Samba Bloco Street Parties to Watch
By Felicity Clarke, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The build up rumble of drums that will culminate in Carnival is well under way, as Rio’s streets become the venue for the exhilarating samba rhythms pounded out by the city’s “blocos”. Blocos are the musical street parades that for some, are a fun alternative to [...]
Brazilian Airline Azul Wins US Investor
By Mark Beresford, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil’s youngest airline, Azul, has new investors, the US private equity firm Texas Pacific Group, which on January 22nd confirmed that it had acquired a stake in the fast growing carrier. Azul started flying on December 15th, 2008, and was founded and is chaired by David [...]
Yogofresh – Frozen Yogurt Hits Rio
By Felicity Clarke, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – With a bright beach culture and an accompanying interest in the body beautiful, Rio is always going to be seduced by a sweet treat that’s fresh, delicious and healthy. This is the thinking that struck Clarice Caliman and Larissa Dadalto, founders of the new frozen yogurt [...]
Lula, PT Support for Rousseff Solidifies
By Pedro Widmar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Next month the PT (Brazilian Worker’s Party) will hold its fourth congress. The event, which is scheduled from February, 18th to the 21st, will be a chance for the party to discuss its general directives, organize campaign strategies for October’s federal and state elections, and, as [...]
Vasco Crushes Botafogo 6-0
By Jayme Monsanto, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – This weekend saw the third round of the Campeonato Carioca and the first “clássico” of this year’s competition when Vasco played Botafogo on Sunday. Both teams went into the match with high expectations due to new signings and good results in the previous two rounds. Playing [...]
G.R.E.S. Imperatriz Leopoldinense
By Bruno De Nicola, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – February is just around the corner and it’s little more than a fortnight until Rio de Janeiro’s inhabitants and visitors find themselves at the grandest Carnival in the world. The atmosphere around the Cidade Maravilhosa is already heating up and not just because of the [...]
IOC Praises Olympic Preparations
By Jayme Monsanto, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The first visit of the Rio 2016 Coordinating Commission to Rio de Janeiro was a complete success. On January 17th, four representatives of the commission arrived at the city for three days of intense meetings with the local government and visits to the 2016 Olympic venue [...]
Living in Rio’s Favelas
By Martin Kocandrle, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – There is an unmistakable vibrancy in the air as one takes their first steps into the community of Rocinha. It is the largest favela (slum) in Rio de Janeiro with some estimates reaching 150,000 residents, located in the South Zone, just one kilometer from the beach. [...]
Branding Travel, Pertra Personal Travel
By Bruno De Nicola, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – There are many ways to promote a product or a brand, many companies often go for the conventional ones, however a few corporations have lately come to understand that exceptional experiences are undoubtedly among the best way to reach specific targets. Brand experience tourism appears [...]
7 Tips for Getting Into Capoeira
By Joshua Rapp Learn, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – If you’ve been in Brazil for any length of time, you’ve probably seen Capoeira. Whether it’s lean and toned Brazilians doing back flips on the beach, or wizened old tricksters circling each other in squares, Capoeira has become a pervasive part of Brazilian culture. The [...]