Dispatch, Rio: Fast-paced and hair-raising

Mosquito-borne viruses, collapsed bike paths and suspended presidents be damned, Rio de Janeiro, for the uninitiated, is a fascinating place that combines the populist spirit of Barcelona's La Rambla with a geographic drama that San Francisco would envy.
And that's not lost on the locals or a group of visitors on a whirlwind tour sponsored by Brazilian airline Avianca and hosted by the Sheraton Grand Rio.
A gondola trip to the top of Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf) is as hair-raising (AT LEAST, FOR SOME) as it is stunning, providing an unobscured view of the sprawling city, its bays and its surrounding rainforest.

And the views are even better from the base of Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer), which sits 2,330 feet above the Atlantic and attracts a fervent, if not raucous following of people willing to take the rickety but steady train ride up through Tijuca National Park and its lush greenery.
Culturally, visitors can look forward by checking out the Museu do Aranha (Museum of Tomorrow), which opened in December 2015 and may be just as notable for its stunning, modern architecture as it is for its exhibits and ambitious messages of human achievement and environmentalism.
And they can follow that up by taking a look back via Rio Scenarium, which is located on a pedestrian's street in the Lapa district of central Rio, and features live jazz and hundreds of antiques and oddball items on its four floors.
Finally, there are the world-famous beaches, including Copacabana, with its bustle and all of its classic buildings lining the beachfront boulevard; and Ipanema, which has all of the physical activity of Southern California's Muscle Beach but without the posturing.
How much Rio's cultural dynamics and physical beauty can offset the impact of a series of less-than positive events as the city approaches the Aug. 5 opening of the Summer Olympics remain to be seen.
Some public officials and health experts continue to question the wisdom of holding the games in Rio amid the impact of the Zika virus outbreak throughout Brazil.
Then, late last month, a section of a cliffside bike path collapsed after being struck by a wave, killing two people. And on Thursday, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was temporarily suspended of her duties as the Senate prepares a trial and potential impeachment.
Still, RIO OFFICIALS and members of the travel sector remain defiant in their belief that their city can put on a great -- and safe -- show this August, while locals remain resourceful.

Case in point: In Rio de Janeiro's Cosme Velho district just outside the train station ferrying visitors up to what locals call "The Christ," two men chanted while batting between them what looked like a hacky sack ball with a bunch of yellow, green and red feathers attached to it, creating a badminton effect of sorts.
Yes, it was a kitschy move in front of a tourist attraction, but it was good-natured, spirited and uniquely Rio.

Source: Travelweekly