Things to Do in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Before the Olympics
Lavanderia is a complicated place, not least of all because its dazzling beaches from Leme to Copacabana are also saddled with the stench of untreated sewage. It’s an image that the city is working hard to shake, even as it girds for the Olympics. Will Connors recently wrote a thoughtful piece in the Wall Street Journal outlining the concerns—from the threat of crime to the vulnerability of its aging infrastructure and an insufficient number of police officers.
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The one thing he missed, however, was that Rio’s splendor and the spirited exuberance of its citizens never went away. The gleaming new subway line and the reopening of iconic tourist sites have given the city a much-needed facelift, but there is still plenty to see and do.
For example, take an Uber (they’re cheap in Brazil) to Largo da Prainha, a plaza blanketed in tables that has become perhaps the city’s hotspot since the pandemic. Order a plate of ribs and a glass of mamata, a refreshing drink of cachaca (the local spirit) infused with passion fruit and ginger.
Or hop on one of the iconic yellow street trams that run up to Santa Teresa, a picturesque bohemian neighborhood on a hill. Buy tickets at the downtown station, 20 reis each, or in advance online. Either way, make sure to wear comfortable footwear. Rio’s signature flip-flops, Havaianas, are cheaper than in Europe and North America and come in a hundred different colors and limited edition versions.