- Rio is named for a river that doesn’t exist. (Janeiro is January, which is when the Portuguese first arrived in that part of Brazil.)
- It was once part of a colony called Antarctic France. (The French apparently got there before the Portuguese.)
- The French once held it for ransom. (There be gold and diamonds in them thar hills!)
- It served as the capital of the Portuguese Empire for almost seven years.
- Its residents might be named for a house, or maybe a fish. (When citizens of Rio go out on the town to sing, you could say “Carioca go ka-ree-oh-kee”.)
- Its giant statue of Jesus is struck by lightning several times a year. (What exactly is God trying to say?)
“Christ the Redeemer” overlooking Rio de Janeiro (© Danny Lehman/Corbis) - For five days a year, the city is run by a mythical jester named King Momo.
- It hosted the world’s biggest soccer game.
- The city put QR codes in its mosaic sidewalks. (So those pictures of the ground are not accidental.)
- Street art is legal there. (Isn’t everything?)
- It has a Carmen Miranda Museum. (Now, that’s cool!)
You must be logged in to post a comment.