Winging It: Rio de Janeiro
The biggest and best carnival on earth returns for another year at the end of the month – expect samba schools, floats and industrial quantities of face paint to descend on the greatest city on earth for a massive five-day party.
The biggest and best carnival on earth returns for another year at the end of the month – expect samba schools, floats and industrial quantities of face paint to descend on the greatest city on earth for a massive five-day party. Most events are free, so catch a procession, channel some party spirit and get involved with the millions of other revellers from around the world.
There's nothing understated about the Copacabana Palace. The grandaddy of Rio beachfront hotels – boasting seven penthouse suites on the sixth floor – overlooks the crashy Atlantic Sea. You'll be in good company (Marlene Dietrich and Orson Welles are among the hotel's venerated past guests), so spend your days relaxing next to the turquoise pool – if you're too lazy to make it to Rio's famous beach.
The caipirinha has reached legendary status inside and outside of Brazil, and for good reason. Packed with industrial quantities of lime, sugar, ice and cachaça (a Brazilian sugarcane spirit), the signature cocktails are found on every street corner being sold from mobile bars, through windows and even out of bins. The spiritual home of the caipirinha is in the Rio district of Lapa, underneath the famous aquaduct. Come down on a Friday night, grab a glass of Brazil's favourite drink and dance to the city's beat.
