Jaunted

Twilight Travel / Robert Pattinson / Taylor Lautner / Kristen Stewart / Honeymoon Travel / Movie Travel / Breaking Dawn / → All Tags

The First 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' Trailer Gives Glimpses of Rio and 'Isle Esme'

Twilight fans finally got a sneak peek at the cinematic moments they've been dying to see: Edward and Bella's wedding, Honeymoon, and impending parenthood.

At last night's MTV Movie Awards, Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, and Kristen Stewart finally presented the first full length trailer for the final chapter in the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, which will be split into two films.

For the first time, we get a glimpse of Edward and Bella's wedding, which, even though it looks like an exotic destination, was actually filmed just outside of Vancouver, in the rain. The entire area was covered with tarps and umbrellas to keep sneaky paparazzi at bay.

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TV Travel / An Idiot Abroad / Brazil Travel / Rio Travel / Carnival / → All Tags

'An Idiot Abroad' Visits Rio During Carnival and Predictably Dislikes the Noise

This week's episode of An Idiot Abroad landed Karl Pilkington in Rio during Carnival to take in the wonder that is Christ The Redeemer, as well as a bit of the local culture.

Compared to previous episodes, Brazil was predictable, and stereotypical. Instead of stepping off the beaten path, Karl got waxed and shopped for a Speedo before being forced to spend time at gay and nude beaches. No surprises there.

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Twilight Travel / Movie Set Travel / Rio de Janeiro Travel / → All Tags

The 'Twilight' Cast May Bail on Filming 'Breaking Dawn' in Rio after Hostage Situation

This week we've learned there is at least one thing that can scare off vampires and werewolves: hostage situations.

The next installment of the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, was expected to shoot a few key scenes in Rio de Janeiro. But, after last weekend's deadly shootout between cops and gang members at the InterContinental Rio de Janeiro, they may be backing out.

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United Pilot Goes Pantsless to Protest Frustrating Airport Security

We complain about airport security and all the hassles it presents to those attempting to travel at least once a week. However, even the most frequent traveler probably doesn’t have to face the security gauntlet as much as pilots and flight attendants do. Last Friday, one United Airlines pilot, Michael Slynn, just couldn’t take it anymore, and instead of trying for the umpteenth time to go through the metal detector, he just removed his pants.

The pilot was briefly held up at the airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for some questioning, but was back on his way after they discovered that he was just frustrated and not nuts. He was even allowed to fly his plane off to Washington DC, but he was told that he would have to go before a judge the next time he returns to Brazil. We’re wondering if he’ll put in for a route switch so he can avoid the country for this reason.

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Rio de Janeiro Puts Christ On Ice Until Mudslides Subside

These first few months of 2010 have welcomed everything but tourists it seems, as natural disasters like earthquakes, floods ands even volcanoes put a crimp in itineraries. And although we're hoping that the sun of summer will wipe the problems away, it looks like Mother Nature will have her last laugh...in shutting down the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

What they've got down there is a Machu Picchu-type flooding and mudslide emergency. Already the torrential rains and mudslides have killed 246 people, with almost another 200 still missing. And they're not risking more lives just so people can take a quick picture of themselves with one of the seven "new" wonders of the world.

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A Controversial 'To Do' in Rio: Touring the Favelas

If you're Brazilian, or, a Cariocaphile (a Rio lover) then you've already started the countdown for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Back in October, we were down in the "Marvelous City" and right smack in the middle of Copacabana Beach with the rest of Rio for the world announcement. Don't worry, our writer Shira Levine cased the joint to check things out for those of you considering getting your Olympic Games on in, uhhh six and half years. Questions or suggestions? Let us know.

Slum Tourism has its place in travel for the voyeuristicly curious vacationing in a post "City of God" and "Slumdog Millionaire" world. While it's a controversial alternative to the crashpad, there are some safe, noteworthy and creative partnerships that bring business and business opportunities to the lovely people living in the slums while also giving tourists a chance to see another side of Rio.

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Thanksgiving Alternatives / Thanksgiving Travel / New York City / Rio de Janeiro Travel / → All Tags

Skip The Macy's Parade For Four Nights In Rio This Thanksgiving

If it's good enough for Madonna and Jesus, then it's good enough for you. As we reported today, the transformative Queen of Pop recently landed in Rio de Janiero for "humanitarian" work and quite possibly to meet her boyfriend's parents. We're not sure if this contributes to Rio's international appeal or detracts from it, but we did happen to stumble across a four-night travel package, airfare included, for Thanksgiving travel to the Brazilian city.

Travelzoo recently posted a $699 (base price) all-inclusive deal which includes roundtrip travel from New York City, daily breakfast, four nights accommodations, and the option to tack tour extras onto your package. The catch is, as we mentioned, the date that you'll have to depart—either dangerously close to Thanksgiving on the 19th, or the day itself. So, you'll have to decide whether forgoing turkey, football, and that yearly screening of the MACY*S parade is worth the $700 pricetag.

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Madonna Touches Down In Rio For The Poor And For Jesus

Madonna landed in Rio de Janeiro yesterday for a week long trip that may include meeting her boyfriend's mother and speaking with government officials about poverty.

Several reports are saying that the superstar is nervous about meeting Jesus Luz' family for the first time and that it may be a sign things are heating up between them. But Madge told Page Six the rumors aren't true and she is "there strictly for fundraising and humanitarian purposes.” We find it suspect that she would visit her boyfriend's hometown with him and not stop by to say hi to his moms. Maybe it's the age difference that is keeping her away, and we're not talking about the age difference between her and Jesus. Madonna also happens to be 14 years older than his mother!

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Olympics / Olympics Travel / 2016 Rio Olympics / Rio de Janeiro / Brazil Travel / Video / Sports / → All Tags

Thinking of a Master Plan: Snazzy Video Nabs 2016 Olympics for Rio

As an American, I was disappointed that Chicago didn't win the 2016 Summer Olympics, but I've got to admit that Rio looks like a pretty spectacular choice. I've never been, but watching their official candidate commercial yesterday moved it to the top of my list of dream trips. Today I happened upon the city's master plan pitch, and it really looks like Brazilian officials have thought this thing through. I'm not surprised the I.O.C. believed that South America in general, and Rio in particular, would be the perfect host for the games.

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Olympics / Olympics Travel / 2016 Rio Olympics / Rio de Janeiro / Brazil Travel / Travel News / → All Tags

And The 2016 Olympic City Is...Rio de Janeiro!

It's time to break out the Mardi Gras beads and barely-there bustiers and learn how to spell "Rio de Janeiro" without hesitating, because Rio is indeed the host city of the 2016 Olympic Games. All this morning and early afternoon, the world was glued to their TVs and Twitter as the Olympic Committee first heard final pleas from the delegations from Chicago (Prez Obama was there), Rio, Tokyo and Madrid and then announced their decision in favor of the first Olympics to be held in South America.

While people rush onto Copacabana and Ipanema beaches to celebrate, we can already imagine the tour operators and airlines brainstorming their deals for travel to Brazil in 2016 and even these next few years as the city strengthen its infrastructure and emerges as a true hot destination.

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Rio de Janeiro Sambas Into Bike Sharing

If cities like Milan, Shanghai, and Mexico City can enjoy successful bike rental programs, then we've been wondering when a South American capital would climb aboard the eco-friendly trend. As it turns out, Rio de Janeiro quietly launched their own bike sharing program last November, which welcomes tourists with open arms (or handlebars).

Appropriately named Samba, which in Portuguese conveniently means "Alternative Mobility Solution though Bike Renting," Samba is using this spring and summer to build up to 42 stations with 500 total bikes by the end of the year; it's a small number compared to Paris' Velib and its 20,600+ bicycles, but nonetheless a great start.

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New Year's Eve / Iemanjá / Religious Festival Travel / → All Tags

The Holy Beach Of Rio

Everyone should spend at least one New Year's Eve mingling on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Despite the massive crowds and the often underwhelming concerts, the cheers at midnight are joyous and the sights are fantastic. But if you're in town earlier in the evening, take a walk on the beach to catch the offerings to Iemanjá, a folk tradition honored at the end of every year on the beach.

In the Afro-Brazilian Umbanda religion, Iemanjá is the goddess of the sea and the protectress of women and fertility. Umbanda practicants dress in white to bring flowers, build altars and set out floating candles for Iemanjá, a rite practiced on New Year's Eve in Rio but a few weeks earlier in Salvador de Bahia and in February in Rio Vermelho, where the local Catholic church has rededicated her as Our Lady of the Seafarers. The cachaça will wait, we promise.

Related Stories:
· Rolling Stones Hit The Great Wall [Jaunted]
· Copacabana Palace Still Rules Rio [Jaunted]
· Rio's Saucy Postcards Over [Jaunted]

[Photo: zeiger]