Rio de Janeiro

          Rio de Janeiro state's most famous attractions is the city of Rio, a vibrant tropical beach resort. But Rio is not only sun and surf. The Cariocas enjoy fabulous night life, international restaurants, beautiful scenery and a dazzling Carnival celebration. Nearby are choice beach towns like Buzios and Parati, as well as refreshingly cool mountain resorts. Whoever visits Rio de Janeiro can hardly resist the appeal of its sun which shines almost the whole year in a very blue sky and its 90 kilometers-long beaches, from Guanabara Bay in the east to Sepetiba Bay in the West, passing through the open sea in the Southern part of the city. In Guanabara Bay itself, there are four excellent beaches: Flamengo, the closest to downtown Rio is even more attractive because of its location along the 5 kilometer-long Flamengo Park, Botafogo, an excellent cove for sailing, where the Yacht Club of Rio is located, Urca, close to the Yacht Club is a small beach located at the foot of Urca Hill, from where one can enjoy a beautiful view of Rio de Janeiro, and Praia Vermelha (Red Beach) with dark and thick sand. Southwards there are many good beaches, some of which are world famous: Leme, Copacabana, Arpoador, Ipanema, Leblon e São Conrado. Leme, now considered an isolated beach where lots of people frequently go, formerly was know as "Posto 1", meaning the first kilometer of Copacabana. Copacabana is much more than a world famous beach, its represents the invention of many good things such as the bikini and the habit of drinking a "chopinho" (tap bear) at the bars by the sidewalk. Exciting New Years' Eve in Rio.
            Nobody celebrates New Year's Eve like the Brazilians do. In a mixture of secular and mystical rituals, Brazilians turn December 31 into an all-night party rivaled only by Carnival. And nowhere in Brazil is the New Year celebrated on so large scale as in Rio de Janeiro. Soon after sunset, Copacabana Beach becomes the stage for a light and music show as moving as it is exciting. At night fall, small groups of people dressed all in white, gather on the beach to prepare their offerings to the goddess of the sea, Yemanjá, one of the most important deities in the Afro-Brazilian cult known as Candomblé. Believers and non-believers alike participate in the midnight celebration, when flowers and other small gifts are sent out to sea in the hope that Yemanjá will accept them and be pleased. For the followers of Candomblé this is one of the year's most important rituals and is carried out with dignity and devotion. At the same time, even those who belong to other religions or to no religion at all, are ready to throw a white rose into the water with a wish for the coming year.