According to many Brazilians,

Rio de Janeiro was made by God himself

. Indeed, its setting is incredibly pretty. Facing a beautiful bay, massive lumps of granite which are covered in lush forest are sticking out of the landscape and it is dotted with lovely beaches: the former capital of Brasil is a true Marvellous City!

When thinking of Rio de Janeiro,

Copacabana and Ipanema beaches

come immediately to mind and inflict an instant holiday mood. The most famous pictures of Brazil and perhaps South America are the one of the Christ the Redeemer statue and the one taken of the bay panorama with the

Sugar Loaf rock

as centrepiece.

Nevertheless, the picture of Rio de Janeiro is definitely not complete without the Cariocas, the proud Rio dwellers. Socializing and flirting is their second nature and with the sultry Samba rhythms and sensual Bossa Nova tunes never far away, the city gets a mellow and pleasantly chilled out vibe. Having fun and

enjoying life

, that is what it is all about for the beautiful people of Rio de Janeiro.

A unique beach culture (which is much more than just sitting in the sand getting a suntan), a vibrant nightlife and a great music scene are some components of this expressive joie de vivre. Everything is culminating however in an explosion of colours, music, dance and partying during

Carnaval

, The Greatest Show on Earth. Rio de Janeiro is an ode to Life.