2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN RIO: 12 MONTHS AWAY, 12 THINGS TO DO

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWsqMe00mnxTeWpuSZp6xbv9EtOXdRWE8mpcN1cGwGUsmWBw7MVu4RgKNP1xpohvWSY50SVkhle2ZZDrhIdCB0c6pkbJZJuHTklUuWWuZeGLul29ytqRDgN9038kmy6gRiZGegfep2-E-/s1600/blog_rio_596x334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWsqMe00mnxTeWpuSZp6xbv9EtOXdRWE8mpcN1cGwGUsmWBw7MVu4RgKNP1xpohvWSY50SVkhle2ZZDrhIdCB0c6pkbJZJuHTklUuWWuZeGLul29ytqRDgN9038kmy6gRiZGegfep2-E-/s640/blog_rio_596x334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> In exactly a year, on Aug. 5, Rio de Janeiro will be swarming with 10,500 Olympic athletes representing 205 countries for the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. About 7.5 million tickets will be sold for 42 different sports. The majority of events will take place in Rio (in Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, Deodoro and Maracana), but soccer matches are also expected to be held at venues in Brasília, Belo Horizonte, São Paulo, Salvador and Manaus.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> In preparation for all the excitement for the 2016 Olympics, we pulled together a quick list of 12 things you should do when visiting Rio.<br /><span id="more-16538" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img alt="" class=" " height="334" src="http://travelchannel.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/travel/fullset/2015/08/05/tijuca-national-park-forest-rio-de-janeiro-brazil.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="596" /></div> <div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> Tijuca National Forest (Courtesy of iStockphoto.com/Cesar Okada)</div> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Go Hiking in Tijuca National Park</b>Tijuca National Park is the largest urban forest in the world. With several trails totaling hundreds of miles, this is the perfect place for hikers who enjoy checking out the city’s variety of flora and fauna . This huge conservation area is also home to world-renowned tourist attractions with some of the best views of the city, such as Corcovado Mountain, Christ the Redeemer and Pedra da Gávea.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Flex Your Samba Skills in Lapa</b>Lapa, one of the most bohemian neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, is known for its lively social scene and cultural events. This popular district has many restaurants, bars and clubs, with an alfresco party vibe that bring the streets to life on the weekends. Feeling adventurous? Head to Lapa to enjoy live Brazilian music and learn a few samba and <i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">forró</i> moves.</div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img alt="" class=" " height="334" src="http://travelchannel.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/travel/fullset/2015/08/05/botanical-gardens-fountain-rio-de-janeiro-brazil.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="596" /></div> <div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> Rio Botanical Gardens (Photo Courtesy iStockphoto.com/Hanis)</div> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Enjoy a Nice Picnic at the Botanical Garden</b>Created by the future King John VI of Portugal in 1808, the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden — recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve — is home to rare species of flowers and plants. A great option for families with kids, this garden has picnic tables, a playground and plenty of space for children to run around and play. And don’t forget to look up; colorful parakeets and playful monkeys are usually hanging out in the treetops.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Hear Announcers Scream ‘GOAL!’ at Maracana Stadium</b>Soccer fan or not, you don’t want miss out on watching a match at one of the sport’s most famous stadiums in the world. The passion of Brazilian fans, the drums, the fireworks and the banners waving to the sound of the teams’ anthems make this a unique experience. Renovated in 2014, Maracana Stadium hosted the 2014 World Cup’s final match and will host the 2016 Summer Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies.</div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img alt="" class=" " height="334" src="http://travelchannel.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/travel/fullset/2015/08/05/national-museum-fine-arts-rio-de-janeiro-brazil.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="596" /></div> <div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (Photo Courtesy of Halley Pacheco de Oliveira CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons)</div> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Tour Rio’s Art Museums</b>Rio de Janeiro is home to many cultural institutions and museums that showcase collections from renowned Brazilian and international artists. The Art Museum of Rio, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Modern Art and the Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum — which was designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer — are a few must-sees. But also be sure to check out 2 more museums currently under construction: the Museum of Tomorrow, a science museum scheduled to open at the end of 2015, and the Museum of Image and Sound, which will have a new home in Copacabana that will open in the beginning of 2016.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Surf 24/7 on Amazing Beaches</b>Hit the waves at one of the city’s best beaches, such as Prainha Beach, which is a 45-minute drive from downtown and is known as one of Rio de Janeiro’s best surf spots. Located between Ipanema and Copacabana, Arpoador Beach is known as one of the places where “silver surfers,” men who trade their business suits for wet suits, practice night surfing. The beach is uniquely illuminated to allow surfers to see incoming waves in the dark.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> Barra da Tijuca Beach, located near Barra Olympic Park, provides 11 miles of shoreline for surfers to ride the waves. It’s also a great place to practice kite-surfing, which is becoming a popular sport among Cariocas.</div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img alt="" height="334" src="http://travelchannel.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/travel/fullset/2015/08/05/ipanema-beach-view-rio-de-janeiro-brazil.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="596" /></div> <div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> Ipanema Beach</div> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Blend in With Locals and Play Volleyball</b>In addition to surfing, playing sports and staying active are parts of Rio’s fun beach culture. It’s common to see beachgoers cycling, jogging, and playing soccer, volleyball and footvolley. Hang out with locals and experience the scene at popular spots such as Copacabana and Ipanema, where vendors walk around selling beachwear, coconut water and <i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">salgadinhos</i> (salty snacks). We suggest heading to the city’s more secluded beaches, such as Grumari, for a tranquil excursion.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Spread Your Wings Over Rio</b>Throw caution to the wind and go hang gliding to get a bird’s-eye view of this beautiful city. Get your adrenaline pumping by running off a ramp atop Pedra Bonita to see Tijuca National Park’s lush forests and the crystal-blue ocean before making an unbelievable landing on Pepino Beach, one of the city’s most beautiful white-sand spots.</div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img alt="" height="334" src="http://travelchannel.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/travel/fullset/2015/08/05/feijoada-traditional-brazillian-food.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="596" /></div> <div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> Feijoada (Photo Courtesy iStockphoto.com/Paul_Brighton)</div> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Savor the Real Taste of Rio</b>Experience the true Carioca spirit at a <i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">botequim</i> or <i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">boteco</i>, usually small eateries or bars where locals can catch up on the latest gossip, news or soccer match with friends while drinking an ice-cold draft beer and eating delicious Brazilian appetizers. Fried cassava, cod balls, <i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">pasteis</i> (pastries filled with cheese, meat or shrimp) or <i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">coxinhas</i> (small chicken croquettes) are tasty bites that blend the city’s Portuguese and African origins. And you can’t leave Rio without trying<i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">feijoada</i>, a traditional Brazilian dish, while slowly sipping on a highly intoxicating caipirinha.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10. Walk Along the Artistically Tiled Steps in Santa Teresa</b>Go for a walk along the charming cobblestone streets of Santa Teresa. This quiet neighborhood has several cafes, restaurants and art shops surrounded by 19th-century architecture. You can’t visit this area without seeing the Escadaria Selaron, created by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selaron, who covered the staircase with colored mirrors and tiles from all over the world. Other not-to-be-missed stops include the Centro Cultural Municipal Parque das Ruinas, which has beautiful views over Guanabara Bay, and the Museu Chacara do Ceu, home to artwork created by renowned Brazilian artists such as Candido Portinari, Di Cavalcanti, Volpi, Iberê Camargo and Manabu Mabe.</div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img alt="" height="334" src="http://travelchannel.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/travel/fullset/2015/08/05/bike-rider-rio-de-janeiro-brazil.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="596" /></div> <div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"> Biking in Rio (Photo Courtesy of iStockphoto.com/Cesar Okada)</div> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11.  Go Biking to Explore the Marvelous City</b>Biking is a great way to explore Rio de Janeiro, and the paths along the beaches and lakes offer spectacular views of the city. The Bike Rio provides locals and tourists easy access to orange rental bikes that cost $1.50 for a day pass or $3 for a monthly pass. Tour companies also rent bikes and offer bike tours along alternative routes through the city and the Tijuca forest.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12.  Get an Olympic Games Preview</b>Travelers can see athletes in action before the Summer Games begin. This month, sports fans will get a chance to watch a triathlon and equestrian events at new venues in Copacabana and Deodoro. In May 2016, they’ll have the opportunity get their first glimpse at more new venues and their favorite athletes when the city stages 40 competitions for Aquece Rio, or Warm-Up Rio test events.</div>

2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN RIO: 12 MONTHS AWAY, 12 THINGS TO DO

In exactly a year, on Aug. 5, Rio de Janeiro will be swarming with 10,500 Olympic athletes representing 205 countries for the opening cer...

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