40 Sunday Territorian. Sunday, October 13, 2013. www.sundayterritorian.com.au

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TROPICAL LANDSCAPESStanding atop the 710mpeakofCorcovado, youwill seewhyRiode Janeiro is called theCidadeMaravilhosa orMarvellousCity.

Lushly forestedmountainsfringe the city,with shimmeringbeaches tracing the shorelineand a string of tiny islandsscattered along the seafront.

Far frombeing amerecinematic backdrop, thisseaside beautyhostsoutstandingoutdooradventures: hiketheTijucarainforest, bicyclealongside the lakeandbeaches, sailacrossBaia deGuanabara, and surf,rock climbandhangglide in oneof theworld’smoststunningurbanlandscapes.

CAPTIVATINGBEACHESRio’s beaches have long seducedvisitors. Copacabanabeachbecamea symbol ofRioduring the 1940s,wheninternational starlets flewdownfor theweekend.

Hogging the spotlight thesedays is IpanemaBeach, its fameandbeautyunabated sincebossanova starsTomJobimandVinicius deMoraes introducedtheworld to its allure in the ’60s.

For cariocas (residents ofRio), the beach isRio’s backyard– aplayground that’s free and

open to all, offering endlessenjoyment in the formoffootball, volleyball, surfing,snacking, drinkingor simplyrelaxing amid the passingpeople parade.

THERHYTHMSOFRIOMusic is the lifebloodofRio,with a soundtrack comprisingrock, old-school bossanova,hip-hop, funk andBrazil’smanyregional styles.Above all,there’s samba, a rapid-fire style

ofmusicwithAfricaninfluences and aninfectious beat that issynonymouswithRio.

You canhear it allover town, but the soulof samba resides inLapa, an edgy, red-light district that ishome todozens oflive-music halls andan enormous

weekend street party that drawsrevellers fromallwalks of life.

Samba is also the integralsoundduringCarnaval and thedanceable backingmusic tostreet parties andparades.

JOIEDEVIVRESpeakingofCarnaval, Rioknowshow toparty.Whetheryou call it joie de vivre,lebensfreudeor lust for life,cariocas have it in spades.

Carnaval, and the build-up toit, is themost obviousmanifestationof thiscelebratory spirit.

ButRiohasmanyotheroccasions for revelry –celebrations after the bigFlamengo (orVasco,Fluminense orBotafogo)footballmatch,weekend sambaparties around town, baile(dance) funkparties in thefavelas andboat parties on thebay.Or save your energy formajor fests likeReveillon (NewYear’s Eve) and theFestasJuninas.

RIODE JANEIRO’STOPFIVE

1. CARNAVAL

Get plenty of sleep before youboard the plane, because onceyou land, it’s non-stop revelryuntilAshWednesday (sort of)brings it to a close.Withnearly500 street parties happening inevery corner of town, youwillnot lack for options.

For the full experience, join asamba school andparade amidpoundingdrumcorps andmechanised smoke-breathingdragons before thousands ofroaring fans in theSambodromo.Or assemble acostumeandhit oneof theCarnaval balls around town.Thebuild-up startsweeks inadvance.

2. IPANEMABEACH

Theenchanting beachfrontattracts awidemixof cariocas,with a different crowd– surfers,volleyballers, bohemians,

muscle boys – for each section(or posto), including famousPosto 9where Ipanema’s youngandbeautiful frolic.

Theprincipal activities of theday are people-watching,surfsidewalks andwatching thesunset – best fromArpoador, atIpanema’s east end.

You canalso eat anddrinkonthe sand.Roaming vendorsbring the goods to you, andbarracas (beach stalls) set youupwith chairs, umbrellas andcaipirinhas.

All youneed to do is showup.

3. COPACABANABEACH

TheCopacabana experience isaboutmany things: rising earlyandgoing for a run along thesand, playing in thewaves onasun-drenched afternoonorwhiling away the eveningovercocktails and appetisers at abeachfront kiosk.Regardless,you’ll probably notice that

incredibly seductive view: 4kmofwide, curving sands framedbyRio’s ubiquitous greenpeaks.

Headuphill for evenbetterviews – rooftop bars and forts ateither endof the beachmakegreat settings for taking it all in.

4.NIGHT-LIFE IN LAPA

TheLapaArches form thegateway toRio’smost animatednightlife. Pass through the64mhighportal and stroll thepacked, bar-lined streetswhilethe rhythmsof samba spill outof 19th-century facades.

While there are drinks(kerbside beer and caipirinhavendors) andmusic(impromptu jamsessions) allaround, venture inside anold-school dancehall to see the cityat itsmost dynamic.

From thebandon stagecomes the rhythmsof samba–oneof theworld’smostinfectious beats.Grab apartner

and join themayhemon thedance floor.

5. PAODEACUCAR

(SUGARLOAFMOUNTAIN)

Some say to comearoundsunset for the best views fromthis absurd confectionof amountain. But in truth, nomatterwhat timeyou come,you’re unlikely to look atRio inthe sameway.

Fromhere the landscape ispure undulating greenhills andgoldenbeaches lappedbybluesea,with rowsof skyscraperssprouting along the shore. Theride up is good fun: all-glassaerial tramswhisk youup to thetop. The adventurous can rockclimb theirway to the summit.

This is an edited extract from Lonely

Planet Rio de Janeiro (8th Edition)

by Regis St Louis © Lonely Planet

2013. Published this month,

RRP: $36.99.

Aseductiveseaside city

TIPS

Crime in Rio is declining,

but it’s wise to be

cautious.

� Take nothing of value to

the beach.

� Avoid Centro (Rio’s

business and financial

hub) on weekends, when

it is deserted.

� Don’t wear expensive-

looking accessories.

� Carry a copy of your

passport, one credit card

and enough cash for the

day; leave the passport,

extra cash and cards in

your hotel safe.

GO2RIO

Golden beaches and lush mountains, colonial

neighbourhoods and modernist style, samba-fuelled

nightlife and spectacular football matches – welcome to

the Marvellous City where life is anything but subdued

IN FULL COLOUR: Ipanema Beach is Rio’s playground (main); samba is

an integral part of city life (above) and can be found on the streets or

in old-time dance halls.

Pictures: Lonely Planet Images

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