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  Brazil on your mind

Brazil on your mind

Published : Jul 30, 2016, 10:01 pm IST
Updated : Jul 30, 2016, 10:01 pm IST

For the travelling sports fan, the 2016 Rio Olympics offers the opportunity to take in some of the world’s most beautiful sights.

Salvador
 Salvador

For the travelling sports fan, the 2016 Rio Olympics offers the opportunity to take in some of the world’s most beautiful sights. Host country Brazil is a hub of interesting culture, cuisine, carnivals, geography and history. For example, Rio itself offers travellers an exotic getaway. The Lagoa area — a cluster of cafés, restaurants and affluent homes — is where you can get some walking done amidst some fantastic sights. And then there’s the Lapa neighbourhood — Rio’s erstwhile red-light district. For an evening of music, dance and cuisine, they say there’s no need to look any further. But Brazil’s beaches are a must visit. Copacabana’s four-kilometre stretch has a fantastic waterfront and there’s always something to do at the beach. If you have been planning a quick tour of this amazing country, here are the top five places you cannot miss.

Fortaleza You want to combine some beach-ing and some shopping ‘Fortaleza’ is what you tell the cabbie. Capital of the Ceará state on the country’s North-East coast, Fortaleza is the fifth largest city in Brazil and its famous beaches include Iracema, Mucuripe and Meireles. But this fantastic coast is lined with quaint fishing villages, restaurants and plenty of things to do.

Salvador You want the samba amidst heritage that’s ranked by the UNESCO Look no further than Salvador — the capital of Brazil’s northern Bahia state. Thanks to its bustling cultural scene — it’s called Brazil’s Harlem. Here’s another interesting bit. You can actually ride an elevator across two towns. The Lacerda Elevator connects Salvador’s Lower Town and Upper Town and it ferries close to 9,00,000 people each month. It’s the traditional way to do it!

Manaus This the gateway into the massive Amazon. There are plenty of tour boats and lodges offering trips and stays in this region. For example, you must not miss the strange Encontro das Aguas. Here the dark water of the Rio Negro flows alongside the light brown of the Rio Solimões to form the mighty Amazon. The two rivers even run together for about six kilometres and do so without mixing. It’s truly stunning to see what nature is capable of and Encontro das Aguas is the perfect example of that.

The Tijuca National Park It’s not all dance and music. The Tijuca National Park is one of the largest urban forests in the world. That means, right in the middle of Rio, is a botanical gem that hides nine million trees, murals by the famous Cândido Portinari, a 100-foot waterfall and incredible views.

Recife Welcome to the ‘Venice of Brazil’. One of the country’s most important cities, Recife is known for its many colonial buildings, towering skyscrapers and bars. All of these are situated along the banks of the city’s many waterways. The city enjoys a good 27°C weather throughout but the best time to visit is February and March because Recife puts up a stunning carnival during these months. It’s also a great place to shop as Recife houses Brazil’s second largest shopping centre.