Rui Castro creates a surprisingly vivid portrait of Rio de Janeiro, immersing the reader in the past and present of the city, where even in the calmest periods, tension is invariably felt in the air - the atmosphere of a carnival on fire. Against the backdrop of dazzlingly beautiful landscapes, the lives of the Carioca residents took place Rio: cannibals fascinated European intellectuals, elegant slaves made money for their ragged masters, and a casual conversation over a cup of coffee on the Avenida Rio Branco could influence the state of affairs in all the coffee markets of the world; we learn about the important role that beaches play in the life of the city, about favelas, drugs, police, carnival, football and music. With the complacency and talent of a storyteller characteristic of a true carioca, he guides the reader through the playful lights of Rio.