ALFAIA RESTAURANT, RIO

AMAZING GRILLED OCTOPUS

GREAT HALF BOTTLES OF RED

Alfaia is a great little hole in the wall place. 

I felt out of place arriving solo, with lousy Portuguese language abilities.

But I'd seen great reviews, this was footsteps from my hotel and I did not want a tourist trap dining experience.

The owner-host was warm. 

The waiters amazing.

The Octopus came with grilled onions, tomatoes, potatoes, olives -- yum. 

The selection of half bottles of Portuguese reds was amazing.

Total cost, with nice tip, about 30 bucks. 

Would have gladly paid double that for such fresh seafood prepared so expertly

http://www.restaurantealfaia.com.br/wp/

THE HIPPIE FAIR

EVERY SUNDAY IN IPANEMA

A group of hippies started a Sunday market in Ipanema in 1968 and the traditional fair continues with over 700 stalls set up at the Feira Hippie de Ipanema.

Occurring on Sundays only, it is a great place to find authentic Brazilian folk and contemporary art, jewelry, clothing and lots of food.

Plenty of tourists flock to the fair that is extremely popular today - don't miss out!

If you are looking for souvenirs then the fair is the best place to find a good bargain.

Ceramic figurines, embroidery, lace, gemstones – are just afew examples of the great folk arts and crafts you will find at the Ipanema Hippie Fair.

Come rain or sun shine, the fair must go on every Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

The Hippie Fair is held every Sunday at Praça General Osório, a square that takes up an entire city block that is bordered by Rua Prudente de Morais and Rua Visconde de Pirajá.

--Courtesy of Viator

THE MOST LOYAL DOG IN THE WORLD

 

A BEAUTIFUL AND PROTECTIVE POOCH WRAPS HIS LEGS AROUND HIS SLEEPING MASTER IN A LOVING HUG

We thought long and hard about taking this image.

It was pouring rain that day in Rio de Janeiro.

We were under an overhang of a bank building, trying to decide what to do to keep from getting soaked.

We looked down and there was this great animal, protecting his owner.

The man obviously lives and sleeps on the streets.

His belongings are next to him in a makeshift cart.

With a bed of thin cardboard, he sleeps off the troubles of the world.

All of this was taking place on one of the most elegant shopping streets of the upscale Ipanema district.

We didn't want to invade the man's privacy, but we felt there was a story too true to not tell.

On the tragic side, no matter how much Brazil increased its middle class and scrubbed its image to host the World Cup and soon, the Olympics, poverty is all around -- and not just in the favelas.

On the transcendent side, these two images capture the wondrous bond between our canine friends and their guardians.