RIO

White sand beaches and tropical forests. And then there's the long and seductive Carioca summer. One needs to live there to be able to describe it. There are the traditional Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. But there are other places frequented almost solely by native Cariocas. Like Itaipu, for example, which is reached by boat from Rio or via the Rio-Niteroi Bridge. Besides the sun and sea, one will find innumerable bars where, mostly on weekends, improptu samba groups form,and where a wide variety of snacks can be sampled along with the coldest beer in the region. In our excursions to Santa Tereza, which is of a Carioca IMontmarte, we find, in addiction to its higher location, many sculptors and painters who have located their studios there. And once in Santa Tereza, what could be more natural that to descend to the Arcos da Lapa, one of the most characteristic monuments of old Rio. Rio