"Carioca". More than just a simple name for someone born in Rio de Janeiro, it is a state of mind. To be Carioca is to have a light spirit, to be naturally happy, receptive, friendly and well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but formal and informal ranking puts the Carioca in a privileged position on a world scale. If you have these characteristics, you can become a Carioca, even if you were born in São Paulo, Bahia, United States, Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom etc...

The city was colonized by the Portuguese in an area originally occupied by Indians. Later the African blacks, the French, Italian immigrants, Jews, Japanese etc came, and out of the generosity of this land and the mixture of the races arose a contented and happy-go-lucky people. A people who are so passionate about their love of things like soccer and samba, that a mere discussion looks like a fight, probably over a round of ice cold beer.



A people that in spite of the attractions of nature, culture, gastronomy, music and leisure, work hard at business and commerce and look after their city. Don’t be fooled by all those hundreds of bodies stretched out on the beach during the week. They are on vacation, and for each one of them, there are scores doing a hard day’s work.
When you come to Rio for the first time, you may encounter people who only speak Portuguese, but you will soon appreciate how the Carioca tries to help you, and tries to understand you, even if only in sign language. You may even get asked to join them for a beer, and then you really have the keys to the city.








Those leaving after a stay in the city, apart from memories of the music, the flavors and the colors, take also something that has no translation - Saudade - (pronounced sau-dá-dji). It is the feeling of nostalgia, of missing something that you had while in Rio, and the certainty that the feeling will only go away when you come back. It is not for nothing that the greatest symbol of the city is waiting for you with open arms. Always.