RIO DE JANEIRO WALKING IN THE HISTORICAL CENTER

December, the gloom sets in, and as we often feel an overriding need light and sun. A small trip in a region more conducive to remove the spleen, appears increasingly necessary.

It's decided, we target South America, it's spring in Rio, the crowd of the the year end and the carnival have not yet conquered the place, and we can expect a pleasant climate.

At 7 p.m. the Air France Airbus land to Rio Airport, we are still resolutely optimistic and we hope to see the sunset on Copacabana. The entry formalities very quickly resolved, we reserve a taxi to a dedicated counter at the airport to avoid scams, and we reach Marriott Hotel, located in the center of Copacabana.

Unfortunately, the night has already fallen and it was quite impossible to watch the complicated profile of the Guanabara bay , and the rugged landscape of the city forcing us to take many tunnels before reaching the hotel. The reception is perfect, as usual in this hotel and we look forward to be overnight. The breakfast buffet was sumptuous and the service of great class.

Throughout our stay, the servers will offer specialties such as tapioca pancakes or exotic fruit juice quite unknown for us. Everything would be for the better if we had a few concerns about the weather. Copacabana is buried in the fog and clouds, Sugar loaf and buildings timidly emerging from a thick fog.

We try an incursion on the Atlantic Avenue that runs along the beach, but very soon we must turn back, it's raining too much and we have to shelter in the hotel lobby. The concierge is reassuring, however, and we take the party to visit the center of Rio in the afternoon. This option will be very judicious and ultimately we decide to discover the historical places of Rio. After all, begin with this could be the best start. To reach the center of Rio, we will take the subway, exceedingly clean, very controlled and very safe.

At the exit is the bath crowd in the rather narrow streets, and there must still be cautious and maintain video camera and belongings securely. However it is not unusual, we do not feel more insecure than in the Parisian crowd.

From this point of view, the tour guides seem to exaggerate. Rio is a great city and our behavior must be from more common sense than the paranoid. At No. 32 on the street Dias Gonçalves we discover the Rio Colombo Cafeteria built in 1894. The architecture of the "Belle Epoque cariocas", is very decoreted with inside, mirrors and windows.

The ensemble is quite bleak. At the entrance we have, to our left, a counter where you can buy pastries and sweets of all kinds

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On the right is the bar where the wall is covered with countless bottles.

On the back side, a large tea lounge is a traditional meeting point for artists, intellectuals and politicians. There are also many private lounges . The products and services are very expensive but it is a must to be there and to be seen for people. Continuing our stroll in the city, we disciver the November 15th square and the imperial palace built in the 18th century, it was the home of the governors then of King John VI of Portugal during his exile at the Napoleonic period, before becoming one of the emperors Pedro I and II. Today it is a cultural center.

Very near the palace Tiradentes with its imposing statutes adorning the entrance. It houses the parliament of the state of Rio de Janeiro.

On the square of the contrast between the modern architecture of the Rio stock exchange buildings offers surprising perspectives.

We take small streets to discover the "arcos dos teles" literally the arches of the phone. It must be said that Rio was under the leadership of the emperor, at the forefront of modernism in setting the phone network in the city.

We reach now the house where Carmen Miranda lived in his youth, the well known Brazilian artist made famous during the years 1930 to 1950 by Hollywood movies and songs embodying the Brazilian rhythms.

The journey in the historic center of Rio, then leads us in the banking district, the place Pius X, at the Church of Our Lady of Candelaria. This is one of the most beautiful churches in Rio built in the 18th century with a majestic dome and marble decorations.

We end our visit to the historic Rio, another holy place, the Monastery of St. Benoit perched on the heights.

Founded in 1590 by two monks from Bahia, the monastery dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat is famous for its Gregorian songs. The interior of the church is very dark, the walls are covered with wood creating an atmosphere almost oppressive.

It also houses a school of theology and other social activities. After these 4 hours of immersion in the history of the city, we reach Copacabana and an atmosphere far different from that monasteries, palaces and churches. The sun is now back and we can discover the Avenue de l'Atlantique and relax with a Caipirihna drink.

To follow ....