General Info

O Globo usually does stream Rio's last few days online. In fact, there is already a link set up for Rio, though it is not operational at the moment.

[QUOTE=Sunset Strip;1249147]O Globo usually does stream Rio's last few days online. In fact, there is already a link set up for Rio, though it is not operational at the moment.[/QUOTE]This the link you referring to:

[url]http://g1.globo.com/rio-de-janeiro/carnaval/2012/cobertura/[/url]

[url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/15/carnival-a-beginners-guid_n_1279894.html?ref=travel&icid=maing-grid7[/url]

[url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/brazil-air-travel-demand-_n_1231914.html?ref=airlines[/url]

Yes, Java. Hopefully it will be working later today.

SS

Hello, everyone, I have one more week before my first trip to Rio and SP for 11 days, I read through most of Bubba Boy's Rio Guide (BTW, very good info, thank you Bubba!) and the last 12 pages here of "General Info", and I'm not sure if I missed it, but I'm really looking for tips for solo travelers, most of the guide talk seems like he's always with friends or a group of people; for what I understand don't go to the slums, beaches after dark, but should I always take a cab at night and not walk the streets or the metro solo?

Really I'm just wondering what's your tips when your solo? Also does anyone have any other additional tips for newbies, or a must see or do that maybe forgotten in the guide.

Thanks all!

And if anyone would like to meet and hang, I'm just a easy going middle class worker from the US, nope I don't have top class degrees and a big six figure salary

How in the hell do I buy tickets to see the UFC 147 at the Estádio João Havelange Stadium? I heard different reports. 1) the tickets don't go on sale until May. 2) The tickets are sold out already, they were sold online.

I missed out on the going to see the ufc last year because the fucking Barra HSBC center would never give a date of when the damn tickets would go on sale! I had to have people call each and every week to see when they would sell the ickets and the office would say "Keep checking back".

I would really like to go to Rio to see this fight, can anyone tell me how I cna get tickets to this event? Thanks

[QUOTE=Bravo; 1265479]How in the hell do I buy tickets to see the UFC 147 at the Estádio João Havelange Stadium? I heard different reports. 1) the tickets don't go on sale until May. 2) The tickets are sold out already, they were sold online.

I missed out on the going to see the ufc last year because the fucking Barra HSBC center would never give a date of when the damn tickets would go on sale! I had to have people call each and every week to see when they would sell the ickets and the office would say "Keep checking back".

I would really like to go to Rio to see this fight, can anyone tell me how I cna get tickets to this event? Thanks[/QUOTE]Have you checked UFC. Com? You can buy tickets through them. UFC 147 not on the site yet. They have tickets on sale for a fight in Sweden 4/14. I'd think they'll have tickets for the Rio date. They also can book travel for you.

[url]http://www.ufc.com/schedule/event[/url]

During my stay I ate all over the place. From the guy selling chicken skewers on the street to nice romantic restaurants. Lots and lots of by the kilo restaurants in downtown but here are some of the exceptional places I ate at.

For lunch: Symbols, located on Av. Almirante Barroso. 139. It is a by the kilo place but upscaled. Nice atmostphere and good food. For the steaks, they cook it right there in front of you and they have Japanese food there also.

At night this place turns into a nightclub which my friend says is pretty good. My friend paid for the lunch so I don't know exactly how much it was per kilo, but my friend said it is a little more expensive than the by the kilo places nearby.

To get here. Take the metro, get off at Carioca and instead of going left to Rio Branco 156, make a right. Go to the signal and that should be Av. Almirante Barroso. Cross Rio Branco and head towards Praca 15 and just look for the 139 block. There are a couple of restaurants there but look for the Symbol sign.

Close by is a restaurant called the Da Silva. It is a Portuguesse restaurant. All you can eat buffet for are$56. 00 without drinks. It is located on the fourth floor and there is another restaurant on this floor but it only has an ala carte menu. Make sure you go to the buffet.

The address is Av Graca Aranha N 187, 4 andar. The restaurant gets crowded at noon and loud. If you can try and get there before noon or after 13:30.

Restaurant Intihuasi. If you get tired of Brazilian food this restaurant serves up Peruvian food. I had the lomo saltado which was a little different from how they make in back in L. A. But was still, very good. This restaurant is very small, I think maybe 6 tables.

The address is Rua Barao Do Flamengo. 35. To get there by metro, get off at the Largo de Machado station and it is about two blocks away.

For dinner, I recommend these two places. Guy Bistro. This is a French restaurant located on Rua Fonte the Saudade. 187.

The food was on the expensive side but really good. Not alot of tables here either. The bad news, it was kind of far from my hotel so the taxi ride cost about are$36. 00.

Restaurant Entretapas. A Spanish tapas place located at Rua Conde De Inaja 115 Botafogo. This is the place I took Renata, the girl from Centro Suzy to. She was very impressed with the place. She loves Spanish food but the only bad thing was they only serve Paella on the weekends. We went on a Wednesday night. Usually at a Spanish restaurant, I get the paella and a couple of tapas. Instead we order 4 tapas which were very good and still had leftover which I told her to take home.

Here are a couple of nice restaurants in Sao Paulo.

Vicolo Nostro. Rua Jataituba. 29. Very good Italian restaurant. This is where I took the girl from Connections to. She had the pasta, I had the fish. The fish just melted in my mouth. Only bad thing, far from my hotel. I believe it is located in the Bella vista district.

Tordesilhas, Rua Bela Cintra. 465. I had the duck here and it was very good. Another plus, it was walking distance from my hotel, about 6 blocks.

I went to a couple of restaurants in Buzios, but I really liked this one. It is called Cigalon, Rua das Pedras. 199. Right in the heart of centro Buzios.

I had the fillet of fish which I believe was grouper. It tasted so good I was tempted to go back the next day. Come to think of it, I should have because the restaurant I went to that day was just okay.

Sao Paolo (10) and Rio (12) are now the most expensive cities in both North and South America.

Agree that these ratings aren't really 100% accurate and are done mainly for expatriates. That said, it includes costs of food, transport, entertainment, ect, and it does at least provide a general guideline.

[url]http://www.mercer.ca/print.htm?indContentType=100&idContent=1420615&indBodyType=D&reference=&siteLanguage=1007[/url]

I just finished reading "A Dead Bat in Paraguay" by Roosh Vörek. It chronicles his six month journey through South America in search of sex. His story is a bit repetitive at times and mongers may not care for his attitude regarding p4p, but I found the book to be an entertaining read; especially, if you like travel writing. The last chapter and the (lengthy) epilogue focus on Rio. There's even a paragraph or two Help. The eBook version costs only U$S 2. 99.

I do not want to take up space in the Rio Report Thread but I have a very serious question.

I have been to Búzios a couple times and was not impressed. The beaches are small and crowded. Restaurant prices not in line with the quality and even the best accommodations, not as good as elsewhere for a cheaper price. The dune buggies were fun and the downtown area quaint, but I still do not see the appeal, especially among Brazilians who seem to love it. You can PM me if you like.

Thanks!

Can anyone tell me if a person can buy Durex condoms in Brazil? In particular Rio? I've looked on the Durex site but nothing listed for brazil or Argentina. I'm in Thailand right now and would like to know if I should be picking up more here before returning to Rio. TIA