Ipanema
is a neighborhood located on the southern region of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between Leblon and Arpoador. The beach at Ipanema became widely known by the song "The Girl from Ipanema", written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and performed by Jobim, João and Astrud Gilberto, and Stan Getz. The song reached the U.S. top 5 in the summer of 1964.
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History
Most of the land that Ipanema consists of today once belonged to
José Antonio Moreira Filho, Baron of Ipanema. The word "Ipanema" comes from the old
Tupi language, meaning "bad water"; in the sense of bad for
fishing, since the waves die too close to the sand, pushing fish away.
Ipanema gained fame with the start of the
bossa nova sound, when its residents
Antônio Carlos Jobim and
Vinícius de Moraes created their ode to their neighborhood, "
Girl from Ipanema."
Character
Ipanema is adjacent to
Copacabana beach, but it is distinctive from its neighbor. It is also distinctively more expensive. It is relatively easy to navigate because streets are lined in a grid. Private infrastructure has created world-class restaurants, cafes and shopping. Ipanema is one of the most expensive places to live in Rio. At the forefront of beach culture are the many surfers and sun worshippers who socialize daily at the beach. There is also shopping available for those who wish.
Ipanema has played its own role in Rio's culture since its beginning. It has universities, art galleries, theaters and cafes.
Ipanema holds its own street parade during
Carnival festivities, separate from
Rio de Janeiro's.
Banda de Ipanema attracts up to 15,000 people to the streets of Ipanema for Carnival.
Beach
It is famously known for its elegance and social qualities. Two mountains called the "Dois Irmãos" (Two Brothers) rise at the western end of the beach. The beach is divided into segments by marks known as "postos" (lifeguard towers). Beers are sold everywhere on the beach along with the traditional
cachaça. Pronounced "kashasa", it is a sugar cane rum made in Brasil. Also known as a national drink in Brasil there is "The Caipirinha", a mix of Cachaça (or vodka) with crushed lime, sugar and ice. There are always circles of people playing
football,
volleyball, and
footvolley, a combination sport of vollyball and football originated in
Brazil.
In the winter the
surf can reach 10–15 feet. The water quality varies with days of light-blue water to a more murky green after heavy rains. Constant swells keep the water clean. The often treacherous beach break regularly forms barrels.
One interesting thing about Ipanema's beach is that there is an area called "the gay beach," situated near Rua Farme de Amoedo; which is well-known for being a gay-friendly area, with the rainbow flag floating in the air.
Just west of this colorful section and towards
Leblon is another popular stretch of sand known as Posto Nove (aptly named after the 9th lifeguard tower) where young and often beautiful
carioca men and women hipsters congregate.
Safety
Ipanema is generally regarded as one of the safest districts in
Zona Sul. It is a mostly middle to upper middle class neighborhood being the second most affluent neighborghood in Rio after
Leblon, which has communities of large residential homes. As such, it is usually patrolled by more police than other areas of the city.
View of Ipanema
References