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08-09-2016, 02:57 PM
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#1
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: philly
Posts: 1,219
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Rio de Janeiro??
With the Olympics going on, it looks pretty.
Anyone ever been?
good, bad?
LOL, I love the "Girl from Ipenema" and the videos of Carnival
__________________
My darling girl, when are you going to realize that being "normal" is not necessarily a virtue? it sometimes rather denotes a lack of courage~Aunt Francis
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08-09-2016, 03:07 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,199
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I lived in Rio for several years in the late 80s.
Amazingly beautiful city, full of (mostly) warm and friendly people.
Much too much going on right now, but DW has been bugging me for many years to take her there, and I'll probably do that in a year or two.
High crime rate, something to be aware of.
Rio's people, known as Cariocas, are the easy-going, laid back type for the most part. Whereas the business capital of Brazil, São Paulo, is all about making money. So the standard line goes that when the Paulistas retire, they move to Rio to enjoy the fruits of their labors.
Too many years have passed to give you any detailed info, but personally I love the place (and most of the rest of Brazil too).
Edit: BTW, it's Rio de Janeiro (common spelling mistake).
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08-09-2016, 03:39 PM
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#3
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 233
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I remember listening to a podcast with comedian Brad Williams. He recounted his experience during the World Cup in Brazil. He was told by a Brazilian official to get a fake wallet and cell phone because he would be mugged eventually. He heeded the official's advice and was mugged. lol
I've heard a lot of good things about Uruguay. Cost of living doesn't seem to be much less than the US but for a vacation I'd take it over Brazil.
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08-09-2016, 05:30 PM
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#4
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 429
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Hi. I travelled to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. In Uruguay I stayed at a gaucho ranch. It was kind of primitive, I think they shut the electrical generator down at about 8 pm. I dont think there was internet. The Uruguayan people are very hospitable, the food on the ranch was really good and the horseback riding was fun.
Rio was great too, in a very different way, but I am pretty good about going with the flow. I was also warned about pickpockets, but I grew up not far from NYC, so I know how to shift into "heightened awareness" mode when needed.
If you go, have a great time!
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08-11-2016, 07:17 AM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Florida's First Coast
Posts: 7,666
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I visited Rio recently (Within the last 3 years while I was doing a contract) on a business trip. I was not impressed. We were 1 block off Copa Cabana beach. Our hotel concierge advised not to wear watches or take a wallet when we went out in the evenings. "Just take what you need".
Yes Copa and Ipanema are pretty, but that is it. I found it a little like Atlantic City and Vegas, once you go back off the strip things get worse and worse. JMHO I have no intention of going back.
No personal bad experiences other than being approached by nefarious people offering just as nefarious services.
It is one of the only place I travelled on business that I did not want to take my wife back to on a vacation.
__________________
"Never Argue With a Fool, Onlookers May Not Be Able To Tell the Difference." - Mark Twain
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08-11-2016, 07:42 AM
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#6
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,586
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Rio is my all time favorite travel destination. I went frequently on business, took vacation days there around business trips and even brought DW along on a business trip - the only time. It is an amazing city - exotic, modern and mellow at the same time. Braumeister captured it's charm well in his post.
That said, it is not recommended for the inexperienced traveler - it's dangerous and too easy to get into trouble. Copacabana in particular, visitors should plan on staying in Leblon or Ipanema.
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08-11-2016, 01:43 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bclover
With the Olympics going on, it looks pretty.
Anyone ever been?
good, bad?
LOL, I love the "Girl from Ipenema" and the videos of Carnival
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Not since 1956, when I took the attached photos of the famous Corcovado statue and of Rio from that vantage point, using my trusty Brownie camera.
If there was any crime there, I was not aware of it. Of course we were aware of pickpockets, as we always were in large foreign cities during our travels. I felt much, much safer there than in the slums of Cairo a couple of years previous, for example. Overall we thought Rio was amazingly clean and beautiful (in comparison with many of our prior, admittedly scuzzy destinations elsewhere). The beach was stunningly beautiful. We walked around in the Copacabana and elsewhere, with absolutely no problems.
Of course, this was 60 years ago so that might be why we were able to do that.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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08-11-2016, 01:55 PM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13,202
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Quote:
Originally Posted by retirementguy1
I remember listening to a podcast with comedian Brad Williams. He recounted his experience during the World Cup in Brazil. He was told by a Brazilian official to get a fake wallet and cell phone because he would be mugged eventually. He heeded the official's advice and was mugged. lol
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With my luck I'd get mugged twice. I carry the 2nd wallet a lot of places. Hadn't thought of the 2nd phone, but I wouldn't want to lose my regular one, so that's a good idea too.
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08-11-2016, 03:07 PM
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#9
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 1,543
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My daughter, Brazilian son-in-law and myself went two years ago. Having a native speaker with us all the time made me feel very safe and worry free. I feel very fortunate to have made that trip.
We had a driver for a 1 day while in Rio, that picked us up from the airport then took us up into the mountains to visit family members, the rest of the time, we walked or took cabs. I did feel a little apprehensive when we took a bus to large market area but everything was just fine. Cabs are really pretty cheap (and FAST) in comparison to here.
Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum
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08-11-2016, 07:07 PM
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#10
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 534
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I lived in São Paulo in the late 90s and used to visit Rio often, including for major events such as Carnival (twice), Y2k and the World Cup. Fun city but one must be careful. I was once attacked by street kids using broken bottles as weapons. I was also shaken down by crooked cops.
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