for nearly half a millennia people have flocked to rio by the sea - people from all ethnic backgrounds, from across the entire globe, brought with them their native culture - the food and music, dances and folk remedies - as well as a spirit of openness, of share-and-share-alike, taking the best from everyone and shaking it up, combining flavors and rhythms in new, original ways.

rio has always been a study in contrast - a city of beaches and mountains, home to kings and slaves, ever looking towards europe and totally inscrutable to outsiders, rio revels in it all.