Rio, the Heart of Brazil
When you are setting out to plan a trip to Brazil, you may want to look beyond the main city of Rio de Janeiro, but truthfully you can spend an entire trip in the city and still have a wonderful time. If you are bound and determined to see more of Brazil, Rio is a great place to start and to end a Brazil trip, but you should consider staying in the heart for your first Brazilian excursion. It might be well worth it and you might just learn a ton about Brazilian culture and the people.
Soccer is a mainstay of the Brazilian sports scene. Even if you have never fancied yourself a soccer fan, or “football” fan if that is what you call it, you may want to take the time to go out and see a match. You might find yourself enveloped in football frenzy and finally understand what all the fuss is about. After the Olympics many people know this, but some still do not. volleyball is also a major sport of the country. You can head out and see a professional volleyball match that will have you gasping for breath as the athletes manage to keep that ball flying in the most extreme of circumstances.
Cristo Redentor do Rio de Janeiro (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The sites of Rio de Janeiro are quite well documented. The most famous being the Jesus statue that seems to protect the city from high above. There are helicopter tours that can take you around this magnificent work of art or you can hike up there. It is an amazing place to see at both sunrise and sunset. There are bike tours and walking tours that can make this happen for you. It is a true religious experience, whether you are a believer or not. Just the beauty of it makes you appreciate the deep religious roots of the region.
Brazil is a hotspot of night activity as well. You would be remiss if you did not venture out to a club for at least one night. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a dancer, the beat will likely overtake your feet and you will find yourself out all night.
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