Going to Brazil makes a huge change from the usual trips to the Americas where Florida already offers all of life’s creature comforts and Mexico has been the same for years, but Brazil is something out of this world.
Rio is a truly bizarre place that is developing beyond anything anyone had imagined with a truly magnificent vibe of city life on the beach mixed in with shopping and street after street of entertainment for the night owls. There are literally hundreds of places to go from classy joints to just your simple upbeat bar with the more working class side of the city frequenting these spots. One the greatest parts of life in the city is the fact that you can mix a day on the beach with shopping in luxury department stores and once that is done you can search the streets for some top South American cuisine.
If you arrive at the right time there are two fantastic parts of Brazilian culture taking place. Firstly, it is obviously football. There is a huge football stadium, Estádio do Maracanãup in the hills with magnificent views. If you visit Rio, it is well worth enquiring if any teams are playing there. It is well worth the trip even if you don’t like football because the vibe is absolutely out of this world. Secondly, there is the carnival. This is one time you get to see Brazil for what it is. All the culture comes out in one flurry of colours and shows that will honestly take your breath away.
Another one of Brazil’s up and coming cities is Sao Paulo, which holds the world’s 7th largest population. Sao Paulo is yet again something else and well worth a trip down from Rio to visit. In fact the city is just as entertaining as Rio, but it also gives you that same calmness as Rio can provide, but it is still a little bit more hectic, but at the same time you get more of a civilised feeling than Rio gives out.
One of the major advantages to staying in Sao Paulo is that there are plenty of hotels to choose from, and with that you don’t get the pricey room rates that Rio dishes out. Luxury rooms with anything you want ordered up to the room seems to be every hotels policy. If you are looking for a decent suit someone will measure you. If you are looking for a swim suit, someone will come and show a collection of designer attire.
One of the best things about the city is that if you are a poker player this is the place to be. Coming up soon there will be the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP). If you happen to visiting between the dates of 25th July and July 30th then get down to the Holiday Inn Parque Anhembi where there will plenty of poker being played out. Cash games will be played on the side too, but the main focus of the week living up that area of the city with some real poker talent. For free rolls and satellite tournaments you can check out the Full Tilt Poker website and get your chance for a full package poker trip to Brazil.
Brail is one of the most amazing countries in the world, and right now it is developing fast. You can find almost all the comforts you would find at home, see some of the world’s most outrageously big shopping centres, and get a feel for not just the Brazilian tradition, but how the new Brazil is catching up with the rest of the world.
Photo credit: lautsu
