Surfacing-Rio

Beachgoers enjoy the endless expanse of Rio de Janeiro's suburban Barra da Tijuca beach. Depending on one’s perspective, Barra da Tijuca (pronounced “Baha” in Portuguese) is either Rio de Janeiro’s hottest new neighborhood—a hamlet blessed with beautiful rock formations, surfer-friendly breezes, and a beach blanketed with maybe the planet’s sexiest bodies. Or it is a Brazilian version of Miami, known as much for its traffic jams as for its tacky shopping malls. Regardless, this booming outpost of large office complexes and pastel-colored high-rise condos ten miles west of Copacabana Beach is emerging as the latest playground of Rio’s trendiest upstarts: Brazilian actors and models, nouveau riche hedge funders, and beach bums priced out of Ipanema. (Kevin Moloney for the New York Times)

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Filename: Barra_da_Tijuca_03.jpg
Copyright: (c) Kevin Moloney, 2009
Image Size: 3578x2323 / 2.1MB; Barra da Tijuca beach sun surf ocean Atlantic neighborhood development Rio de Janeiro suburb apartment highrise tower highway
Contained in galleries: Brazil

Beachgoers enjoy the endless expanse of Rio de Janeiro's suburban Barra da Tijuca beach. Depending on one’s perspective, Barra da Tijuca (pronounced “Baha” in Portuguese) is either Rio de Janeiro’s hottest new neighborhood—a hamlet blessed with beautiful rock formations, surfer-friendly breezes, and a beach blanketed with maybe the planet’s sexiest bodies. Or it is a Brazilian version of Miami, known as much for its traffic jams as for its tacky shopping malls. Regardless, this booming outpost of large office complexes and pastel-colored high-rise condos ten miles west of Copacabana Beach is emerging as the latest playground of Rio’s trendiest upstarts: Brazilian actors and models, nouveau riche hedge funders, and beach bums priced out of Ipanema. (Kevin Moloney for the New York Times)