2012 DELTA TRAVEL GUIDE - (Page 67)

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro is a place of superlatives, presenting her visitors with a scintillating mix of beach culture, big city sophistication and seemingly endless joie de vivre. Of course, to know Rio, you’ll have to walk, jog or just hang out with the Cariocas (citizens of Rio) along the beaches they love. For two wide-angle views of this cidade marvilhosa, head uphill by cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain and take a tram up to the summit of Corcovado, crowned by the Christ the Redeemer statue. Also high on the hill—accessed by a tram called Bonde—is Rio’s artsy Santa Teresa, a picturesque hilltop neighborhood ﬁlled with cafes and restaurants, craft boutiques and galleries and home to a hotel with a commanding view, the boutique and chic Hotel Santa Teresa. Take time to have a good look at Rio at ground level and take a walk in the superb Botanical Gardens, look into Rio’s churches—from the 17th century Sao Bento Monastery to the 20th century Metropolitan Cathedral—and visit the Royal Palace downtown with a break for coffee and pastries at the art deco Confeitaria Colombo. While not known for museums, Rio has many of interest, such as the Belas Artes, the Cultural Center of the Banco Central, Edson Carneiro Folklore Museum and the funky Carmen Miranda Museum. On Saturdays, you’ll want to shop for gemstones and resort wear, and on Sundays hunt for bargains at the Hippie Fair. When the sun goes down, it’s time to step out like a native into an all-you-can-eat churrascaria for a feast of spit-grilled meats (Marius on Leme Beach is hard to beat), then head for a Las Vegas-style, magniﬁcently costumed samba show (Plataforma’s a good pick) or dance the night away yourself at Rio Scenarium in the Lapa district. And from September right up to Carnival time, step out on a Saturday evening to watch a samba school rehearsal for this Mardi Gras event: in 2012, Feb. 17-21. With its stunning landscape, Rio is one of Brazil’s most alluring cities. BRAZIL http://aerolineas.com http://http://

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2012 DELTA TRAVEL GUIDE

Antigua; Aruba
Nassau
Freeport; Exuma
Bermuda; Bonaire
George Town
Punta Cana; Santiago
Santo Domingo; Grenada
Port-au-Prince; Montego Bay
San Juan
St. Kitts; Saint Lucia
St. Maarten
Providenciales
St. Thomas; St. Croix
Acapulco
Cancun
Cozumel
Guadalajara
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
Los Cabos
Mazatlan
Mexico City
Monterrey
Puerto Vallarta
Belize City
San Jose
Liberia
San Salvador
Guatemala City
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Tegucigalpa
Managua
Panama City
Buenos Aires
Brasilia
Rio de Janeiro
Sao Paulo
Santiago
Bogota
Quito
Georgetown
Lima
Caracas

2012 DELTA TRAVEL GUIDE