on asking a street cleaner whether their work is unpleasant, they are likely to smile and say they get to enjoy the rio sun - a carioca who spends four hours travelling to work each morning will smile and say she gets to think and listen to nice music.

in large part this derives from a philosophy of not imposing one's problems on another, a deep-rooted understanding, unspoken amongst the people of the city - one of the most important, effective, and generous ways to help a friend or passerby is to extend to them the warmth and embrace of a smile.

relaxed positivity is the name of the game in rio culture, and the carioca smile embodies this attitude, reflecting an identity that the people have crafted for themselves.