Fun Fact #1
Portuguese explorers first encountered the island on January 1, 1502, hence the name Rio de Janeiro means River of January
Fun Fact #3
Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil for almost two centuries from 1763 to 1960 when it was moved to Brasilia.
Fun Fact #5
With roots in Africa, Brazil’s famous Samba music started in the neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro.
Fun Fact #6
Rio is Brazil’s biggest tourist destination.
Fun Fact #7
Rio’s most famous attractions include Christ the Redeemer Statue, Sugarloaf Mountain, Ipanema Beach, Copacabana Beach, Sambodromo, Maracana Stadium, and Tijuca National Park.
The average minimum temperature in Rio is 68 °F (20°C) and the average maximum temperature is 82 °F (28 °C).
Fun Fact #9
See all those tall and attractive ‘working girls’ roaming the street? Many of them are not girls at all, but members of the city’s largest transvestite population… You’ve been warned…
Fun Fact #10
Prostitution is LEGAL! Apparently it’s a highlight for many tourists…
Fun Fact #11
The motels in Rio are not your average ‘family accommodation’ they are actually ‘sex hotels’ geared towards couples needing a place to rendezvous. I will post about this one so check back!
Fun Fact #12
Rio’s most famous natives include Ronaldo (soccer player), The Gracie Martial Arts Family, Anderson Silva (MMA Fighter), Tom Jobin (Musician/”The Girl From Ipanema”), Vinicius de Moraes (Musician/”The Girl From Ipanema”), and Oscar Niemeyer (architect).
Fun Fact #13
Rio will be hosting the 2016 Olympic Games and the last match of the 2014 World-Cup.
Fun Fact #14
Rio is a ‘Biking City’ with over 46 miles (74km) of bicycle pathways, most stretching alongside the beaches.
Fun Fact #15
Rio has the oldest operating electric tramway in the world called the Santa Teresa Tram or bondinho.
Fun Fact #16
Rio has 2 subway lines, 32 subway stations, almost 450 bus lines, more than 50 km of beaches and 3 airports (Galeão (International), Santos Dumont (general aviation/commuter) and Jacarepaguá (General Aviation).
Fun Fact #17
Football is the most popular sport and is home to 5 traditional Brazilian football clubs: América Football Club, Botafogo, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama and Flamengo.
Fun Fact #18
Rio was popularized by the hit song “Garota de Ipanema” (The Girl from Ipanema), composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes and recorded by Astrud Gilberto & João Gilberto, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. It is also the main key song of the bossa nova, a musical genre that was born in Rio.
Rocinha
Fun Fact #20
Fun Fact #21
One of the most densely populated places in the world is Copacabana, as there are approximately 25,000 people per square meter. Most of the city’s inhabitants are squeezed into the myriad high rise apartments that can be widely found in the neighborhood
Fun Fact #22
Sugar Loaf Mountain is one of the largest and most popular urban rock climbing destinations in the world. There are 270 different routes to explore in the area as you climb high above the Atlantic Ocean and the sprawling Rio de Janeiro. Have you conquered the iconic mountain?
Ipanema beach was the first place for the now famous ‘Brazilian Bikini’s and ‘sungas‘ to launch. Warning……Once you go Brazilian, you will never look at an American bikini the same way again!
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Great post!! Not sure if I could rock the Brazilian bikini though
Thanks, love the feedback:) Of course you can wear a Brazilian bikini! Coming from NY I was nervous about ‘baring’ my tush, but when you step on the beach you will quickly realize you will get more stares/ feel uncomfortable being in an American bikini then a Brazilian, plus barely any tan lines;)
GREAT INFO JUST USED IT FOR A REPORT