The day I didn't need my friends

There seems to be a lot of dancing going on in the blogs I visit recently.
Though I love dancing, I take some prior convincing from my friends, be it Johny (Walker), Jim (Beam) and especially Jack (Daniels)!
It's not that I can not dance. I can do the odd figures, I can stay in the rhythm, and boy can I dance slow! It's that I get this feeling that all eyes are concentrating on me, judging my moves, perhaps even waiting for me to slip and land flat on my bum. I just feel really intimidated!
The second time I visited my girl in Rio, she had the fabulous idea to take me out samba dancing! There was no way I can say no to those beautiful eyes, even though I felt it was going to be a tough evening for me.
The club was jam packed and the music was blasting away from a live band in the corner. I've never seen such a congregation of beautiful women before or since. (It must be the water or something! If there's a scientific reason for it, I'm all ears).
She chose a table next to the dance floor for easy access. My knees had gone at the entrance! I was full of smiles, but deep inside was dreading the moment she would ask me to dance with her! I needed one of my friends, and I needed him badly!
But then the strangest thing happened! She stood up in front of the table and let her body flow with the music. Damn was she sexy! Without realising, I was next to her, my arm around her waist, actually keeping up with the rhythm and her! I seriously doubt that I was samba dancing at the time, but who cared. As far as I knew, people could be commenting, staring, having a laugh with the gringo's attempt to dance, but I actually didn't care!
When Jack came along, it was too late. I had already been dancing with her for a couple of songs, maybe more. It was actually one of the very few times that I danced without the prior consumption of alcohol! And my goodness, did I enjoy it!

Paradise City - Rio de Janeiro

Blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, coupled with the pleasant and easy going personality of the local Brazilians (the Cariocas), Rio de Janeiro justly deserves its title. Indeed Rio is the Cidade Marhavilhosa (the marvelous city)!

Which other city in the world can claim to have an excess of 30 white-sand beaches, green hills, botanical gardens and the largest urban park in the world?

City Trademarks

Jesus the Redeemer, at the top of the Corcovado peak, looks down on the city, while nearby are the twin peaks of Sugarloaf. (Its cable car was the shooting location of the James Bond movie, Moonraker).

Beaches
Brazilians are conscious of their physique, they work out and keep fit, and proudly display their bodies on the beaches. Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and the Arpoador beaches are some of the best known the world afar. Laying in recliner chair on the beach, sipping on a freshly made fruit juice, coconut juice or even better a refreshing but strong Caipirinha, and it seems that the world has stopped.

Activities and Sport

There are, of course other activities to be taken on. Volleyball, jogging, walking, cycling, hang gliding, rock climbing, the guys favourite, chatting up the beautiful women.... the list is endless.

Food
There's a wide range of food available, ranging from original sandwiches, through various international cuisines, and the churascarias (the all you can eat BBQs). You should try Brazilian cuisine (when in Rome act as the Romans,as they say). It's tasty, spicy and rich in flavours.

Nightlife

When the night falls, the city becomes more energetic. The choices are abundant. From a quiet, romantic drink at Lagoa, to the samba clubs at Santa Teresa and Lapa, the nightclubs at Ipanema, the bars at Copacabana and even the impromptu gatherings around a kiosk next to the beach. You can hop from one place to the other throughout the night, until the sun comes up. (It reminds me of the Geek isles in the summer).

Sightseeing

There is a long list of sightseeing tours, including the colonial style center, the museums, the tours to close by places like Barra de Tijuca, and Ilha Grande (I highly recommend it), the Maracana stadium, and even tours to the favelas!

Where to stay

There are a number of hotels all over Rio, with the majority concentrated in the Copacabana / Ipanema area, with prices covering all budgets. You can also rent an apartment or studio for a reasonable price, or you may even decide to stay at a hostel.

Some Notes

Although much has been said about violence in Rio, it is mainly occurring in the favelas (the shantytowns). To me Rio doesn't seem any more dangerous than any other large city. The crimes that are carried out on tourist are mainly petty theft type, so you must avoid wearing jewelery, hanging cameras from your wrists, and carrying large amounts of cash (keep what you expect to spend in a day in your pocket). You can use your plastic almost everywhere!

Finally, try to keep on the main streets, avoid dark alleys in the night, and walk purposefully. giving the impression you know exactly where you are going, just as a local would.

I will not go into detail about the carnival since everything above applies hundredfold!

Indeed, Rio de Janeiro is an experience that one should live during their life. I have been blessed to have done some myself twice, and have not finished yet. To me Rio IS the Cidade Marhavilhosa of the world!