Samba, Thank you again!!!! Love your responses!!! So much info... So appreciated!

Hi samba, thanks again, we had a bit of a change in plans so i will post in the Argentinia forum, I hope you can continue to help!

@helen63--
I hope you have a wonderful trip! It was a pleasure to try to help with some thoughts about a place I love (warts and all). If you need anything more, just ask.

Samba, or anyone else - do you have any recommendations on where to see a samba show in Rio, restaurants, or anything else not not miss? Thank you!

There are two samba shows in Rio. They are tacky and not worth the time or money. If you want to see authentic costumed samba enredo, show up at Carnaval.

Earlier in the thread I mentioned Paqueta and the ferry to Niteroi. There is a little ethnographic museum in the Quinta de Boa Vista park that has some beautiful objects. The bondinho trolley is running again up to the Santa Teresa neighborhood, with its charming architecture and museum. Good restaurants too. The new Museum of the Future. Other vista points (besides the Cristo statue) in Tijuca park, like Vista Chinesa.
Or Joa beach. Marenpendi wetlands. Waterfall and other places in Tijuca park. (Places a guide with car can take you.)
Take a look at www dot ipanema dot com for more info about the city's features.

Food (not so much where as what):
Rodizio of Churrasco (all you can eat, meat carved off a sword at table, with side buffet)
Feijoada (national dish, black beans stewed with meats, sides of kale and oranges)
Juices from tropical fruits and popcicles
Tapioca (a pancake with savory or sweet filling)
Cheese on a stick, grilled and melted over charcoal on the beach
A "por kilo" (pay by weight) buffet is a good way to sample a variety of Brazilian food

Thank you Samba, so appreciated!

What about Lap clubs, like Rio Scenarium?

We are not dancers and middle aged, but for atmospheric night out...

"Middle aged" has nothing to do with anything when going out to dance to Brazilian music. :-) Some of the best samba dancers are middle aged. (Do try to understand the difference between samba enredo, which you see at Carnaval, and samba gafiera, a partnered dance style seen in clubs. You can find examples of both on YouTube by doing a search.)
I happen to like Carioca da Gema, in a house-type building in Lapa. You can sit and listen to samba, have a snack, drink, and watch the locals dance on the small dance floor in front of the stage. Scenarium is much bigger, multi-staged, and is known for its quirky decorations. Go on a Friday or Saturday when Lapa is busiest, if possible. (Take a taxi there.There will be taxis waiting on the street to take you home.) You can see both clubs on their websites, and also on Youtube.
At Carioca da Gema, you will get a paper ticket/check on entry on which the cover and any food/drink purchases are recorded, and you pay at the cashier's window on the first floor before leaving.

I watched on youtube :) We only have a chance to visit Scenarium on Tuesday, as it is closed on Sunday and Monday, both days we are on Rio.
Carioca da Gema is open on Monday, so maybe we can go there on Monday Thank you again, Samba!

Both their Facebook page and web page will tell you who is playing at Carioca da Gema for any given week. Just realize that things don't get lively until quite late (after 10 probably), which can be a consideration for us "middle-aged" folks. :-) Leave yourself some nap time beforehand and a sleep in the next morning perhaps.

We are not THAT "middle-aged" that we cannot stay up late without a nap :). This is actually good, because we can have dinner somewhere else and then go to a club for a couple of hours or so.

Samba, one more question, if I may. I have been learning so much from you already!

We will be staying in Ipanema, and from what I understand, it is nice to walk along the beach (sidewalks) from Ipanema to Copacopana, or from Ipanema to Leblon. I assume all these walks pretty safe during the day (assuming no jewelry, etc). Is this correct? Is this safe around
Arpoador as well? I see a lot of suggestions for watching sunset in there. Thank you again!

Those nights of samba until 3am........things go very late, and yes, I myself admit to needing to make up the sleep somewhere along the line. :-)
Carioca da Gema has "Brazilian bar food", a cold cut and cheese platter, for one example, or "cocinhas" (chicken and cheese fried dumplings) , so if you didn't eat a big or late dinner, you have options.

What is NOT suggested is walking on the wide swath of sand itself, to the water, when there are not a lot of people around, day (overcast, non-beach day) or night, because you end up pretty isolated out there, and vulnerable.
The sidewalk (that tiled one you have seen photos of) is fine. There are kiosks along it that are open fairly late for beer or coconut water. And intricate sand sculptures along the edge.
We've walked all along the sidewalk in both directions, to Leblon and in the other direction as far as Leme. No problems. Lots of people at Arpoador for the sunset. The rocks are on the point between Copacabana and ipanema.
There's a bike lane on the street side of the beach road. The street is very wide, before you get to the other side where the row of buildings lines the street. Be watchful (not freaked out, just vigilant) when you use a quiet side street after dark on which you can't see other people to get to the main shopping streets.
Back two streets is the main shopping street. In Copacabana, it's Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, very busy all night, with cheap snack places and better, lots of people movement and traffic. In Ipanema, it's Visconde de Piraja, a bit more upscale, but with supermarkets, shops, etc.
Between Ipanema and Leblon is a canal that connects the Lagoa and the sea, and there used to be a small favela, but we never had problems. I didn't like walking back to the Lagoa at night, too quiet, and there were a few fairly recent problems. If you choose a restaurant at the Lagoa (some good ones), take a taxi back to where you stay. Leblon feels a bit more like the US (maybe a lower rise NYC neighborhood), but more street life, open air snack bars on corners, etc.

Samba, I think I know everything now :)You are the best! thank you, thank you, thank you!

We'll, if you missed so much as a tiny detail, do post again. ;-)

And please take the 'stay off the sand' advice seriously. Not to be too alarmist, but a group of Argentine young women ran into trouble in the wee hours of Wednesday morning wandering on the sand in Copacabana.

Samba, I normally follow the rules, not a risk taker... So will take all advice seriously... Hopefully, everything goes well before the trip (so many times I had to cancel due to unforeseen reasons) and during the trip, so I will have desire to come back. I am upset I could not take more time off this time, so we could see more, but my visa is valid for 10 years after all... :)

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