Third Time's The Charm

Actually, with Rio de Janeiro, it's always a charm. I love this city.

I'm a glutton for punishment: I always seem to hit Rio when it's at its busiest.  I've celebrated New Years on the beach with a million of my closest friends and danced samba until dawn during Carnaval. Why not come back during the World Cup?!?

Playing tour guide a bit, we visited some of my favorite places - the Botanical Gardens, Posto 9, and Cinelândia - plus some new ones, such as the Urca neighborhood and the Selarón Steps.  I now feel well-versed in navigating the subway as well and the city buses.  Some day I'll return at a non-peak time and wonder where everyone is!

The Botanical Gardens are a place I doubt I will grow tired of visiting.

I came across the globe-trotting Buddy Bears on my run from Copacabana
to Leme Beach one morning.

Soccer on Copacabana Beach

Pão de Açúcar under a cloud.

Watching the sun set from the Urca neighborhood.

The Escardaria Selarón (Selarón Steps) are a completely tiled pedestrian
way in the Santa Teresa neighborhood created by Chilean artist and
Rio transplant Jorge Selarón.

Since his suspicious death in January of 2013, the steps have only gained
tourist attention and have become a recognizable Rio landmark.

The first tiles Selarón scavenged in abandoned construction sites, but as the
project gained publicity, tiles were donated from around the world.

In 2003, Snoop Dogg and Pharrell used the steps as a scene in the video
for their hit "Beautiful".  The steps have been added to significantly since.
I'm attempting the channel my inner Pharrell.

Rio Scenarium is a cool bar/restaurant in Centro with three floors and live
music nearly every night of the week.  

First Botanical Graden photo taken by Alissa Monfre.

Pão de Açúcar photo taken by Dan Monfre.