Different strokes: comparing vacations.

Brazil has more cultures, cuisines, and climates than most continents, and its two main cities--250 miles apart--epitomize these differences,

different strokes

comparing vacations

               rio de janeiro                sao paulo

basic          The romantic, beachy,         Brazil's (and South
differences    tropical, sexy, wild          America's) largest city
               "capital" of the country.     estimated at 17 million,
               The best skyscrapers          inland from the ocean.
               are the surrounding           Often called the New York
               mountains.                    City of Brazil.

climate        Heats up fast in October;     October-December tem-
               by December tempera-          peratures 70-90
               tures can reach 100           degrees.
               degrees plus.

gay life       Go ahead, try to find         Someones for everyone.
               someone unattractive on       Business-attired execs
               a Copacabana beach.           are particularly alluring.
               Carnival (February 21-24)     Carnival (February
               and Samba Parade              21-24); Pholianafaria pre-
               (February 22-23) are full     Carnival parties. Gay life
               of men and women eager        is best on weeknights,
               to meet. Watch the sexy       since so many residents
               hang-gliders leap above       leave on Friday afternoon
               Sao Conrado Beach and         for the country side.
               land at your feet.

sites to see   The Tijuca Forest (one of     Ibirapuera Park, designed
               the world's largest urban     by Oscar Niemeyer and
               forests), the 100-foot-tall   Roberto Burle Marx; the
               Christ statue stop Mount      Museum of Art; Ipiranga
               Corcovado, the cable car      Monument; the upscale
               ride to the peak of Mount     Jardins shopping area;
               Sugar Loaf, Copacabana        Paulista Avenue and its
               and Ipanema beaches.          elegant and cruisy
                                             Trianon Park.

what to        The summer sun, with no       Centro (downtown) neigh-
avoid          sunblock, after 10 a.m.;      borhoods at night; public
               the west side of the city,    transit at night.
               the most dangerous (stay
               on the south side).