It's a 20-minute train ride through the Atlantic forest of Tijuca National Park to the summit of Corcovado Hill, and the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Choose a sunny day to make the trip, so you can look out the electric train's windows for monkeys, lofty trees covered in bromeliads, and tropical birds. The Imperial Palm trees, the orchids, and the Victoria regias are just a few of my favorite plants from the more than 8,000 species of flora in this international botanical collection. On Sunday mornings and afternoons, one lane of the roadway at Ipanema Beach is closed to traffic, and the area becomes a favorite spot for Rio de Janeirans to hang out, rollerblade, exercise, or sit back and sip some of the sweet coconut water sold in the kiosks along the sidewalk. Families bring kids, bikes, dogs, and cats.
Singles bring their desire to find other singles.
Joggers bring their exercise buddies. Old and new friends casually meet on the street. It's a great place to work on your tan, and the sand is silky and light golden, but be sure to stay with the crowds, for security's sake. Among the tall, concrete buildings of Rio's financial center stands the gracious Pa o Imperial, a vision of Rio's 19th-century colonial past. The building was first constructed as the house of governors in 1743, and became the most important building in Brazil 20 years later, when Rio was made the seat of Brazil's general government.