Guide to Rio (from hometask 12.03.2011)

Why don’t you visit Rio de Janeiro and its famous carnival?

Rio de Janeiro is a city of contrasts. It contains poor districts called favelas situated on the slopes of mountains surround the city. On the other hand Rio is the second biggest city in Brazil with wonderful weather, exceptional atmosphere, outstanding and impressive architecture monuments such as The Statue of Christ-Ransomer. And even Ostap Bender itself named Rio “the dream of his life”! In addition Rio also has an unofficial name “Amazing City”.

Next few years you’ll have a number of extra reasons to visit Rio de Janeiro: World Football Championship in 2014 and XXXI Summer Olympics in 2016. If you want to dive into the atmosphere of football game, you could visit The Maracana Stadium or “Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho” – the world’s second biggest stadium; it seats almost 200 thousand   spectators! Families with young children will enjoy strolling around the Rio streets sinking in tropical fauna. There are also a number of parks including “Tijuka” – the biggest town forest in the world.

A must of all visitors is a “Rio carnaval”. Up to 80000 spectators on the tribune of “Sambódromo” have an ability to observe the samba occasion during 10 hours! During this time the best cariocas-dancers (i.e. people from Rio) participate in the world famous samba contest. But if you don’t want just to sit, you could improve your skills visiting one of the few tens samba schools in Rio de Janeiro. “Rio carnaval” usually takes place at the very beginning of March.

 Other interesting historical Rio landmarks include The mountain “Sugar Head” (“Pão de Açúcar” in Portuguese) and The statue of Christ-Ransomer. If you are fond of breath taking sights and spectacular buildings, these places are waiting for you! The mountain “Sugar Head” has 400m in height and outstanding shape. On its slope you even have an ability to visit an amphitheatre – entertainment centre, where various musical and theatre performances take place. The statue of Christ-Ransomer is treated as a symbol of the Rio de Janeiro and the whole Brazil. It has 38m in height with handspread equals to 30m! It’s really unbelievable sight! This statue is one of the most famous monuments in the world. And annually up to 1,8 million of tourist rise to it pedestal where a magnificent panoramic sight opens up.