We took uber there, it is not in a walking distance from every tourist place you might be. We…read morechecked before that Sunday's and Holidays was old anyway. It wasn't today. Llegamos en uber aqui, no es una distancia para caminar de los tipicos lugares turisticos que uno puede estar. Chequeamos antes de ese domingo horarios y feriados. Estaba cerrado. No era hoy!

For R$14, the museum is a fairly decent value. That said, today we were a little unlucky because…read morenearly half of the museum seemed to be closed off for a private event. What we did see was nice though, featuring a variety of sculptures, photographs, and paintings. One of the signs also mentioned that the museum is the best collection of Brazilian artists (up to interpretation I suppose). The area around the museum does leave a little to be desired, with a lot of trash and homeless people, but it is still situated in a pretty park that overlooks the bay. It's also a close walk to the WWII memorial, which is also worth a visit if you're in the area.

What are the odds to be invited to a wedding in Rio in April and coincides with the biggest show on…read morethe planet Earth: the Rio's Carnaval! When I heard that the Carnaval was this year postponed 2 months due to covid, I could not believe how lucky I was. Since I was a kid I always wanted to go. I learned Portuguese and even to dance samba because I loved the music, the tropicalism, the language, the culture...and somehow it took me so many many years to finally go. I even was for years fan of Mangueira samba school, just because their colors are green and pink, my favorites! My friend (the bride) organized the whole excursion for more than 50 of us. It was a fantastic organization and I suggest everyone buys their tickets well in advance and get into a camarote if possible. Camarotes are those somehow private areas with lounges, music, catered food and drinks...of course you pay the price and this year was around $400 to get into one of these. You will have prime view and you will feel super pampered plus you will get a shirt indicating what camarote you belong to. We were in Folia Tropical and it was phenomenal, in terms of food, drinks, atmosphere, the music, the view to the parades. I even cried of happiness, I could not believe I was there! It was like a dream. Logistics wise was a bit stressful, though. No one asked us for the covid vaccination card and there were way too many people. Of course, for 2 years no show, this year 2022 was even more spectacular, but I found it chaotic to go back to our hotels. On the way there, the bus was organized, in the way back we have to do different line depending on what area of Rio you were headed to. There was a lot of confusion and tiredness as you can imagine the energy spent and leaving like 4 am knowing that the party was going to keep going but you have a limit of energy. Overall, a once in a lifetime experience and what better than to be with a great group of awesome people sharing the moment.

The Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro is the stadium where all the parades and celebrations of Carnaval…read moreare happening, that you have seen in movies and television. There are obviously blocas and parties happening everywhere during Carnaval, but if you want to see the schools who are putting together the floats and performances, this is where to do it. The floats that the schools create are so impressive, I couldn't even believe it. Giant constructions of characters and scenes, with some having animatronics moving around even. The stadium of the Sambadrome itself is very much like a high school football stadium, with metal bleachers, and concrete construction - so not too comfortable at all in itself. But the people who are attending the parades in the Sambadrome, are very active and moving around a lot, so you won't stay in your seat anyway usually! There are folks with beers and waters walking around and selling them right to each bleacher area or seat, so you won't go thirsty while attending the festivities. Overall, the Somadrome is not the most comfortable stadium I have ever been to, but for the events of Carnaval, it worked just fine and was a fun space to celebrate and see the floats and festivities!

Yelp Review 2025 #187:…read more Arcos do Lapa also known as Carioca Aqueduct because that was the original function of this structure when it was built in the 17th-18th century. It brought fresh water from Carioca River. But because of technical and financial issues, the project was put to a halt. By the 19th century, it served as a bridge for Santa Teresa tram I was walking around Lapa on my first day in Rio at 9am and 6am the next day. Of course, you can take better pictures at 6am while the city is still asleep. No cars, only a handful of people. There's a lot of homeless people in this area. Watch your step because there's plenty of poop here both from dogs and humans - not something you'd read on travel blogs and travel guides. The aqueduct is in between the cathedral and Escadaria Selaron. Check it out at night too when it's lit up.

I went here pretty quickly thanks to a friend I knew and met up with on another trip so I didn't…read morespend that much time here but there's a bunch of bars and things around here which we did have a beer at but these arches are famous here It's cool to see this kind of tech because you mainly see it in Europe so to see it so far away in Brazil is cool