|
Trouble - a warning
|
|
|
Although it sometimes seems that one half of Rio is constantly being robbed by the other, don't let paranoia ruin your stay. It's true that there is a lot of petty theft in Rio: pockets are picked and bags and cameras swiped. But use a little common sense and you'll encounter few problems, certainly since none of the real, drug-industry-related violence will touch you. That said, there are certain areas that should be avoided.
In
Centro
, contrary to popular belief, Sunday is not the best time to stroll around - the streets are empty, which means you can be more easily identified, stalked and robbed. And with nobody about, there is little hope of immediate assistance. The area around
PraA§a MauA?
, just to the north of Centro, should be avoided after nightfall. Along the Avenida AtlA?ntica in
Copacabana
, the areas in front of the
Help Discoteque
and the
Rio Othon Palace Hotel
are also likely places to encounter trouble. Copacabana's record, though, has been much improved since the authorities started to floodlight the beach at night. Around the
PraA§a do Lido
in Leme, a red-light district, gringos are fair game; nor is it advisable to wander unaccompanied around the darker corners of the
Parque do Flamengo
after nightfall. Finally, tourists who choose to walk between
Cosme Velho
and the
Corcovado
are increasingly being subjected to robbery and assault - something that can be best avoided by taking the train, which is more comfortable anyway. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
|
Brazil,
|