Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura

There are truly hidden treasures in Rio. This little library is amazingly beautiful. I am sorry that my photos do not do justice to it.

On the 14th of May of 1837, a group of Portuguese merchants got together and decided to create a library, with the idea of maintaining the Portuguese culture alive in Brazil and among its inhabitants.
In 1872, the collection, by then counting with more than 40.000 volumes, was moved to the present building, originally a hotel. In 1900 it became a public library and in 1935, a decree was issued in Portugal, that all publishers should provide the library with a copy of all new books printed.





Rua Luís de Camões nº 30
Centro

Bistro Ouvidor

We found, by chance, a delicious restaurant right in the center of town.

It's prize winning dish is Lasagna Mediterranee. Well worth a try.

It is open Monday thru Friday, 8am to 6pm

52 Rua do Ouvidor
Centro

Nativity Scenes

During the Christmas season, there was a festival of nativity scenes in Rio. It was the second of its kind and a request has been submitted to the Guiness Book of World Records to be included as the biggest, life size display of such scenes in the open air.
The people voted on their favorite. The winner was:












Following are some of the other ones.