The Little Known Green Spaces Of Rio De Janeiro - a knol by Blau Stein

The Little Known Green Spaces Of Rio De Janeiro - a knol by Blau Stein

Dehouche Travel, Brazil Honeymoon, Argentina Honeymoon, Honeymoon in Brazil, Honeymoon in Argentina, Honeymoon Destinations, Honeymoon in South America, IndSEO

The perfect spot for a nightcap on your Honeymoon in Brazil

On a summer’s day in Rio when temperatures can reach 40 degrees and feel like 50 due to the humidity, there’s nothing a Carioca likes more at the end of the day (or even in the morning) than a ‘cerveja estupidamente gelada’, that is, a freezing cold beer. Unlike beer in Europe, which is judged on its flavour, beer in Brazil is judged on its temperature; the colder the better. There may be ice floating in it, but a Carioca will still tell you that it is ‘too hot’.

If you find yourself in Rio on a day when the pavement might at any moment melt below your feet, it’s important to know the best place to find a frozen beer and perhaps, some accompanying nibbles – you will of course have the latest info to hand if you booked your holiday or Honeymoon through local experts Dehouche. The choice of establishments is baffling; add to this the rapidity with which these places fall in and out of favour as the fickle Carioca crowd change their allegiances with as much frequency as they do their other halves, and you realise that a guide book just won’t do. Ask luxury travel specialists Dehouche to organise your holiday however and you’ll be provided with an up to date bible of where to battle for a table and where to avoid at your utmost.

As Dehouche are based in Rio themselves they test out these places on a regular basis (demanding research indeed) drinking the bad beer so you don’t have to. Some current favourites include the traditional ‘Bracarense’. Situated in Rio’s most upscale neighbourhood, Leblon, ‘Bracarense’ is referred to as a ‘pé sujo’, which roughly translates as a ‘dirty drinking hole’. In any other neighbourhood, however, it would probably be considered a place worth dressing up for and you’d be a fool to pass up the tasty snacks with which to wash down your ice cold beer. Dehouche recommend the ‘bolinho de aipim com camarão e catupiry’ that’s manioc balls filled with prawn and cream cheese to you and me. Bustling in happy hour, the efficient waiting staff keep the ‘chopp’ (draught beer) flowing and you’ll soon find your thirst and appetite quenched.

If you’re not a beer lover however, fret not, as there are many other ways to cool down and tantalise your taste buds. It’s impossible to overlook the national beverage, cachaça, and its cocktail manifestation, caipirinha, available in an ever increasing range of fruit combinations. The charming ‘Da Graça’ in Horto, the leafy, tranquil neighbourhood hidden behind the botanical gardens, offers an impressive drinks menu including various tempting cocktail combinations from caipisake (a popular variation on caipirinha made with, you guessed it, sake, instead of cachaça) to the refreshing house mixture of vodka, mint liqueur and pineapple. Admire the eclectically decorated kitsch interior before making yourself comfortable amongst the cushions on the softly lit terrace, admiring the view of Christ the Redeemer. Calmly tucked away from the rush of Rio’s traffic, ‘Da Graça’ is a place to settle down for the evening and is a popular haunt for couples.

A relatively new addition to the Dehouche team’s drinking circuit is ‘Prima’ a ‘Bruschetteria’ in Leblon, where this Italian toastlike delicacy comes in an infinite number of guises, all of which are very pleasantly accompanied by a carafe of house wine. Dehouche can’t are keen to return and try the sparkling wine and limoncello cocktail.

Of course, despite their current popularity, Dehouche won’t guarantee that any of these establishments will still be functioning on your holiday to Brazil, so the best course of action is to ask Dehouche to organise things for you and they’ll make sure you receive the most up to date recommendations in Rio and anywhere else you might choose to visit across the South American continent.

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Our Honeymoon was fabulous in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Most people when heading to Brazil combine Rio and the beaches of Bahia, but my new wife and I decided to be more adventurous and get away from the majority of other tourists by heading to the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. This is where the majority of European settlers to Brazil headed a century or two ago, attracted by the beautiful beaches and countryside, as well as the less severe climate.

We used the travel company, Dehouche, who consist of Brits, Americans, Brazilains and Argentineans in their head office in Rio. We asked for the honeymoon to be spent in three different destinations. We started off on the Ilha de Santa Catarina, which is more commonly known as Florianopolis. Here we stayed in an incredible villa above the lagoon in the centre of the island. We had a private chef who cooked everything that we asked for to order, not to mention a very well stocked wine cellar with some wonderful value Uruguayan and Argentine bottles. But the best aspect was the boat that was moored at the pier at the bottom of our garden, which was at our disposal for the duration of our stay. The captain took us out of the lagoon via a channel to the sea and we then cruised around the beautiful surrounding islands.

The next stop was on the mainland, in the laidback beach village of Praia da Pipa. Here we stayed in a charming pousada with wonderful sea views. The watersports on offer were excellent - particularly the surfing and kite surfing. We spent the evenings sampling the many lively bars and restaurants – this was a lovely contrast from the busyness of Floripa!

Our final location was Fernando de Noronha a superb island that has consistently been named as one of the world’s best. The service here was certainly the most attentive that I have ever experienced and the accommodation was flawless, our suite had it’s own lap pool, Jacuzzi and sauna - not to mention stunning sea views. On our final evening the staff took us to a private island and prepared the most incredible romantic dinner for us. This really was the ultimate way to end the perfect honeymoon - well done Dehouche we shall return!

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Niteroi a great day out when on Honeymoon in Rio!

Most visitors to Rio are blissfully unaware that a whole other city lies across the other side of the bay of Guanabara. Most Cariocas (Rio natives) will tell you that the best thing about this city, Niterói, is the view of Rio. But that view is quite something.

Let local experts Dehouche organise your luxury holiday or Honeymoon to Brazil and ask for a personalised city tour. Your local guide will whisk you around the sights of Rio with plenty of time left to discover what lies ‘on the other side of the bay’. To reach Niterói, you can either take a boat from Rio’s business district (as many commuters do) or drive over the 12km bridge that spans the neck of the bay. During rush hour traffic on the bridge can grind to a standstill, but Dehouche’s insider knowledge means you won’t find yourself stuck in one of Rio’s famous jams.

Aside from the view of Rio (which is undeniably spectacular) perhaps the other most striking thing about Niteroi is the imprint the acclaimed Brazilian architect Niemeyer has left on the city. Born and raised in Rio, Niemeyer rose to international fame in the late 1940s and became involved in many international projects, including the design of the UN headquarters in New York. Exiled during the military dictatorship that began in 1964, Niemeyer spent twenty outside his native Brazil, only to return in 1985. It was then eleven years later in 1996, at the age of 89, that he created what many consider his greatest work.

Poised on an outcrop of rock, the spaceship like MAC (Museum of Contemporary Art) enjoys an unrivalled panoramic view of the marvellous city and the bay of Guanabara. Admiring this unique creation from below, the wind whipping the water from the pool beneath across the forecourt, the onlooker is instilled with a sense of other worldliness and is captivated, awestruck by the scenery beyond.

Niemeyer’s claims that his love of curves, so evident in his work, takes its inspiration from those found in nature, from the mountains of his native city to the famed Brazilian female form found on its beaches. With his very muse as his backdrop, he seems to have created a masterpiece.

For some, entering the museum is not necessary, as enough pleasure can be taken from simply standing outside. Nevertheless, the museum does have a viewing gallery, offering several new perspectives on which to ponder the landscape. The museum pieces themselves however, are too often overlooked, upstaged by the museum building itself and its spectacular setting.

At the end of a visit to Niteroi one should really head back to Rio on a speedboat bound for the small neighbourhood of Urca below the famous Sugar Loaf mountain. It’s like a little fishing village and locals sit along the harbour wall and are served some of Rios freshest seafood snack and glasses of delicious draught beer – the perfect end to a great day of your Honeymoon.

Let Dehouche organise your holiday to Brazil and make sure you don’t miss a day trip to Niteroi!

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Minas

What do you think of when you think of Brazil? Beaches thronging with beautiful people? Outrageous Carnival costumes? Deserted, unspoilt beaches? The seductive beat of Samba? Beaches backed by lush tropical rainforest? Being blessed with 7000km of coastline, much of which enjoys what most Europeans would consider year round summer weather, it’s perhaps difficult not to think of beaches when you think of Brazil.

What do you think of when you think of Brazil? Beaches thronging with beautiful people? Outrageous Carnival costumes? Deserted, unspoilt beaches? The seductive beat of Samba? Beaches backed by lush tropical rainforest? Being blessed with 7000km of coastline, much of which enjoys what most Europeans or Americans would consider year round warm summer weather it is difficult not to think just of beaches when you think of Brazil.

However, it’s too easy to overlook the many other treasures this vast country has concealed within. Venture slightly inland from the state of Rio de Janeiro and you will discover the lesser known state of ‘Minas Gerais’; deservedly considered the gastronomic capital of Brazil and larger than the entire country of France, yet surprisingly absent from the itinerary of many international visitors.

Minas is the country’s largest producer of cheese and luxury travel experts Dehouche can assure you that once you’ve tried the ‘Pao de Queijo’ (Brazilian cheese bread) to be found in Minas, you’ll no longer be content with that made in any other state of Brazil.

The state of Minas Gerais (or General Mines) began to be populated in the late seventeenth century when colonists flocked here in search of gold. Exploiting the region and the slaves they had brought from Africa, they mined for minerals and beautiful towns were built on the fruits of others labour.

Particularly well preserved examples of the unique ‘Barroco Mineiro’ style that developed during this period are the towns of Ouro Preto, Diamantina, Sabara, Tiradentes and São João del Rei, nestled amongst the Mineiro mountains. It may sound remote, but if you’re looking to genuinely escape on your honeymoon or well earned holiday, locally based Dehouche can easily arrange flights and transfers here from other destinations in Brazil.

Let your private driver navigate the winding roads and descend peacefully upon an oasis of tradition and unspoilt splendour. Take your time enjoying the culinary delights this region is famed for, explore the abundance of richly decorated churches and marvel at the oeuvre of renowned Aleijadinho.

Wandering up and down the steep, cobbled streets of these picturesque towns it’s difficult to imagine the suffering and sacrifice that went into their construction. However, for those who are interested, there are many museums dedicated to telling the stories of centuries gone by.

One particular gem of the region must be ‘Ouro Preto’, which at the height of mining exploration was the capital of the state itself and is today still an important university town with many ‘republicas’ or university halls of residence scattered about. Needless to say, the town enjoys quite a vibrant nightlife as a result. Today, Minas is perhaps better known for its festivities and carnival celebrations, which focus around traditional street parties, quite unlike the carefully choreographed samba shows of Rio. Minas may lack the glamour of Rio and the pace of life may seem trapped in time compared to that of São Paulo, but it’s more than testament to the fact that there is not one Brazil, but many.

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Honeymoon in the Pantanal Brazil's other great wilderness

Most people assume that the best place in Brazil to observe animals is the Amazon; they are sadly mistaken in this assessment - that honour belongs to the 140,000 square kilometre (54,000 square mile) Pantanal, which straddles the borders of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, but the majority of which lies in Brazil. The Pantanal is a tropical wetland and the world’s largest inland swamp; it is therefore a vital natural habitat that is home to an extraordinarily diverse range of flora and fauna. The huge inundation of water during the rainy season, and subsequent drainage during the dry season, allows a vast array of plants to thrive in the Pantanal, ranging from Amazonian rainforest plants to plants normally found on arid Bolivian savannahs; the ecosystem supports 3500 known plant species. It is also home to 1000 bird species, 400 different types of fish (including golden dourado, peacock bass and of course piranhas), 480 species of reptiles including caimans and 300 kinds of mammals like the giant river otters, howler monkey, crab eating fox and the illusive jaguar.

Another advantage that the Pantanal has over the Amazon is that it offers much higher standards of accommodation. There are plenty of Fazendas scattered throughout the region and some of these have been turned into very comfortable lodges. Rio based English travel company, Dehouche, book their clients into an utterly charming lodge deep in the Pantanal, which was only reachable by light aircraft from the city of Campo Grande. The flight itself was a great adventure and provided incredible views over this seemingly endless landscape. Upon arriving at the lodge we were greeted by the very hospitable owners, given a refreshing caipirinha and shown to our lovely bedroom. All food and drinks were included during our stay, as were all of the activities on offer - such as horse riding, canoeing, hiking and even astronomy, the clear night skies providing the most impressive views of the milky way that I have ever been fortunate enough to witness. When combined with Rio, the Iguacu Falls and the beaches of the Costa Verde, such as the itinerary that Dehouche put together for us, the Pantanal makes for a phenomenal honeymoon destination.

Florianopolis is a city that straddles the mainland of southern Brazil and the island Ilha de Santa Catarina, a 45 km long island. It is this island people are generally referring to when they mention Florianopolis. Whether you are after rustic fishing villages and deserted beaches, international cuisine, world class watersports or buzzing nightclubs - or indeed all of the above! - then this is the ideal destination for your honeymoon or luxury vacation.

Upon arriving at the international airport it is essential to hire a car if you intend to discover several parts of this diverse island. I would recommend heading south to begin with, away from the majority of holiday makers. Even in high season, which effectively runs from New Year's Eve to Carnival, there will be very few other people on the delightfully secluded beaches. However, the real highlight here is the fresh seafood, and in particular the mouth watering oysters that are delivered straight from the ocean to your table. The only drawback of this part of the island is that it has no top quality accommodation, so after spending a day exploring the coves and fishing villages it is best to head up to the centre of the island.

There are lots of good hotels around the Lagoa de Conceicao. This is also where the best restaurants are located and it is therefore the ideal spot to stay for a couple of nights. Dehouche, the Rio based British run luxury tour operator compiles tailor made honeymoon itinerary, have access to a few very exclusive villas here that lead down onto the Lagoa. They can even organise for a boat to be moored at the pier for the duration one stays in the luxury villa. If windsurfing is your thing, then few places rival the opportunities provided by the Lagoa and it’s especially good for beginners, and the sea off Praia Mole should prove challenging for the experts.

Praia Mole is a beach on the East side of the island that always has good surf and is a favourite local hangout. There are several excellent bars along the beach and you can happily spend a couple of days relaxing in this mid section of the island.

For the final leg of the honeymoon, Dehouche recommended another 5 star villa by a beach to the North called Jurere Internacional, a town on the north west corner of the island. This is where the famed beach clubs of Florianopolis are located and afternoons are spent eating fresh seafood and sipping exotic cocktails while listening to world class DJs. Watching the sun go down in one of these incredible beach clubs is the ideal way to conclude a Brazilian honeymoon on the beautiful Ilha de Santa Catarina.

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Florianopolis is 'honeymoon island' in Brazil

Florianopolis is a city that straddles the mainland of southern Brazil and the island Ilha de Santa Catarina, a 45 km long island. It is this island people are generally referring to when they mention Florianopolis. Whether you are after rustic fishing villages and deserted beaches, international cuisine, world class watersports or buzzing nightclubs - or indeed all of the above! - then this is the ideal destination for your honeymoon or luxury vacation.

Upon arriving at the international airport it is essential to hire a car if you intend to discover several parts of this diverse island. I would recommend heading south to begin with, away from the majority of holiday makers. Even in high season, which effectively runs from New Year's Eve to Carnival, there will be very few other people on the delightfully secluded beaches. However, the real highlight here is the fresh seafood, and in particular the mouth watering oysters that are delivered straight from the ocean to your table. The only drawback of this part of the island is that it has no top quality accommodation, so after spending a day exploring the coves and fishing villages it is best to head up to the centre of the island.

There are lots of good hotels around the Lagoa de Conceicao. This is also where the best restaurants are located and it is therefore the ideal spot to stay for a couple of nights. Dehouche, the Rio based British run luxury tour operator compiles tailor made honeymoon itinerary, have access to a few very exclusive villas here that lead down onto the Lagoa. They can even organise for a boat to be moored at the pier for the duration one stays in the luxury villa. If windsurfing is your thing, then few places rival the opportunities provided by the Lagoa and it’s especially good for beginners, and the sea off Praia Mole should prove challenging for the experts. Praia Mole is a beach on the East side of the island that always has good surf and is a favourite local hangout. There are several excellent bars along the beach and you can happily spend a couple of days relaxing in this mid section of the island.

For the final leg of the honeymoon, Dehouche recommended another 5 star villa by a beach to the North called Jurere Internacional, a town on the north west corner of the island. This is where the famed beach clubs of Florianopolis are located and afternoons are spent eating fresh seafood and sipping exotic cocktails while listening to world class DJs. Watching the sun go down in one of these incredible beach clubs is the ideal way to conclude a Brazilian honeymoon on the beautiful Ilha de Santa Catarina.

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