from friday night to monday morning the city of rio transforms into a place of great liberty, relaxation and enjoyment - cariocas love to live in the present, unconstrained by the shackles of strict schedules, obligations, and fixity, and the weekend is a time to truly embrace the present - a form of collective amnesia of weekly responsibilities and strife.

it is a privilege to have a city with a wonderful and diverse collection of public spaces in which to relax, contemplate, and play - there are the famous and stylish beaches, hidden gems of wide golden beaches, a great array of mountains to climb, public parks for picnics, recreation and exercise, and of course the great atlantic forests to explore.

the people of rio are very active and mobile in their weekend recreations, playing sports on the beaches and in parks, running along the coast, surfing, stand-up paddling, skate-boarding, and climbing and hiking through forests are popular pastimes.