Places to Eat and Visit Around Rio De Janeiro City

This year Carnival in Brazil begins on February 13^th, Saturday.

Carnival is in everyone's mind in Rio's from Christmas and "reveillon," New Year Evening time until the last day of Carnival. The "reveillon," New Year Evening at the beach is an amazing cultural and traditional experience along with entertainment at the beach.

The Carnival Street Bands & blocks (Blocos) start in January. Blocos are all around Rio in different neighborhoods and traditions of many years.

Here it is a list of Top Carnival Street Bands & Blocks in Rio:

Ipanema District: Simpatia E Quase Amor, Banda De Ipanema

Laranjeiras District:

Bloco Imprensa Que Eu Gamo , Bloco da Ansiedade, 
Bagunça Meu Coreto , 
Volta Alice 
and Bloco Da Ansiedade

Jardim Botanico: 

Suvaco do Cristo, 
Bloco Bangalafumenga. Flamengo & Botafogo: 

Bloco das Piranhas
Bloco de Segunda and
Cachorro Cansado.

Santa Teresa: 
Badalo de Santa Teresa and
Carmelitas. 
 


Leblon: 

Mulheres de Chico

Downtown / Center: 

Bafo da Onça, 
Cordão do Boitatá
 and Cordao Bola Preta, my great-grandma used to go to their balls; they are traditional from the center of Rio.

Regarding diet, in Rio offers a very healthy lifestyle.

Where to Eat:

At the beach: It is easier to see "Mate" vendor, the delicious hot dogs equivalent to a meal, and coconut water.

Confeitaria Colomboin downtown - It is a restaurant that displays history in its architecture. It was a traditional place for artists, intellectuals and politicians in stylish and classy where people as Olavo Bilac, Chiquinha Gonzaga, Villa Lobos, Virginia Lane, Getulio Vargas and other important brazilian names.

http://www.confeitariacolombo.com.br/

Ipanema:http://www.ipanema.com/restrnts/

Lapa: Carioca da Gema http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/brazil/southeast/rio-de-janeiro/lapa/lapa-restaurants/

A List of all restaurants around Rio:http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/central-and-south-america/brazil/rio-de-janeiro/restaurant-listings.html

Places every tourist or a new resident in Rio city "must" go":

Lapa and Santa Teresa: history of samba and year round fun places to go and experience the "carioca" samba vibe.

"Arcos da Lapa" (arch of Lapa) where the little train called "bondinho" runs from downtown to Santa Teresa.

Downtown: Rio Center - The Center of Rio de Janeiro. It is a historical location.

Ipanema andLeblon: "These two city districts belong to the most elitist and expensive areas of Rio de Janeiro and thus of entire Brazil.

Ipanema is known from the famous song "Girl from Ipanema."

Maracanã Soccer Stadium: Don't miss the local top teams Botafogo and Flamengo game."

Copacabana and Leme: Copacabana Palace Hotel is a landmark.

"On New Years day the whole road is closed to traffic and open for up to 2 million celebrating people."

Corcovado: The Famous Christ's statue location.

Urca: Sugarloaf.

Niteroi: "The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, the city's main landmark, was designed by the famous BrazilianmodernistarchitectOscar Niemeyer. "

Buzios: "Fifty years ago Buzios was a plain small fisherman village."

It is a gorgeous vacation resort.

Petropolis: "The former Summer Residence of the King." It is great for a day tour.

Ilha Grande: It is a paradise with beaches perfect for camping, surfing and related water sports.

Ilha de Paqueta:It is an island and a perfect get away from Rio harbor the ride takes about 1 hour 15 minutes by boat and about 20 minutes by hydrofoil.

Whether you are planning to go with a group of friends or meet up with friends who happen to be "carioca," a local from Rio.

It is a good idea to do a research for options to help you to pick events better and to get familiar with the "carioca" everyday lifestyle.

Remember, it is always a delight to travel as a local, to get a full experience. Rio city offers a cultural and an amazing urban contrast experience in its architecture.

Here are some links with relevant information in every sense:

http://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/culture/2010-street-bands-brazil-carnival-blocos-carnaval-r-samba-glossary - About Carnival blocos

http://www.visionofbrazil.com/Destination/rio-de-janeiro.aspx

http://www.visionofbrazil.com/Destination/rio-de-janeiro/Events/Category.aspx Events in Rio

http://www.brazilcarnival.com.br/faq#top-carnaval-bloco-what-are-best-blocos-carnaval-street-bands-in-rio - Street Bands & blocks "Blocos"

http://www.visionofbrazil.com/Destination/Rio-de-Janeiro/Event/Carnival-in-Rio.aspx - Carnival in Rio

http://www.visionofbrazil.com/Destination/Rio-de-Janeiro/Event/Reveillon.aspx - Reveillon (New Year Evening)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niteroi - Niteroi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapa,_Rio_de_Janeiro - Lapa

http://www.homesinrio.com/rio-de-janeiro.htm - Apartment rental & real estate in Rio de Janeiro