Daily Life in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Hidden Pousadas Brazil Launches a New Web Site

I have spent countless hours researching "where to stay" in Brazil. There isn't much written. It's not always reliable. Usually I am a big TripAdvisor user but it's not used enough in Brazil to be as useful a resource as it is in other countries. (Not to mention that it seems hackers skew it at times. Here's an example: while Togu is a cute little spot, my apologies to the lovely people at Togu but it is DEFINITELY not the #1 best restaurant in Rio, yet on Tripadvisor it has apparently somehow achieved that status).

Since finding a place to stay can be incredibly frustrating and a wild goose chase  Hidden Pousadas Brazil has been a fantastic resource for me. I've stayed in a few of the properties featured on the site such as Pic It consists of reviews you can trust, of amazing little spots around Brazil.

My only complaint? It is a boutique web site, meaning it only concentrated on a few special properties which are highly recommended. However, web site founder Alison McGowan has now launched a sister site, Pousada Hotel Brazil, featuring information and reviews of a much wider scope of all sorts of pousadas around Brazil. Check it out!

DRL's new look

When I started this blog about two and a half years ago I quickly found a photo of my neighbourhood, applied a zany little font with "Daily Rio Life"  making it into a banner at the top. A graphic designer I'm clearly not.

A blog is kind of like a baby, and much like my own appearance since having a baby, I've been so focused on keeping the blogging ball in the air so to speak, meaning freshposts on the blogroll, that I haven't given its appearance much TLC since. Until now. My blog has a new look! Finally!

I think I should get a makeover next. Seriously. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I have yet to have a good hair day in Rio!

What do you think of the new look? Here is a shot of the old one in case you already forget.

I'm not Alone!!!

When Mr. DRL were getting organized to move to Brazil, I scoured the internet in search of message boards, blogs, sites, anything to prepare me for the big move. There wasn't much. I couldn't really even find a decent book on the subject. I relied on Gringoes.com and read every single entry of Rachel's Adventures of a Gringa in Rio and found it helpful. Because Rachel's experience was different than mine has been in many ways, it inspired me to write my own. Rachel left Rio some time ago, but continues to write about Brazil from afar.

Every experience in Rio is slightly different though there is always something that we can all relate to. There is also so much to learn and take in within this city - each perspective offers something fantastic in my opinion. There are a couple of new blogs on the block that I am really enjoying! Check them out, show some love, tell them DRL sent you:

• Becoming Brazilian
• Rachel's Rantings in Rio (another Rachel).

Pacing the Panic Room

While I was pregnant, I stumbled across this blog, Pacing the Panic Room, which seems to have started out as a beautiful art project dedicated to capturing the blogger's wife's pregnancy. Each week he took beautiful photos (he is a photographer) of his wife and wrote up a little piece about the week. Sigh... so nice! They welcomed a beautiful baby girl recently, who is now frequently showcased on the blog.

I read the blog regularly and had always meant to comment but, well, have been a bit busy lately. Yesterday however I HAD to. See, now there is a Brazil connection - the blogger and his family are featured in this month's issue of Crescer magazine here in Brazil:

Around the web - travel in Brazil

Since becoming Canadoca's mom I have neglected reading a lot of the blogs I normally enjoy. Which means I haven't been passing some of the interesting stuff I find on to you. So here are a few (and some are not so new but that's why!) interesting articles and tips on travelling around Brazil.

Great posts from "Brazil for Insiders" - including:

• Pre Catalan in Rio - Sofitel - which I also recently visited and quite enjoyed. 
• A Tiradentes weekend - great looking pousadas.
• A review of Conde Nast's top beaches in Brazil - and why it might be off-base. Here is a more complete list on the same site. 
• This post is a must for anyone heading to Salvador, Bahia, as is this one from The Moment blog.

From the "Gringo Times"

• Hiking in Rio - fantastic way to see some of Rio's sights in an active manner!
• Some coverage of Trinidade - a little beach community near Paraty that we visited with my inlaws back in November. 
• Or, for a weekend in Rio, check out Markets in Rio in case you are sticking around here... or head to Santa Teresa for the weekend (something I am actually tempted to do on a regular basis since there are so many amazing hotels and dinner spots there!)

From Ben in Rio:

• I don't know where this is but that waterfall waterslide looks like so much fun! 

From Expat American Living in Brazil:

• Pantanal via Train

Finally, with all these great destinations we need some cheap flights! Apparently Brazil's airline industry is going through some deregulation.

Blogs that are New to Me...

Some blogs I've discovered lately...

Rat Race No More - the adventures of a fellow who left his life behind in London, escaping "the City job and off the hamster wheel of life" - where else? In Rio!

Vello Vikerkaar - here's someone who has us all figured out.  Check out his post "A Pocket Guide to Expats" and let me know which category you fit into.

By the way, Mr. DRL? Fits perfectly into #2 - Regional Corporate Babysitter - thus the nice hours he works.  Lucky me...

Eating in Rio - The written-in-English food and restaurant review blog of a Carioca!