Fun and friviolity in the Cidade Maravilhosa!

The Cariocas (people of Rio) are a real hedonistic bunch so what better time to arrive in the Cidade Maravilhosa than on a Friday afternoon! And they’re in full football mode right now as the hot favourites prepare for the World Cup 2006. I’ve been told that it’s like a national holiday here when their team plays: the city will come to a halt and everyone will put work on hold. The streets are already coloured with green and yellow streamers and posters (see my video clip as we drive down one of the streets in Ipanema!).

After getting picked up at the airport, I headed straight for Gula Gula café in the trendy Ipanema quarter for a great salad and smoothie. And the next important thing on my list was to buy a pair of Havaianas that seem to have taken the style-conscious flip-flop wearing brigade the world over by storm!

I then took a walk around the gem museum at H.Stern and marveled through a glass wall at the craftsmanship of the workers as they turned rough pieces of stone into sparkling rings or watches. Most of the precious stones are sourced in Brazil such as lots of different colours of turmaline, Aquamarine, Amythist, diamonds and Emeralds.

Pao de Acucar
Yesterday I went up Sugarloaf Mountain (Pao de Acucar), where I did the testing 394 metres high amidst stunning panoramic views of the city which reminded me a lot of Cape Town. Then I hit the city centre, home to the old Imperial Portuguese buildings. The Tiradentes, a beautiful example of neo-classicism was once the XVIII century residence of governors and viceroys, and then the Royal Palace of King Joao VI of Portugal. It later became the Imperial Palace of Brazil’s two Emperors, Pedro I and Pedro II, through the proclamation of the Republic in 1889. It was the social and political centre of Brazil in the 18th and 19th centuries, and witnessed some of the country’s most historic moments such as the Proclamation of Independence and abolition of slavery.

Caipirinha
After recharging my batteries with a quick espresso, I then chilled out for a couple of hours on Ipanema beach. It was everything I had imagined it to be yet was surprised about one thing: it’s the men that wear the skimpy swimwear, not the ladies! After the beach I went for a Caipirinha (cane liquor cocktail) and some typical tapas-style snacks including bolinhas de quejo (deep-fried cheese balls) and salgados (in this case a pastry filled with fish).

I finished my evening off with drinks at the Marina hotel on Leblon’s waterfront (an area next to Ipanema purportedly renowned for great eateries).

Cristo Redentor
This morning I went up the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). The sky was so blue and the 38 metre statue of Christ looked all the more dramatic juxtaposed against the lovely sky. It was a warm day today so after that highlight I drove to Tijuca forest, Brazil’s only National Park, and possibly the largest urban park in the world covering 3,000 hectares. I stuck to a section called Pinheiras cooling off amongst the trees. I then went to a huge lake in the middle of the city called Lagoa where I sat and drunk Agua de Coco (Coconut water, fresh from the fruit itself) and watched lazily as dozens of joggers and cyclists flew passed on their Sunday afternoon workouts.

This is my last South American destination. I definitely want to come back to Brazil and see more of this gigantic country (I heard the whole of Europe could fit inside it, it’s that big!). But for now I’m excited about my next stop, the ancient pyramids of Egypt, where I’ll be spending three nights in the city of Cairo!

World Heritage sites

World Heritage sites are places around the world chosen by the World Heritage Committee for their cultural and natural heritage. There are 830 properties around the world and each one has outstanding universal value.

Visit Expedia.co.uk's World Heritage pages featuring some of the destinations that Anya visited on her mission to find the World's Best Blue Sky.

Click here to visit Expedia.co.uk's World Heritage pages