Leblon BeachesEven though Ipanema is the most world known, they areconsidered to be twin for theirs high similarities. Both beaches have a commonpoint of geographic limit: the Alah Garden, a water channel that links theAtlantic Ocean to Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. In all remaining aspects Ipanemaand Leblon beaches are very similar to each other but Ipanema became widelyknown by the song The Girl fromIpanema, written by Antonio (Tom) Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, with English lyrics writtenlater by Norman Gimbel. Vinicius and Tom penned their famous song in homage tothe young beauty who passed by their bar stools each sunny day. Besides thosemagnificent beaches the tourist find himself around leafy streets dotted withenticing outdoor cafes and restaurants, pricey boutiques and lively bars. Thesefamous beaches of Rio de Janeiro are urbans and have a broad band of soft sand,with relatively strong waves. In extension, Ipanema doubles Leblon. Symbol ofmusic, art and bohemia, throughout its history, the beauty and charm of thesebeaches served as inspiration for poets, writers and composers. Mostly Ipanemabeach, which is often a place of outdoor concerts. An extensive bike path andseveral kiosks flank the four kilometers sidewalk by the beaches, whichstretches from the Arpoador to Alah Garden and, side by side, Leblon stretchesfrom Alah Garden to the mountaintop viewpoint, the Leblon Viewpoint, from whereyou can have the finest view of both beaches. The beaches are used for practiceof various sports, including the skiboard surfing, racquetball, volleyball,soccer and foot-volley. The sunset is so fantastic that it is common to seeswimmers clapping to this scenario. Depending on the season of the year, thesun sets in the sea horizon or behind the two spectacular mountains called theTwo Brothers, which rise at the western end of the beach. One interesting thingabout Ipanema beach is that there is a gay-friendly area, situated near the positionof Posto 9 (lifeguard tower 9), near Farme de Amoedo Street, where there isa rainbow flag flying in the air. At the end or beginning of the famous Leblonbeach, there is a scenic mountaintop viewpoint, the Leblon Viewpoint, where youcan contemplate a gorgeous birds-eye view of Ipanema and Leblon beachestogether and listen to the waves hitting the rocks right below. It is a greatspot for a romance or a date. Try climbing the viewpoint for the early morningto enjoy the sunrise. The belvedere is made of a huge deck with wooden plankssupported on the rocks and garnished by a wooden fence. There are kiosks whereyou can drink coconut water or a cold beer.Two Brothers Mountain ParkEven the carioca, the so-called native born in city, doesnt know so much aboutthis surprising multipoint of wonderful views. The Two Brothers [Dois Irmaos] Viewpoint was constructedin 1992 and is located at the bottom of Two Brothers Mountain. This an excellent walk uphill for high quality of life, starting at the end of Aperana Street, near Leblon Viewpoint. The park has leisure area with gardens, squares, playground, sports court, open-air theater, spot for a picnic, park for children and seven viewpoints from where you may see Christ Redeemer, Arpoador, Ipanema, Leblonand Sao Conrado beaches, the