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Ipanema Beach, BrazilIpanema is a
neighborhood with a tradition of freedom and innovation.
Ipanema Beach is where the summer happens in Rio. News
in Ipanema make big headlines in all major newspapers in
the country. A trend-setter, Ipanema Beach was the first
in Brazil to see a pregnant woman proudly wearing a
bikini. It was quintessential Ipanema icon, actress
Leila Diniz.
Rose de Primo, a fashion model with a perfect body,
perfect tan, perfect hair and a lot of attitude, set new
grounds in the 70's with her tangas. They were tiny
bikinis that soon became the object of desire of a whole
nation (legend goes they were custom-made by her own
mother).
Topless became quick fad in the 80's when a local soap
opera showed that some women in Ipanema chose not to
keep a tan line. The scene was played by actress Tonia
Carreiro, who was a muse of Ipanema in the 50's herself.
The fad didn't last long as Brazilians find a tan line a
big plus.
Men all over the country started wearing horrible
crochet g-strings after a famous personality (Fernando
Gabeira) was seen in one at Posto 9. Legend goes it was
a bikini bottom borrowed from his friend, reporter Leda
Nagle. Somehow even Homer Simpson ended up in one of
those in that episode when the Simpsons came to Rio...
Oh, and the dental floss (or wedgy) bikini had its world
debut here, too.
And there's all the funny stories. In the summer of 96,
when our website first went online, Ipanema made
headline news when police started arresting bathers who
blew whistles! They were actually protesting against
what they felt was unfair police persecution against the
potheads that traditionally used to hang out at Posto 9.
There's quite a few characters you may run into. At Rua
Garcia D'Ávila, for instance, there's Pelé - a
successful beach entrepreneur. He started as an ordinary
beach vendor, and today runs a beach volleyball school,
rents beach chairs, umbrellas, the works! And there's
that beach vendor that sells fresh pineapple slices. He
loves to startle people in the sand by yelling on the
top of his lungs "AAAAAbacaxi" (pineapple) when they
least expect. Nobody complains, because he offers free
samples to everyone. More Detail
Ipanema Beach has several favorite spots. We have
even prepared a map of the whole neighborhood to help
with your orientation! Each block of the beach attracts
a different crowd. Posto 9 , Garcia , Country , Teixeira
, Farme Gay, and Cap Ferrat are all reference points
used by locals to identify their turf. Tourists and
first-timers tend to gather in front of Caesar Park
Hotel.
Practice sports like beach volleyball , soccer and surf,
find true romance , have a refreshing drink of coconut
water , or just relax and soak up some rays. And bring
along your sunglasses, so you can watch the good-looking
Cariocas without giving yourself in!!
Ipanema is a public beach, with free access like all
beaches in Brazil. If you're coming from a country where
everything's regulated, expect to be spoiled. To start
off, you don't even have get off your toosh to have your
wish granted. Feeling hungry? Beach vendors offer
ice-cream, cookies (don't miss the traditional Biscoitos
Globo), corn-on-the-cob, melted cheese on a stick,
shrimp on a stick, assorted homemade sandwiches,
fresh-sliced pineapple... Thirsty? Mineral water, iced
tea, diet and regular sodas, frozen fruit juice, chilled
coconut milk, and yes, ice-cold beer, and delicious
fresh-squeezed caipirinhas. You can rent your beach
chairs and umbrellas. Need to accessorize? Hats,
colorful beach throws, sunglasses, jewelry, even bikinis
are for sale.
As there are a lot of misconceptions, here are some
suggestions if you want to mingle. The first is that
people do not walk around the city in their bikinis and
Speedos, let alone in a thong! OK, it's a free world,
you can do whatever you want, but the idea here is to
let you in on how locals do it...
On the way to and back from the beach, Ipanema boys wear
surfers' trunks. In the pocket there's just enough money
for a soda or two, and maybe a bottle of sunscreen (they
could always borrow from the girls, you know). Whenever
they stop it's time to peel off those trunks, and stand
in their Speedos. Brazilian girls and boys love a tan
line, and you have to please the crowds. If you really
want to belong, your Speedos should be as wide as
regular CK briefs, at least 4 inches or so. Buy some at
the local shops, like Blue Man. You may ask a group of
girls to watch your shorts or backpack while you go for
a swim, if you're looking for an ice-breaker.
Now three things you won't do if you're beach-smart. The
first one is taking more sun that you're able to.
Condition your skin by going to a tanning salon, wear a
potent sunscreen, keep track of how long you stay at the
beach, rent a beach umbrella, wear a sun hat. The red
lobster look is not attractive, and it could actually
spoil your vacation. The second is that taking off your
watch to avoid a tan line, and leaving it laying on the
sand together with your money while you doze off is a
very stupid thing to do. The least that could happen is
their accidentally being buried in the sand. The third
is that wearing long sleeves, street clothes and dress
shoes at the beach make you look really funny. Now
you're ready to see all the images! Featured Sponsors
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