Rio undoubtedly is a Marvelous City. Some historians claim that the first edification in Rio was built in an area known today as the Flamengo. It was a masonry house that Natives used to call Carioca. Be surprised to find the language here is Portuguese, not Spanish which is easy to read and pronounce. Rio de Janeiro is at sea level, near the Tropic of Capricorn. It has a hot and damp tropical climate. Being on the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed, as in Australia and Africa.

Walking is one of the best ways to explore South Side neighborhoods. Pick out the right hotel and walk your way to the beaches, excellent restaurants, shopping, movies, theaters, concert halls, and all other conveniences. Invest on a good pair of walking shoes, and a sun hat. You don't have to go far to find a taxi in Rio - they are everywhere. And hard to miss, too - taxis are a bright yellow, blue stripe on the sides. A more sophisticated alternative, radio taxis may be white, blue or red. Cars are bigger and usually air-conditioned. Rio's subway is still relatively small, but it is very safe, comfortable and reliable. You can use the subway as reference if you decide to explore downtown on your own. Locally known as frescao (fresh-caun) - the fresh guys - air-conditioned buses can be hailed, just like taxis. They run along the beach, and connect South Side neighborhoods to each other, downtown, the airport and Barra.