Tim Flear: GB Consul General to Rio
By Doug Gray, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Tim Flear has been the British Consul General to Rio De Janeiro since 2006. In that time the city has undergone substantial changes that have made his job both more challenging and more demanding, as the profile of the Cidade Maravilhosa – both as a tourist [...]
New Year’s Eve Across Brazil
By Davi Baldussi, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – When the clock strikes midnight on the last day of 2009 most of the cities around Brazil, and the world, will start their traditional firework exhibition. Some of the best in Brazil are found in it’s biggest and well traveled cities; São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, [...]
Christmas Sales Up 11% Over 2008
By Carlos Graffigna, Contributing Reporter As the world economy continues a slow recovery from the dismal 2008, Christmas sales at shopping centers in Brazil had a healthy holiday season. According to ALSHOP (the Brazilian Association of Shopping Center Stores), retail sales had a nominal increase of 11.26 percent, a net increase of seven percent on [...]
21st Century Funk
By Doug Gray, Senior Reporter A Short History Of Baile Funk Part 3, Funk Enters The 21st Century RIO DE JANEIRO – By the turn of the millennium Funk Carioca was slowly seeping out of Rio and Brazil and onto the playlists of those DJs with their ears to the ground, or who had been [...]
Ipanema’s New Luxury Residence
By Carlos Graffigna, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – To the prized ocean-front real estate along Ipanema beach comes a new addition, and in the current boom-mentality of Rio de Janeiro, it looks certain to be a hot commodity. In The Scenario Vieira Souto, the developers could hardly have introduced their project at a more [...]
Jiu-Jitsu Coach Killed in Rio
By Jayme Monsanto, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – A well-known Brazilian martial arts teacher was killed and his American friend shot down on Christmas eve just west of Rio de Janeiro. 39-year old Marcos Adriano Albuquerque, aka ‘Marcos Jará’, and 36-year old Brent Garret were attacked by two men as they drove along the [...]
Unidos de Vila Isabel
By Bruno De Nicola, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Preparation activities have come to a partial stop for season’s holidays, however Carnival continues to be the center of thoughts for many Cariocas, specially those who vigorously support, often resembling the behavior of true soccer fans, one of Rio’s twelve major league schools. Being two [...]
Colonia by Night
By Joshua Rapp Learn, Contributing Reporter URUGUAY – From the first step off the ferry at nighttime, Colonia del Sacremento settles upon your senses with a serene, mysterious atmosphere. As you pass the blocks in darkness, past empty stone-clad avenues lined with trees, the architecture of the surrounding buildings seems to travel backwards in time [...]
Réveillon, New Year’s Eve in Rio
By Maíra Amorim, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – There are just days left before 2010 begins and you can feel the New Year’s Eve anticipation across Rio as Copacabana and other spots around Rio prepare. At the world’s most famous beach, the fireworks show is planned to last 15 minutes and will be accompanied [...]
Rio’s 10 Most Interesting Gringos of 2009
By Daniel Tosca, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – 2009 has been a historical year for the Marvelous City, from the exploration of oil in the pre-salt layer under the ocean floor, to the tragedy of June’s Air France disaster, and the joy and optimism of a successful Olympic Games bid. The Rio Times has [...]