sábado, 9 de novembro de 2013

Pedra do sal (Stone Salt)

Pedra do sal (Stone Salt)




"At this place the salt was unloaded from the ships who docked nearby. Afterwards it became the meeting point of samba groups who worked as longshoremen."



This place is historical and makes history in samba. 
Located at the Praça Mauá (Maua square).The exactly location it is on Conceição Hill. In front of the docks , where it was drained salt at the time and was used as a bargaining chip .

The salt stone name is the same until today. It was also a point of exchange and sale of slaves brought by ship. This is why this part of the region it is known as "Little Africa" ("Pequena África").

Later it housed milder activities like samba done by longshoremen after work. Today, samba attracts everybody. It is one of the best samba circles in the city.

It was on the staircase of Stone Salt that was born samba carioca and old ranches carnival as the street blocks like Sereias (mermaids) and some exists until nowadays as Escravos da Mauá (slaves from Maua) for example. 



Nowadays still have the fun samba circles in Stone Salt.

During summer, people usually get there straight from work and many just go to the center especially for this event. 

Music is the finest cream of samba from new compositions to the national classics. 

So if you like good music, cold beer and somewhere open air and for free, don't loose the chance to go! Best days to go are on Mondays and Fridays, very enjoyable. Don’t miss the opportunity to check carioca culture very close.

But be careful with the rain : the place is open and only the musicians are under canvas . The event does not happen under heavy rain .



quinta-feira, 7 de novembro de 2013

Corcovado - Christ the Redeemer



Christ the Redeemer is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Cristo Redentor statue in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, is photographed by thousands each year. Corcovado means "hunchback" is the name of the mountain. The Corcovado Train is the oldest tourist ride in the country. The statue of Christ the Redeemer pays homage to Rio's religiosity. Did you know the Catholics religious people have paid and helped build the statue? Go to http://www.corcovado.com.br/ to buy your tickets online and save time choosing your time.




domingo, 3 de novembro de 2013

Subway in Rio. Do you know how to use?

Do you know how to use the subway in Rio? Is not dificult when you compare with big cities as Paris, London.... But sometimes is complicate to understand the signs in Portuguese! So here it go all the explanations in english!!!

http://www.metrorio.com.br/en/index.htm

enjoy it :)

quinta-feira, 31 de outubro de 2013

Copacabana and Leme beach

Copacabana and Leme Beach

                  One of the most famous beaches in the world, Copacabana has the mountains and city behind it and is definitely Rio. 


Sit at one of the many restaurants along the beachfront to enjoy a caipirinha with many different flavors, or take a stroll on the famous and often imitated Burle Marx designed sidewalks on the 4 kilometers of the beach. A perfect place to eat, drink, relax and people watch.



A symbol of the most luxurious hotel is the Copacabana palace who received many celebrities as Lady Di, King George, Brigitte Bardot, Theodore Roosevelt and others.
This picture is from 1930.



As in Ipanema beach, each group stakes out their stretch of sand. Leme is a mix of older residents and favela kids, while the area between the Copacabana Palace Hotel and Rua Fernando Mendes is the gay and transvestite section, easily recognized…




Also Copacabana is where happen the most famous and beautiful new years of the planet! Amazing 15 minutes of fireworks and more than 2 million people together in the beach, most of them wearing white,  can you imagine? Do you kow the best parties in Rio for new years? Ask me about it!!!!







terça-feira, 29 de outubro de 2013

RIO FREE WALKING TOUR

Rio Free Walking Tour just started the last 28/10/2013!

We are very happy to start this job.

We are glad to give some information from our historical and cultural city and country.

Thank you for all that attended our first tour and welcome to Rio de Janeiro if you didn't do the tour yet!

The tour happen every day, rain or sun, @ 9:30 in front of the Municipal Theatre @ cinelandia subway station. Will be a nice time together where you can meet people and learn more about this Marvelous city!

Complex of Santo Antonio

Pictures of the old Rio

Selarón steps


Lapa Arcs

Fountain of Mestre Valentin - Praça XV


Jefferson our guide

The all group!

Pão de açucar - Sugar Loaf Mountain

Pão de Açúcar - Sugar Loaf Mountain


One of Rio's most famous landmarks, it's one of the best places to have a great city view, sea and mountain ranges. 





Take the funicular ride up for a glorious view of the Guanabara Bay, Botafogo beach to the North and Copacabana to the South, with the city spread in between. Be sure to check out the old open-air cable car on display that was used in the '30s. There are vendors selling refreshments and food. Ask me about the secret path, maybe i can take you there! To go to both mountains by funicular you will pay R$ 53 reais. Go to http://www.bondinho.com.br





domingo, 27 de outubro de 2013

What to do in Rio with bad weather ???

According to the weather channel is going to rain tomorrow! 28 october!

So what are you going to do? Nothing? You don’t know what to do?


Come learn about the Brasilian history with Rio free walking tour! It is a totally free of charge tour. We will spend 3 hours together talking about life in Rio, the night life in Rio, Brasilian history, and I can help you with any other question. So come join us! It is free!!! We accept tips! :)



Meet us tomorrow in front of the Municipal Theatre @ 9:30 AM. Early so you have the all afternoon to discover more about Rio! Maybe walk on the beach? I think the weather will be better in the afternoon! I can tell you some secrets about Rio!
@ cinelândia subway station! Very easy!
See you tomorrow!

quarta-feira, 23 de outubro de 2013

Carnival in Rio!

Carnaval

The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is officially considered the largest in the world by the Guinness Book, with approximately 2 million people per day in the street blocks.

carnival block in Ipanema

Carnival block in Aterro do Flamengo


The highlight is the spectacular samba school parade, a rich and colorful exhibition of 14 main groups along the avenue, and the Sambodromo, with seating for the 70,000. 
You can also go to the parade. You can buy a costume! The value can vary greatly. Depends on the samba school and how highlight do you want to be. Something between R$ 500 reais and may reach a R$ 15 thousand reais.

If you don't want to pay anything and join the heat of brazilian people just stay on the streets full of small samba groups with drum driven everywhere. 2013 we had more than 5 million revelers on the streets of Rio. We are waiting for you in 2014!!!

Apoteose or sambodramo - The school Parade

our beautiful girls at the school parade at sambodramo

domingo, 20 de outubro de 2013

Pedra da Gávea

Pedra da Gávea


Located between São Conrado and Barra da Tijuca, Pedra da Gávea is a granite rock that rises 842 meters above sea level. Very easy to identify because it is straight up. Is behind the hill two brothers when you look from zona sul (Ipanema, Leblon) Originally used as a look out for ships in the Atlantic, it's now popular with rock climbers and those who have a good shape to go all the way up in a trail! The view is a great reward.

view from Pedra Bonita
When you climb you can see this face up at the mountain
view from up Pedra da Gavea
after go up and climb a big rock a little help to get down. Better safe than sorry!

view from up Pedra da Gavea

Fabiana tourism guide

Hello Guys!
My name is Fabiana and I am the author of this blog.
I have decide to start this page because I love to travel. I am a journalist and a tourism guide.
I would love to talk about the all world! I am 35 years old and I have being abroad for the last 15 years. I have been to more than 20 countries and about 119 cities. I really love to travel and learn more about different countries and cultures but I was born in Rio de Janeiro, and now I am back. I am living here and I graduate as a tourism guide  so we will speak about Rio de Janeiro The Marvelous city!


Ipanema and Leblon Beaches

Ipanema & Leblon Beaches

Although the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon are just one long beach, they are divided at the watercourse coming from the lake.
In addition to the wonderful stretch of beach with great surf, lots of beach umbrellas and gorgeous people to watch we have a lot to talk about Ipanema.
Attention: The currents are deceptively strong and the water is normally cold.
The postos (posts) along sidewalk subdivide the beach into areas as diverse as the city itself:

  • Surfers enjoy the beach on the left, Arpoador area.
  • The GLS prefer to stay around Farme de Amoedo street.

During summer weekends, go early as it may be hard to find a spot on the sand in Ipanema but keep walking to the right and Leblon is also a beautiful place.

  • Posto 9, right off Vinícius de Moraes street, is Garota de Ipanema, which is where Rio’s most lithe and tanned bodies tend to migrate.
  • Posto 10, Anibal de Mendonça street, have more locals going to the beach.
  • Posto 8 further up is mostly the domain of favela kids.

On the weekends you will always see full of people playing volleyball and futêvoley (soccer + volleyball together) anytime.
Cariocas love their bodies and we are all very healthy so any time during day and night you can see people running on the bicycle path.







You can wander through the fashionable streets to discover chic boutiques, trendy restaurants and hip cafes. Days and night. On Sundays, there is a Feira hippie, the hippie market in Praça General Osório open during the day where handcrafts, clothes and souvenirs from Rio can be found.





Ludmila tourism guide



Hi, my name is Ludmila. My nickname is Ludy or Mila. I am a lawyer for 15 years and now decided to drop everything and become a tour guide because it is what I love to do. I worked as a lawyer in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro for a long period. However, as a tour guide is how I realize professionally. My specialty is the religious and the cultural tour.

My goal is to provide leisure, culture and entertainment for people who want to know the city, the history and curiosities of Rio de Janeiro.


Me and my friends from Rio FREE Walking Tour are waiting for you to enjoy a different and fun tour to discover why this town is considered Wonderful City!

Jefferson tourism guide


Hi, my name is Jefferson Silveira. I'm from Porto Alegre, south of Brazil. I came to live in Rio in 2008 after be graduated in law school. In the Marvelous City I have studied  Brazilian history, and decided to become a tourist guide in Rio de Janeiro. Today I work telling to tourists a bit of our rich history and many curiosities.


Welcome to the Marvelous City. We, from Rio Free Walking Tour, are waiting for you. History is the cultural foundation of a society, and that is the information that we intend to pass ahead. Knowing the Brazilian history, you can better understand our way of life. So, join us in a journey to the past, and also get tips to enjoy the present. I am waiting for you!

sexta-feira, 18 de outubro de 2013

Rio de Janeiro


Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful city surrounded by sea and mountains.
Commonly referred as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, boasting approximately 6 million people within the city proper, and 15 million talking about the all Rio. Part of the city has been designated as a World Heritage Site, named "Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea", identified by UNESCO on 1 July 2012 in the category Cultural Landscape.





Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited cities in the southern hemisphere and is known for its natural settings, carnival celebrations, samba, Bossa Nova, beaches such as Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon and others. 
Some of the most famous landmarks in addition to the beaches include the statue of Christ Redeemer ("Cristo Redentor") at the top of Corcovado mountain named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. 
Sugarloaf mountain ("Pão de açucar") with its cable car. 
The Sambódramo,  a permanent grandstand-lined parade avenue which is used during Carnival; 
Maracanã Stadium, one of the world's largest football stadiums.  

The 2016 Summer Olympics and the Paralympics will take place in Rio de Janeiro, which will mark the first time a South American nation hosts the event. On 2012 the Summer Olympics closing ceremony, the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes received the Olympic Flag, via Jacques Rogge, from London Mayor Boris Johnson. 
Rio's Maracanã Stadium, which held the final of the 1950 FIFA World Cup, will host the final match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
So get prepared to come visit us! 

Between 1 and 9 of march 2014 we will have the biggest CARNIVAL in the world.
June 12 until July 13 WORLD CUP
Finally 2016 there is the OLYMPICS GAMES uh? Not bad!


What is Rio de Janeiro Free Walking Tour?

RIO FREE WALKING TOUR

WE WILL START THE NEXT OCTOBER 28 -  2013!!! COMO JOIN US!!!


Rio de Janeiro Free Walking Tour is a Tour in the historical center of the city of Rio de Janeiro.


I am a tourism guide. I graduate about 6 month ago and I have a few partners. They also graduate with me as a regional, national and international tourism guides. 

We sited together and in a brain storm we decided to open a new tour. New in Rio de Janeiro. Already exist in São Paulo and in many countries around the world. We traveled around and we could see many free walking tours in so many different cities so why can't we open one here in Rio de Janeiro? We love this city and we would love to show you.

  • Our tour in around the historical center of the city. 
  • Our meet point is in front of the Municipal Theatre. Get out at Cinelândia subway station or look for Rio Branco Street.
  • We will  be there at 9:30 AM  
  • Every Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday. 
  • Our tour is approximately 3 hours.
  • At the end of the tour we can have lunch together in a cute city center restaurant.      
We start early in the morning so you can enjoy the rest of your day doing whatever you wish and knowing the best tips about Rio de Janeiro day and night!!!


Guys the best part of the tour it is a completely free of charge so you pay if you like as much as you think we deserve. Come check us :)



              WE WILL START THE NEXT OCTOBER 28 -  2013!!! COMO JOIN US!!!