Jaunted

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It's All About the Graffiti Art in Rio, Not Bikini Thongs

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.

Brazil is home to two legit and exciting graffiti artists. Meet Os Gemeos which is Portuguese for The Twins.

The artists: Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo are in fact twins and responsible for the mural on the corner of Houston and Bowery streets in Manhattan, that replaced the now whitewashed famed Keith Haring mural.

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The Girl From Ipanema Goes...To Eat Pizza?

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.

Forty-seven years ago, Antonio Carlos Jobim wrote the famed bossa nova song "Girl from Ipanema" about the tall and tan and young and lovely Heloisa Pinheiro at the restaurant Garota de Ipanema (which means Girl from Ipanema in Portuguese). Watch the video here.

It's a way touristy place to go complete with cheesy details like blown up lyric sheets hanging from the walls and the sale of t-shirts with the lyrics scribbled across.

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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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Where to Samba in Rio de Janeiro

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.

In Rio you can samba anywhere. (The clubs, the beach, your mom's house.) Here are a few places we shook it Carioca style. (Save the classy fist-pumping Jersey Shore-style samba for stateside Mardi Gras celebrations.)

Off-season (as in not during the February month of Carnival)is a much tamer and less expensive way to to channel your inner Carmen Miranda. While it might take two nights of sweaty samba dancing for non-Cariocas to catch onto the double time quick steps, once you nail it you'll be shaking your moneymaker as if Jesus Christ the Redeemer himself was en route from Corcovado Mountain for the second coming. (Our first observation of the samba was that it looked like someone desperately needing to use the bathroom.)

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It's Not Too Soon To Plan For The 2016 Summer Olympics, Is It?

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.

Based on how utterly psyched Brazilians, tourists in Brazil, and everyone on Twitter responded to the news that Rio would be hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics, it might be wise to get samba steppin' now to book that hotel stay and flight.

And good news to Southerners! As of Dec. 15, US Airways brought it with the Brazil-bound convenience and began direct service to Rio from its hub in Charlotte, North Carolina. So now you have a flight option, but what about a hotel? Never fear, we've pulled together some options below.

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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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Tweet Of The Week: Direct From Brazil's Iguazu Falls

We love Tuesdays. Why, you ask? Because the day brings many travel tips and quips as "Travel Tuesday" on Twitter, and we're going to share our favorite with you. Got an avid travel twitterer we should follow? Let us know.

The announcement of Rio's win of the 2016 Olympics may already be weeks behind us, but the good feelings continue as the tourism focus turns decidedly southern. For this reason, we specifically loved @sambayogi's unique addition to #traveltuesday—a live-tweeted picture of her visit to Brazil's Iguazu Falls:

Iguazu Falls, Brazil took my breath away- worth 14-hr bus ride from Floripa!

For the 14-hour bus ride alone, she deserves "Travel Tweet of the Day," and for those who haven't yet had the fortune to spend some time on Brazilian beaches, "Floripa" is short for the city of Florianopolis. Because of Floripa's exotic oceanside scenery and nightlife, the next few years should see some Olympics-prep refurbishment right along with Rio, so add it to your list.

Related Stories:
· @sambayogi [Twitter]
· Twitter coverage [Jaunted]

Very Awesome Stuff / Azul / All-You-Can-Jet Pass / David Neeleman / Jetblue / Airline News / Brazil Travel / South American Travel / → All Tags

Azul Announces $285 All-You-Can-Jet Pass For Brazil

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is the final day that Jetblue's All-You-Can-Jet Pass is valid. While the AYCJers return to solid ground after tomorrow, they now have a new option for extending the fun, if they're willing to very adventurous. David Neeleman, who originally formed Jetblue and now has his own LCC based in Brazil, is inspired by the AYCJ Jetblue model, and has announced the Passaporte Azul from Azul.

Do you know how genius the All-You-Can-Jet Pass was? Well, the Passaporte Azul is possibly even more genius: for 499 BRL ($285), you can fly Azul's route map just as freely as you did Jetblue's, only this time you'll be hopping through a country wholly excited by Rio's Olympic win and full of cheap and vibrant places to discover.

More details, after the jump.

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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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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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Jam It or Slam It: My New Brazilian Cargo Truck Tarp Hat

So I got this new hat, and I think it's pretty neat. It's a Tarp Hat from a company called The Real Deal and it's made from the recycled tarpaulins of Brazilian cargo trucks that have traveled from the Amazon to Sao Paolo and back again. It's sturdy and has a nice wide brim, which is why I like it, as I'll take as much sun protection as I can get.

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