To the millions of football-lovers around the globe the FIFA World Cup 2014, kickstarting today, offers everything they could want from their beloved game; a feast of colour, passion and glory but Brazil has more than football to offer its visitors. With 12 host cities wishing to show you more than just the beautiful game, we decided to take you through all of the wonderful cities including Sao Paulo, Natal, Fortaleza, Manaus, Brasilia, Recife, Salvador da Bahia, Cuiaba, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, and Rio De Janeiro where we begin our journey…
Rio Di Janeiro
It’s hard to fit it all into a few words but here goes: beaches, mountains, forests, lagoons, carnival, samba, food, favelas, drugs, guns and gangstas. The Marvellous City; Rio has got it all.
USP: It’s Rio; you don’t need to know anything else.
Shop: Beauty queens should try the Granado apothecary in central Rio which stocks products made from all-natural, all-Brazilian ingredients. If you’re in the mood for high-fashion, try Botafogo Praia Shopping where you’ll find the best of Brazilian design.
Eat & Drink: Rio’s favelas are not as risky they once were (although you should carefully plan any trip) so try one of the nameless, open-air restaurants in Rochina’s alleyways for a true taste of Rio. You’ll need to ask around for directions but it’ll be worth it once you’ve tasted the seafood these places have to offer. If you have a sweet-tooth try the pudim at Bar Lacubaco in Vidigal.
Sleep: For somewhere private and elegant we like Mama Ruisa in the Santa Teresa area. Decorated in a colonial style the hotel has only seven rooms, each one fitted with imposing doorways and window shutters. If you fancy something closer to the beach then you can’t go wrong with one of Copacabana’s many hotels. It’s an area returning to its former glory so stay there now before it becomes a haunt exclusively for the rich and famous.
Images: flickr.com/JoseRodriguez and flickr.com/Skellig2008
