DieBruderschaft.com

RIO DE JANEIRO -- With the Olympics just a few weeks away, Brazil faces a litany of problems: an economy in freefall, the Zika virus and a political crisis with an impeached president. But for those brave -- or foolhardy -- enough to make the trip, Rio de Janeiro is a city rich with potential rewards. Broadcasters have already deemed the citys backdrop for the Summer Games the most telegenic ever. But no matter how good this teeming seaside metropolis -- where the urban jungle and the literal jungle meet -- looks on TV, footage simply cant compare with the experience of actually being here.Heres a Q&A on tips for visiting Rio, from staying safe to samba parties:---Q: Is Rio safe?A: With an estimated 85,000 police and soldiers patrolling the streets during the games -- twice the security contingent in London in 2012 -- Olympic and local officials have insisted Rio will be the safest city on earth during the Aug. 5-21 games. Still, violent crime is a fact of life in this city, starkly divided between haves and have nots, so its best to keep a low profile.For Cariocas, as Rios 6 million residents are called, low-key dressing is de rigueur for both safety and practicality. Havaianas, the Brazilian flip-flop brand, are Rios uncontested footwear of choice. And the citys golden-sand beaches make board shorts and T-shirts, or hot pants and tank tops, a uniform for rich and poor alike. (While Rios Southern Hemisphere winters tend to be mild, thermometers can dip in August into what Cariocas consider the bone-chilling depths of the mid-60s, so pack a sweater or light jacket.)Watches and jewelry not clearly made from plastic are best avoided, as is using cellphones in public or conspicuously carrying camera equipment. Electronics are extremely expensive in Brazil, and a smartphone can cost several months worth of salary for locals, so its best to keep them under wraps.If you do get mugged, dont react or fight. Hand over your possessions calmly and without hesitation. Its only money and/or stuff. And no matter how much of a pain the ensuing nightmare of card cancellations proves, its not worth getting injured.---Q: Do people speak English?A: In a word, no. Outside Olympic venues and high-end hotels and restaurants, most Cariocas only speak Portuguese, though they might know a few words of English or Spanish. On the other hand, most people are eager to help foreigners and will resort even to pantomime to get their point across.---Q: Whats for dinner?A: If you go to one of the myriad churrascaria (shoe-hass-car-EE-ya) all-you-can-eat Brazilian barbeque joints, the answer is meat, meat and more meat. Roving waters brandishing spits stacked with cuts of prime beef, lamb chops, pork sausages and even wizened black chicken hearts will insist on refilling your plate till you verge on bursting.For vegetarians or those recovering from a meat overdose, options are limited. Best bets include corner juice bars offering a cornucopia of freshly squeezed tropical fruit juices, as well as acai (ah-sa-EE) -- a deep purple Amazonian palm berry thats frozen, blended and served slushy.---Q: Is there public transportation?A: The citys metro line is being extended to serve the beachfront Leblon neighborhood and reach the far-western Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, where Olympic Park is located. But the project is behind schedule and may not be finished in time for the games. Buses are confusing, packed, dangerous and generally best avoided. Cabs are plentiful and decently reliable -- just make sure your cabby turns headlights on after dark. (Many wont.)---Q: Besides sports, what is there to do in Rio during the games?A: Plenty. And the good news is, the best things in Rio are free.Rio was hard hit by the recession, with the economy shrinking last year by 4 percent, sending unemployment and inflation soaring. The nosedive of the local currency, the real, has made Rio much cheaper for visitors spending dollars or euros. But the cost of hotels and restaurants can still be shocking. Savvy travelers can staunch the bloodletting by taking advantage of the citys many free attractions:-Sugarloaf Mountain: The sheer granite outcropping that presides over the waters of the Guanabara Bay will no doubt prove a breathtaking backdrop for the Olympic sailing races. But rather than just ogling the iconic rock, why not hike it? A guide is necessary to scale the Sugarloaf itself, but its stumpier twin, the Morro da Urca, is doable without help. A mud path winds through tropical vegetation to a summit with peerless views over the citys dense patchwork of towers, hillside favela slums and mist-enshrouded rainforest.-Sunset at Arpoador: Take in the suns spectacular nightly performance as it sinks into the Atlantic from atop the Arpoador rock formation in between Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches. The crowd there raucously applauds the glittering show, night after night.-Pedra do Sal: Experience a roda de samba, or live samba music, at the birthplace of Brazils most famous musical genre. Monday nights bring hordes of aficionados to this former slave market in the Gamboa region of historic downtown for an open-air dance party.-Centro: Rios beaches tend to steal the thunder, but the Centro downtown region, where the city got its start 451 years ago, is a treasure trove of colonial-era churches and historic monuments. Perhaps the most stunning among them is the Mosteiro Sao Bento, a Baroque church and working monastery where monks perform Gregorian chants during Sunday Mass. Get there early to snag a seat. Also in Centro is the Portuguese Royal Reading Room, a 19th century gem of soaring jacaranda hardwood bookshelves and stained glass windows, tucked into the newly rehabilitated Praca Tirdentes. USWNT Jerseys 2021 . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. USWNT Jerseys China . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. https://www.cheapuswnt.com/ . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. USWNT Pro Shop . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. USWNT Store . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. WASHINGTON -- Wilson Ramos jumped to catch a relay throw on a play at the plate that appeared pretty harmless. Only this time, his right foot hit the dirt and he crumpled to the ground, clutching his right knee.The All-Star catcher writhed in pain and was helped off the field during the Washington Nationals 14-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night. The injury could be another major blow to the NL East champions, already expected to be without ailing pitcher Stephen Strasburg in the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Ramos would have an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent of the damage. But the damage to the teams World Series hopes might already have been done.Theres nothing you can do about it, Baker said. Youve got to play and nobody feels sorry for you, so were not going to feel sorry for ourselves.It was the same knee Ramos injured badly during the 2012 season, when he tore his ACL and medial collateral ligament. Ramos, who can become a free agent after the season, is hitting .307 with 22 home runs and 80 RBI.Hes a silent leader, said starter Tanner Roark (15-10), who took the loss after allowing five runs and four hits in four innings. He goes out there and does it with his glove and behind the dish and his bat.The injury happened on Yasmany Tomas RBI double in the sixth when first baseman Ryan Zimmerman relayed home. Teammates immediately knew something was wrong with Ramos, who usually stays in the game after taking foul balls off just about every part of his body.Tough moment, said Roark, who is expected to follow Max Scherzer in Washingtons playoff rotation. Something just gave out and he pointed right to his knee.Ramos called for medical attention and couldnt walk off under his own power. Baker and players hoped for the best, but its clear they immediately feared the worst.You hate (for) it to happen this late, right before the playoffs, but our next step is try to figure out a way to play without Wilson, Baker said. Ive been mixing and matching this year and most of my life. Therefore, its another obstacle and Ive just got to try to go back to the drawing board and figure out something.The Nationals have two other catchers on their September roster in Pedro Severino and Jose Lobaton.dddddddddddd. But they dont have someone who can replace Ramos power and presence in the middle of the lineup.Washington should have reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper back by the playoffs, if not sooner, after Baker said X-rays came back negative on the sluggers left thumb. Baker said Harper could be back within a few days, and second baseman Daniel Murphy is expected to be in the lineup for Game 1 against the Dodgers on Oct. 7 after being shut down with a strained glute.Nationals pitchers allowed a season-high five home runs -- two to Jean Segura, a three-run shot to Tomas and one each to Mitch Haniger and Jake Lamb.Washington is one game up on the Dodgers for home-field advantage in the NLDS.BLAME THE RAINIncluding a 20-minute rain delay that started one pitch in, the top of the sixth inning took almost an hour to play. The Diamondbacks sent 11 hitters to the plate, scoring five runs on six hits with an error sprinkled in for good measure.TOMAS NIGHTTomas, a Cuban countryman of late Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, made a running catch at the wall in the second inning and had a big night at the plate. Tomas was 2 for 5 with five RBI, including his 30th home run of the season.After Fernandezs death in a boating accident early Sunday at age 24, Tomas tweeted in Spanish calling Fernandez a friend and thanking him for the moments he provided in baseball. After the game he declined to talk about Fernandez.GOODWIN IN LOSSStarting in place of Harper, Nationals rookie outfielder Brian Goodwin hit his first major league triple and drove in two runs. With nothing but home-field advantage in the first round left to play for, Goodwin could see a lot of action the rest of the week.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: Manager Chip Hale said RHP Rubby De La Rosa will have a stem cell injection in his elbow Tuesday in an attempt to avoid a second Tommy John surgery.Nationals: LHP Sammy Solis was activated off the disabled list after missing more than a month with shoulder inflammation.UP NEXTScherzer (18-7, 2.82 ERA) continues his Cy Young Award campaign against Arizonas Matt Koch (1-1, 1.29), who will make his first major league start. ' ' '