We (two matured people) will have two free afternoons in Rio while on a cruise. We want to take a taxi to the iconic beaches for a walk and browse and sit to enjoy the sight and sound.

Should we do the Copacabana or the Ipanema? And why?
Thanks.

I doesn't matter. It's one long stretch of beach anyway, from Leme to Leblon with a slight break at the rocks in Arpoador. Each beach posto on the sand has a slightly different cast of characters, but from the sidewalk it's all the same. There are barracas (food and drink stands) with chairs and tables along the sidewalk at intervals.

I agree that both stretches are similar. I walked Copacabana everyday during the Olympics and there was always something interesting going on. I did like the vibe and feel of Ipanema a little more lively and interesting. Both are iconic with great views a lot going on.

Thank you for both of your responses.
I should plan to taxi to where the JW Marriott hotel is, start walking south toward Ipanema. That way I'll cover part of Copacabana and part of Ipanema.

You might drop by BipBip Bar in (Rua Almirante Goncalves #50) Copacabana. There is often informal bossa nova and other Brazilian style music going on.

Or have some coffee at the branch of the Confeitaria Colombo that's located in the Fort in Copacabana.

Reading(is that your home town?)

This might sound like a damper...but walk Nantasket Beach...much nicer!!! ("Quincy Boy")

We found both Copa and Ipanema to be enjoyable...but it was at the time 20 years ago when so much crime took place on Rio's beaches that one had to be extra wary. I even bought a throw-away camera and left mine in the hotel safe. Later went up to the Amazon and things were very quiet and peaceful in comparison...as we took a private boat tour upriver.

will send some scanned pics for you.

https://goo.gl/photos/39uBXjL2GyfEuqDk9

For Reading

Tower: you are quite active in this forum recently!

Any chance of coming to Argentina?

Happy 2017.

AV...no, my overseas travel days are past...after traveling since I was 17 (0verseas US army duty)and visiting about 85 countries since 1940's, with my two wonderful late wives(separately!), I now get my vicarious kicks by helping others as I always have. I'll soon be 88, and long flights with today's airport pandemonium are not my idea of fun...and if it ain't fun, I don't do it!! I'm surrounded by a very large and loving family all living closeby...so it's home and maybe some short domestic auto travel. Good 2017 to you and yours, AV!

AV:
"Don't Cry for me Argentina"..I've seen it all and done it all !!! "Now all I seek is oblivion and rest." (from an old WW II Russian folk song).

Well, I tried....

Where do you live, tower?

I probably should know, but I don't remember....

I'm kind of old too, you know... LOL!!!

Samba...you seem to be one of those posters who avoid making Fodors a more inviting place. Why not some relevant personal stuff. You need to take some happy pills. Read the profile...Massachusetts is their home. AV and I are old poster friends and we will continue to get personal, with you or without you. Now go and take your meds.


AV..Ojai,California.

OMG!!!!

I missed all the fun!

LOL!!!!

Oh AV, you are the fun, that people make of you.

Tower, I merely pointed out that the reference (to Quincy Boy) overlooked pointed toward the MA Reading rather than the English Reading. Accurate information makes this forum less inviting? Or pointing out that the world is bigger than some poster's experience?
When you take YOUR "anti crochety" pills, we should have a beer--in Quincy if you like---and talk about Boston area childhoods, perhaps about real fun at Paragon Park.

Meanwhile, the "lord of the SA forums" continues to hijack threads at will, a very courteous practice from the professor of ancient courtesies.

Samba
That's why I mentioned Nantasket Beach (Paragon Park)..as I said I knew it wasn't Reading UK from their Massachusetts statement on their profile. As to Paragon, I met young Jack Kennedy while he was giving a campaign speech there in 1950, running for senate. Ten years later, we met at Huntington Park in Pasadena during the 1960 Dem convention...and he remembered that we had once chatted at Paragon. That's good politics, I'd say. He went on to win the nomination.

As a native,AV's contributions are invaluable....hijacking and all. May he long reign.

by the way Miss Samba...your whales's tale was superb!! Thanks for sharing.

May "the professor of ancient courtesies" (new name for yours truly) whose "contributions are invaluable", "long reign", so people can go on making fun of him (see above posts, to understand the joke).

Must remember to take my meds. LOL!!!

A regular dose of lithium ought to do the trick for you AV.

"See above posts"..
Big fish, small pond
-----
Tower, thank me by not continuing AV's needless hijack. Happy to talk offline.

rozstu1 at aol dot com