See the "marvelous city" of Rio de Janeiro
2010-01-22
When the Portuguese explorers of old stumbled on Guanbara Bay, the site that
would later become Rio de Janeiro, they named it "Cidade Marvilhosa" or
marvelous city for the fortification they hoped to build on the spot. It's more
than 400 years later, and the city still manages to live up to the lofty title.
Rio is the second largest city in Brazil and easily the country's most
famous. From the monolithic statue of Jesus that overlooks the city from high,
to the lively and decadent beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, Rio is a city
worth exploring.
Nature lovers would be reluctant to not visit Pao de
Acucar or the sugar loaf mountains. Travelers can ride an aerial tramway to the
top of the taller mountain and catch a breathtaking sunset fall over the
horizon.
History nuts will enjoy the Palacio Gutavo Capanema, a French
designed government building that is considered to be a pioneer in many
techniques now common in modern architecture, or the Museo do Carnaval, which
records the history of the country's top cultural celebration.
Gourmands
will want to dine at one of the many rodizios, or Brazilian steakhouses, that
fill the city to sample some authentic local cuisine.