Ipanema

Ipanema is a neighborhood located on the southern zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, between Leblon and Arpoador. The beach at Ipanema was immortalized in the song "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.

Most of the land that Ipanema consists of today once belonged to José Antonio Moreira Filho, the Barão de Ipanema. "Ipanema" is Old Tupi for "bad water", in the sense of bad for fishing, since the waves die too close to the sand, pushing fishes away.

Ipanema gained fame with the start of the bossa nova sound, when its residents Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes created their ode to their neighborhood, "Girl from Ipanema."

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.

The beach in Ipanema is well known. Two rocks called the Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers) rise at the western end of the beach. The beach is marked into segments with points known as postos. Beers are sold everywhere on the beach along with the traditional cachaça[citation needed]. There are always circles of people playing football, volleyball, and footvolley, a combination sport originating 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 beach break regularly forms barrels.

One of the most interesting things about Ipanema's beach is that is has an area called "The gay beach", well-known for being a gay-friendly area, with the gay flag floating in the air.