excellent foodie offering, Toronto is the place to be this summer.

© mikecphoto-Shutterstock

#9: Lisbon

If the soft tones of fado in Lisbon’s historic Alfama neigborhood aren’t enough to draw you in, then you can always head out to the beautiful beaches which surround the Portuguese capital. The stats don’t lie: there has been a 31% increase on Lisbon-related searches compared to last year.

Lisbon © Rrrainbow/Shutterstock

#8: Dublin

The birthplace of James Joyce has witnessed a 30% increase in searches compared to 2015. Although it’s now also an urban haven, Dublin is still a historical city through and through. With its nooks and crannies, ancient pubs and the stunning architecture of Trinity College, the Irish capital is a must-visit European destination even when it’s raining.

Dublin | © Miguel Mendez/Flickr

#7: Ho Chi Minh City

This Vietnamese metropolis is a dream come true for any history buff – from French colonial influences to remnants of the tragic Vietnam War, the city is a living relic nestled in the heart of South East Asia. Do watch out for the intense traffic, though. KAYAK noted a 31% increase in searches for HCMC.

Ho Chi Minh City Hall | © Diego Delso/WikiCommons

#6: Montreal

An 18% increase in flight searches has granted Montreal a spot on this trending list. It may not be the warmest place on the planet (expect an average of 16°C in the summer months), but it definitely is a fashionable North American city with a generous French soul.

Montreal | © Tony Brooks/Flickr

#5: Bali

No trending list could be complete without a paradise island. There’s been a 33% increase in Bali-related searches since last year, and the destination has been growing in popularity since the release of a certain movie we’ve all secretly seen. If you’re not into yoga, Bali is also a great place to check out architecture.

#4: Calgary

With a 38% increase in US-originating travel searches compared to last summer, Alberta’s largest city is finally seeing a tourism renaissance. And we can see why – Calgary is a pretty cool destination with historical, cultural and natural attractions aplenty.

Calgary © Pixabay

#3: Tokyo

The buzzing Japanese metropolis has attracted 44% more searches compared to summer 2015. If there’s only one thing you do in Tokyo, make it a trip to the legendary Jiro Sushi. If you can get a spot, that is.

Tokyo © Pigprox/Shutterstock

#2: Reykjavik

KAYAK saw a 75% increase in flight searches for the previously under-the-radar capital of Iceland. It may be cold, it may be rugged, but it is a spectacular island with the kinds of landscapes you would otherwise only see in grand Hollywood productions.

Reykjavik | © Moyan Brenn / Flickr

#1: Rio de Janeiro

With the Olympics fast approaching, KAYAK noted a 127% increase in bookings compared to the same period last year. We’re not surprised, as Rio has continued to attract tourists with large-scale events and improving safety records. This year is set out to be one of the biggest for the local tourism industry.

© Celso Diniz-Shutterstock