Copacabana
One of my favorite things to do in Rio was to get up
early and run along Copacabana Beach. The artists
were already making sand sculptures and teenaged
boys were practicing capoeira, a combination of
martial arts and dance. Capoeira originated in the
1500s, when African slaves weren’t allowed to fight,
so they pretended they were dancing. Now capoeira
is an acrobatic game. After my run, I’d buy fresh
coconut water in the shell and sit and watch them,
absolutely mesmerized.
Copacabana Beach is not the only Copacabana in
Rio. There’s also
Copacabana
the movie that Carmen
Miranda made with Groucho Marx in 1947. Carmen
Miranda, known as the “Brazilian Bombshell,” was the
country’s most popular female singer. She wore tight
Latin outfits, always with a bare midriff and colorful
flouncy skirts. She always wore a funny hat, including
the famous hat covered in fruit. The fruit hat, along
with her jewelry, records, and clothes (such as the 24-
pound costume she wore in the movie,
Copacabana
)
are on display at the Carmen Miranda Museum. What
golden plains, through a mossy forest of trees,
clip-clopped up a steep rocky hill and arrived at an
overlook with a striking view of the Upsala Glacier
freshly dusted in snow. I dismounted, took photos, and
then looked at Corizon Perdito’s face, indeed mournful.
Rio de Janeiro
My trip to Rio de Janeiro starts with a visit to
Corcovado, the symbol of Brazil and one of the new
seven wonders of the world. This 2,329-foot-high
mountain with a 125-foot-high statue of
Christ the
Redeemer
can be seen from everywhere in Rio. On its
head are lighting rods which light up like a Crown of
Thorns during severe thunderstorms.
Rio is known for its natural beauty, Carnival,
samba, and beaches. The cariocas (locals) are friendly,
tanned, smiling, and seem to sing their language
rather than speak it. They drink caipirinhas (made
with cachaça, lime and sugar), love feijoada (a
delicious Brazilian dish based on black beans), and
live for Carnival and the beaches.
20
THE AFFLUENT TRAVELER
|
Feature Story
g
Rio de Janeiro’s
“Christ the
Reedemer”
statue, located
at the summit
of Mount
Corcovado, is
one of the top
attractions for
tourists.
