Lagoa De Freitas, as it is usually called, is a really cool place in Rio just to hang-out and chill. It is the Carioca equivalent to Central Park in New York.
Getting there can not be easier - just follow any of the main roads from Copacanaba, Leblon or Ipanema. There are plenty of car parks around, which usually cost a flat-rate of R$2, and you can keep the ticket for the whole day, which means you can usually park somewhere else around the lake later, or even in any other on-street parking point in the vicinity.
During the day you usually find people jogging, running, walking or cycling around the Lagoa, as it is a pleasant location for doing this if you do not want to bump into the tourists and sunbathers at the beach.
Not all of the track around the lake is paved or suitable for everyone - however the more northern edges are better.
Dotted along the Lagoa you will find many food vendors selling hotdogs, popcorn, coconuts, sweetcorn, sweets, candy-floss, drinks... just about anything you can think of to munch on while ambling along. For me, there is nothing nicer than getting a freshly cooked sweetcorn (still in it's leaves) with butter, while walking around the lake. (Be careful though - the hot foods are usually VERY hot as they are very fresh.)
One nice place is the Parque Tom Jobim, which is where you will find most of these vendors, along with vendors of pedal boats, bicycles, boat rides, etc.
During the run-up to Christmas, the lake is host to a fantastic Christmas tree, which is revealed during a lavish show, and is illuminated every night. It is a fantastic spectacular, which is usually always televised every year.
If you go during the day, the Lagoa can seem empty, but you get a good chance to spot various sights around the edge, such as Corcovado, with the statue of Christ, at the northern edge.
During the night, you will be amoung the hustle-and-bustle of jazz bands, samba groups, bossa nova singers and a fantastic and lively crowd.
Go for the day, and you will loose yourself in thought - and usually will forget that you are so close to the beaches - and you may not want to leave!
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