The best surfers in the world gathered in Rio de Janeiro this past weekend for the Billabong Pro Rio. Competitions took place over ten days at the beaches of Barra da Tijuca (women's competition) and Arpoador (men's competition). Brazilian Adriano de Souza took the title in the men's
A Visit to Pedra da Gávea
Behold. The top of Rio de Janeiro. Pedra da Gávea. Taller than Cristo Redentor (Giant Stone Jesus) and Pão de Açúcar, it offers arguably the best views in all of Rio. However, getting to the top is no easy task, and the hike requires endurance, a bit of climbing and a spot of chest hair (easily
Going To A Baile Funk In Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas
What is a baile funk, you ask? Well, it is, in short, a party (in a club, on the street, on the beach, wherever you can congregate a large number of people) where funk music is played (and here the word "funk" should be pronounced "funky"). What is funk you ask? Well in Brazil it denotes a
The Favelas Of Rio de Janeiro
The favelas (or the PC terminology - comunidades) in Rio de Janeiro and around Brazil have gotten a bad rap over the years (for those of you who don't know, a favela refers to a slum community - in Rio, many of these are built into the hills surrounding the city). Sure, the drug dealers of Brazil
Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro – The Biggest Party On Earth
If you do not know what Carnaval is (or maybe if you think you know what Carnaval is), you are missing out. In short, this event can be described as nothing short of the offspring of Oktoberfest, St. Patrick's Day, your 21st birthday (for Americans), and Halloween (indeed, it is quite the
A Visit To Niterói (and the MAC)
The alien spacecraft pictured above can be found in the city of Niterói, located just across the bay from Rio de Janeiro. When extraterrestrials first colonized Brazil they left this structure as a testament to their power and their willingness to return to this place and enslave the human race
The Prostitutes of Copacabana
I have been lucky enough to always find myself with favorable neighbors, and thankfully Rio de Janeiro is no different. It turns out that I have some of the hardest working neighbors in the city, and they can frequently be found earning their living providing valuable services to the community
Guide To Public Transportation In Rio de Janeiro
You are in Leme, Rio de Janeiro. You want to go to Leblon. What do you do? If you said, "don't go outside" because you are afraid of being robbed, then you are likely one of the dozens of people I spoke to regarding safety prior to coming to Brazil (and you would also be wrong). The correct