RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (Port No. 5, 1/19-20/12)

 

PANORAMA FROM CORCOVADO

• GEOGRAPHY 101
          • Land Mass/Continent: South America
          • About Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: “Rio” is the capital of the State of Rio de Janeiro in Southeast Brazil (it was also the capital of Brazil until 1960)
          • Estimated Population: 6.1 million in the city; 11.5 million in the metropolitan region; the 2nd largest city in Brazil
          • Distance From Home (San Diego, CA): 6,197 miles
          • The Water That'll Get Us There: South Atlantic Ocean

CARNIVAL

• ITS PLACE IN HISTORY/INTERESTING FACTS
          • Local time: 
          • Rio is nick-named the “Marvelous City”
          • Rio was founded on New Year's Day in 1502, when Portuguese sailors mistook the bay for a river, which they called "Rio de Janeiro" (i.e., the River of January) - so Rio celebrates its 510th b-day the month we arrive!
          • Rio is the most visited city in the southern hemisphere

RIO HARBOR

          • Known for its Carnival celebrations, samba, Bossa Nova (a style of Brazilian music) and Balneario (resort) beaches
          • CNN labeled its harbor as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World (others include, e.g., the Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon, Mount Everest)
          • The 2016 Summer Olympic Games will take place here – the 1st time a South American city will host the event
          • The population is 53.4% white; it is also home to the largest Portuguese population outside of Lisbon in Portugal and a large number of black descendants of slaves
          • Its flag is black, white and red - representing the different people who live there (white, black and indian)
          • The population is 61% Catholic
          • There are significant disparities between the rich and the poor in Rio: 1/5 of its inhabitants live in slums
          • Rio has high crime rates, especially homicide, in poor areas controlled by drug dealers
          • In 2008, Rio began to urbanize and sanitize its slums, where there have been armed clashes between police and drug lords; starting on 11/25/10 (with the upcoming World Cup in 2014 and Olympics in 2016), the crime-fighting activity has increased
          • From 1985 to 1995, tourism declined to 50% occupancy at hotels because of pollution, crime and other things; they’re trying to regenerate the industry

           • AOL Travel rates it as the 10th most dangerous city, saying it's getting much safer, but still has a murder rate similar to a war zone (quoting the New Zealand Herald)
          • A number of films have been shot here, including "Blame it on Rio", "Fast Five", "The Incredible Hulk" and "Moonraker"
          • Travel videos:  http://www.youtube.com/user/TravelVideoSource#p/search/0/lU6HqS_QUJU , http://www.youtube.com/user/TravelVideoSource#p/search/1/hsH9Qfx8BIM and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB1WxThFsZo 


• CLIMATE
          • Rio has a tropical savanna climate, with long periods of rain from December to March
          • Average low for January: 73
          • Average high for January: 84

"CHRIST THE REDEEMER" STATUE

• HIGHLIGHTS/THINGS TO SEE
          • Statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain - in 2007, named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
          • Sugarloaf mountain, with its cable car
          • The Sambódromo (parade avenue used during Carnival)
          • Maracanä Stadium (one of the world’s largest football stadiums)
          • Beaches (e.g., Copacabana, Ipanema)
          • Attractions also include the Botanical Garden (Jardim Botanico), Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Se, Flamengo Park, Metropolitan Cathedral, Municipal Theatre (modeled on the Paris Opera House), Museum of Civil Police, Tiradentes Palace, a jeep tour of Tijuca National Park, and Centro Cultural Banco de Brasil (art museum)