Christmas Shopping and Decorating in Rio

December 6, 2011 | Filed underEntertainment | Posted by Fiona Hurrell

By Fiona Hurrell, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO – Christmas in a different part of the world can often seem like a daunting prospect. Not only is the climate a far cry from the usual December weather, where snow and frost symbolize the coming of the winter vacation, but for newcomers, it can seem like a obstacle course when faced with the challenge of finding festive decorations and gifts for friends and loved ones.

Seasonal decorations will transform the home and welcome the spirit of Christmas, photo by Ian Wilson/Flickr Creative Commons License.

Nevertheless, Christmas spent in the Cidade Maravilhosa need not be stressful or alien so long as one knows where to find the right ingredients for this traditional festive holiday.

One of the best ways to get in to the festive spirit is to buy a Christmas tree, (or Avore de Natal). Many shops stock an abundance of artificial trees that come in all shapes, sizes and even colors.

Arguably, the most convenient and most affordable selections can be found in any Loja Americanas store, a number of which are located throughout Zona Sul (South Zone) and beyond.

One can even purchase a tree with decorations already attached, or, for those who would prefer to design their own, Loja Americanas also stocks an assortment of loose decorations and fairy lights for both the tree and home.

Another option, for the more adventurous, is to try Saara market (Sociedade de Amigos das Adjacências da Rua da Alfândega) in Centro, open daily from 9AM – 2PM. Spanning eleven blocks, Sarra has hundreds of stores stocking a huge assortment of Christmas gifts and home decorations at very affordable prices.

Hollie Pate, member of the American School (EARJ) PTA and long time resident of Rio, agrees: “The best place to buy a tree is Saara [market]. There are tons of stores with ornaments, bows, lights etc., Cacula, is one of the best there.”

Those who have their heart set on a real Christmas tree will be hard pressed to find a winter pine although there are a hearty supply of Fir trees available in a variety of shades and sizes from local plant and garden shops. The good thing about fir trees is that they can be kept all year round and cost approximately R$70 for a small or medium sized one.

Florist assistant Wagner Resende of Kado Caminho das flores, located in both Ipanema and Copacabana, states “We have a lot of expats and locals coming in who want an authentic tree this year. It is important that they look after it with a little sunlight and some water.”

One of the best things about Christmas is the food, so be sure to stock up on lots of treats, photo by Konrad Andrews/Flickr Creative Commons License.

For Christmas cards, head to any number of Saraiva or Papel Craft stores which are located across Zona Sul.

Ipanema Papéis has a good selection of hand crafted Christmas cards and Saraiva megastore in Rio Sul shopping center has a particularly large assortment of 2012 diaries and Calendars which make the ideal Christmas gift for friends and loved ones.

For a good variety of gifts and decorations with a truly hand crafted feel, visit the Ferria de Hippie (Hippie Market) in Praca General Osorio Ipanema every Sunday from 8-6PM.

Finally, don’t be caught out in the Christmas rush and instead, stock up on festive treats early. Supermarket chains Zona Sul and Pão de Açúcar have shelves stacked high full of indulgent goodies such as biscuits, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, panettone and an assortment of liquors.

Also for edible treats, Hollie Pate recommends: “You can find nice imported cookies, marzipan and other treat at Cosa Nostra on Visconde de Pirija in Ipanema.”

  shareshare

IF IT AINT BROKE DON'T FIX IT

Investigation Targets Rio’s Uruguaiana Market

September 20, 2011 | Filed underPolitics | Posted by Zoe Roller

By Zoë Roller, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rua Uruguaiana in Centro is known to Cariocas and savvy tourists as one of Rio’s best bargain shopping destinations. The popular market, a labyrinth of tiny stalls selling electronics, clothing, and media, has recently become a target of investigation into militia extortion, counterfeiting and even illegal immigration.

Popular market Uruguaiana, photo by Salvador Scofano/Imprensa RJ.

It was created in 1994 to provide street vendors in Centro with more formal commercial spaces. Vendors at Uruguaiana often come into conflict with the Prefeitura and the police over the legality of their merchandise and legitimacy of their businesses.

On September 16th, the Municipal Guard’s intelligence sector launched an investigation of a militia operating in Uruguaiana. The group allegedly helps unlicensed foreign vendors avoid arrest, guarantees space in the market, and distributes merchandise.

The investigation will gather information on which vendors are foreign, where they sleep, and where they get their products. Results will be released in a month. Secretary of Public Order (Seop) Alex Costa said, “We know there is a militia-type group that protects vendors. But we still don’t know who these people are, or whether they’re working with the police.”

The investigation was also prompted by a confrontation between the Municipal Guard and street vendors in Uruguaiana on September 3rd, in which several people were wounded. Bystanders say the vendors were provoked by the police officers’ overly combative attitude. Colonel Lima Castro, commander of the Guard, says one offending officer was removed from the unit for “losing control of his emotions.”

Costa also proposed a joint operation of the Civil and Federal Police to combat illegal immigration and the selling of counterfeit and contraband goods, although the connection between the offenses is largely circumstantial.

Suspicions were raised when large numbers of foreigners selling similar goods were noticed during a survey of the area for the Shock of Order (Choque de Ordem) program. According to Seop, the majority of foreign vendors in Uruguaiana are Peruvian and Ecuadorian, but it is unclear what percentage of this group are in the country illegally or involved in illegal activities.

Confiscating goods in Uruguaiana, photo by Salvador Scofano/Imprensa RJ.

“There are crimes like contraband goods and piracy, as well as illegal immigration. There could be a larger pattern,” said Costa. “They’re foreigners. How did they get to Rio?”

On the first day of the militia investigation, police arrested nine Ecuadorians for selling counterfeit goods in Uruguaiana. They said that they came to Brazil legally, looking for work, and denied any involvement with a militia.

The group sold shirts for R$10 that they bought for R$8 from another vendor in Uruguaiana. The Ecuadorians were charged with trademark violation and if convicted, they could receive up to two years in prison.

Counterfeit goods are a widespread problem in Rio. In the past few months the Delegation for the Repression of Immaterial Property Crimes (Delegacia de Repressão aos Crimes contra Propriedade Imaterial, or DRCPIM) has arrested Chinese vendors selling medications and jewelry in Vila Isabel, and Ecuadorians selling shirts in Jacarepaguá. Copacabana and Largo do Machado are also hotbeds of piracy.

Valéria Aragão, a delegate of DRCPIM, said “The authorities will not tolerate pirated goods in a space as big as Uruguaiana.” However, attempts to drive out illegal commerce will face serious challenges as long as the informal sector offers attractive employment opportunities. According to Aragão, the pirate goods market employs two million people in Brazil, and is worth twice as much as the drug trade worldwide.

Uruguaiana poses a considerable obstacle to Shock of Order, the zero-tolerance public order program that was installed in Centro two weeks ago. Costa decided to not include the market in the initial area, because informal commerce is so entrenched there, stating that it will not receive a UOP for at least six months.

  shareshare